HOW TO BECOME AN APPEALING WOMAN

TEXT- RUTH 3:1-11

INTRODUCTION

I WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OF OUR MOTHERS A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY AND PRAY THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THE DAY WITH YOUR FAMILIES.

INSTEAD OF PREACHING A MESSAGE JUST TO MOTHERS, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ALL THE GIRLS AND WOMEN PRESENT TODAY.

NEXT MONTH ON FATHER'S DAY I WILL BE SPEAKING TO ALL THE BOYS AND MEN.

OUR TEXT TODAY IS FOUND IN THE BOOK OF RUTH 3:1-11 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO BECOME AN APPEALING WOMAN."

ONE DAY A LARGE DEPARTMENT STORE HAD A SALE ON WOMEN'S CLOTHING. A DIGNIFIED, MIDDLE-AGED GENTLEMAN DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SALES AND BUY HIS WIFE A DRESS.  SOON HE FOUND HIMSELF BEING PUSHED AND SHOVED BY FRANTIC WOMEN WHO WERE TRYING TO GRAB UP ALL THE ITEMS.  AFTER BEING AS PATIENT AS POSSIBLE HE PLOWED THROUGH THE CROWD, TRYING TO MAKE HIS WAY TO THE SALES TABLE.  "WATCH IT MISTER," YELLED A WOMAN, "CAN'T YOU ACT LIKE A GENTLEMAN?"  "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" THE MAN REPLIED. "I'VE BEEN ACTING LIKE A GENTLEMAN FOR HALF AN HOUR. FROM NOW ON, I'M GOING TO ACT LIKE A WOMAN!"

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT RUTH WAS AN EXCELLENT WOMAN.

RUTH 3:11  AND NOW, MY DAUGHTER, DO NOT FEAR. I WILL DO FOR YOU WHATEVER YOU ASK, FOR ALL MY PEOPLE IN THE CITY KNOW THAT YOU ARE A WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE.

AS WE LOOK AT THE VERSES IN OUR TEXT TODAY I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER WHY RUTH WAS SUCH AN APPEALING WOMAN.

EVERY GIRL GROWS UP WANTING TO BE ATTRACTIVE AND APPEALING.

AT A VERY EARLY AGE THEY BEGIN TO MIMIC THEIR MOTHERS.

IN SOME WAYS RUTH WAS NOT AN APPEALING WOMAN.


    * SHE WAS A FOREIGNER IN A SOCIETY THAT DID NOT APPROVE OF MEN MARRYING FOREIGN WOMEN.

    * SHE WAS A WIDOW AND MANY WIDOWS THINK, "NO MAN WOULD WANT TO MARRY ME."

    * SHE WAS POVERTY STRICKEN, YET SHE APPEALED TO AND ATTRACTED A WEALTHY, INFLUENTIAL MAN NAMED BOAZ.


HOW DID SHE DO IT?  AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS, HOW DOES A WOMAN BECOME APPEALING TODAY?

HERE IN THIS PASSAGE WE WILL FIND SEVEN WAYS TO BECOME AN APPEALING WOMAN.