Truly Redeemed

The redeemer replied, "I can't redeem [it] myself, or I will ruin my [own] inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can't redeem it." - Ruth 4:6

When a close relative of Naomi's husband was offered the opportunity to "redeem" her property (by taking responsibility for all her needs), he refused because Ruth was also part of the deal.  Apparently, he was concerned that her descendants would dilute his own family's holdings by dividing the inheritance "pie" into smaller pieces. Of course, none of this mattered to Boaz. He did not love his "stuff." He loved Ruth and this love made all the difference in his decision to redeem.

There are some members of Christ's kingdom who struggle to invest their whole hearts and lives in His service. They are afraid that if they do, their lives will change, that the Lord will take over every area of their existence and, in effect, "dilute their personal holdings."

There are others who do not care about their "stuff." They only see the Son of God. They love Him wholeheartedly and willingly give their lives to Him in the hope that by Him and through Him and with Him the entire Kingdom and His inheritance might increase.

This is what it means to truly be redeemed and this is who we must be.

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, the nourishment of the mind with His truth, the purifying of the imagination of His beauty, the opening of the heart to His love, the surrender of the will to His purpose. - William Temple