There is a meme within the church which is called “Man up”. Sister Suzy has returned to the church, weeping, and great with child. Pastor Bob looks around the single men and starts up You evil bastards. Which one of you could not keep his pecker zipped inside his jeans? Someone has to take the shame from her. Marry up, you cowards”
The single men in question had all been rejected by Suzy and her friends because they are so… boring (it’s not job prospects. Most of these men are in training or have trades. It’s the fact that they are nice and righteous and compliant. They are not leaders. They are not scarey-nice, they are creepy-ick.
And they are not prepared to man up. For Suzy is a slut. They want to marry a woman of good character.
So let us look at Boaz. Now, there was a post about this a few days ago (and it someone can find it to me, I’ll link to it) about how Boaz did not take Ruth on the threshing floor. He could have, but did not.
Instead he acted.
1Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. 2Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. 3Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.” 5She said to her, “All that you tell me I will do.”
6So she went down to the threshing-floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. 7When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came quietly and uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! 9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.”10He said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11And now, my daughter, do not be afraid; I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. 12But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. 13Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do so. If he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the LORD lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.”
14So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.” 15Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. 16She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'” 18She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”
Ruth had already been preselected. Boaz, who was astute, knew she was a woman with a good reputation. He was not interested in the easy, he was interested in the Godly.
So Boaz acted. He sent her home with six weeks worth of grain. And he told Ruth that he did not have the Levirite right of redemption and marriage, there was a nearer relative. But eh would do what he could.
So the message to our young men quailing under Brother Bob is grow a pair. Tell Brother Bob that you are not prepared to marry Suzy. Regardless of how hot she is. Find the young women of good character, and when you find them, woo them.
Then wed them. Fast. For most of us, with a Ruth of the Threshing floor, would have acted on that temptation, and commit fornication, not act for her redemption.