Purpose Driven Classroom

The purpose of this blog is to encourage Christian Educators to recognize their high calling as a teacher. We will be studying the Book of Esther for the next few months. Join us for this ten part study and don't forget to comment on how you think this applies to the classroom. May God help you to see your purpose for Him as a missionary in our schools in America.

The Book of Ruth - Part 7 of 10

The Book of Ruth
The God of the Ordinary 1.7
Chapter 3

This is the seventh part of a ten-part examination of the Book of Ruth. (Did you notice how I changed it from week to part?  Summer is a whole different way of doing things when you are a teacher, isn’t it?  I’ll be posting once a month for the rest of the summer and then resume once a week after school starts.) This began as a combination of many great teachers, but the most influential person upon this study comes from the series, God of the Ordinary by Alistair Begg, pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio and founder of Truth for Life. This beautiful story of companionship, faithfulness and loyalty is so helpful to us as teachers.
   

As we begin Ruth Chapter 3, we find that Boaz is Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. In ancient Israel, God had provided a system of preserving the family and Ruth, an alien in Elimelech’s family, is able to continue the family line through Boaz. (more on that next time!)  There are three elements of Chapter 3, with the help of Alistair Begg, that I see as important in our classrooms:  commitment, character and time management.

Ruth demonstrates an amazing wealth of commitment.  First, she leaves her gods for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Next, she leaves her own family for her mother-in-law, Naomi and then she gives herself away to Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, to preserve the family of Elimelech. When we commit to our students, we give up a lot of the other interests and opportunities in our lives for their success.  Teaching is definitely the most amazing profession. Did it ever occur to you that the rest and rejuvenation we get each summer is part of the reason we can pour our whole selves into your students during the school year?  Commitment to our students, our schools and our administrators is one of the most priceless gifts we can give.

I love the line in Ruth 3:11 when Boaz says to Naomi, “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” Wouldn’t it be great if someone described us like that at our schools?   Virtue and integrity are essential qualities for the Christian educator. Alistair Begg has some great advice from Chapter 3 for young people that applies equally as well to teachers.  As Naomi rushed home after laying at the feet of Boaz, it says in Ruth 3:16 - When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her. Alistair Beggs's advice is, “Beware of doing anything that you would not want your affectionate mother to know.  If you apply that rule, you will be saved headaches and heartaches to the gaizillonths.”  In our dealings with students, parents, colleagues, administrators or situations, let us be transparent and able to have a clear conscience before God and man.  Acts 24:16


Finally, the way the Boaz deals with issues is the way we need to take care of things in the classroom.  Look at the last line of Chapter 3 “..for the man will not rest until the matter is settled.” Isn’t that great?  One of the best time management tips I’ve ever learned as a teacher is DIN - Do It Now.  There’s always that tendency to take care of it later, but if you DIN - Do It Now - the matter will be settled and will relieve any undo pressures.  It also alleviates those huge to do piles that never seem to shrink.

It’s not easy to be a teacher, but we have a kinsman redeemer Who we can go to daily for our needs, our Lord Jesus Christ, for His tender mercies and grace.  Don’t you want to just lay at His feet like Ruth did with Boaz?


As always, I am
Prayerfully yours,

Karen

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