Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.
Summary
Themes
Key Points
- 1.Personal dating preferences should not be turned into universal biblical prescriptions for others.
- 2.Interpreting Proverbs 18:22 to mean only men can initiate relies on hyper-literal grammar rather than sound scriptural principles.
- 3.Proverbs 18:22 refers to finding a 'wife', implying that a person already exhibits wifely character and maturity prior to marriage.
- 4.The word 'find' in scripture does not strictly mean 'pursue', as people often find things without actively searching for them.
- 5.In Ruth 3, Naomi instructed Ruth to dress well, apply perfume, and intentionally go to the threshing floor where Boaz was working.
- 6.Ruth intentionally positioned herself to be found and communicated her interest without being desperate or degrading herself.
- 7.Many godly, marriage-material men ('Boazes') are introverted or cautious and may need an open sign of interest before pursuing.
- 8.Scripture allows women the freedom to either wait to be pursued or appropriately express interest based on personal conviction.
Sermon Moments
“Your perspective should be a prescription for your life, not a prescription for everyone else's life if the Bible doesn't prescribe that.”
“Anyone who interprets 'he who finds' simply to mean that the man is the only one that can ever do the looking is literally using grammar as a basis for biblical interpretation.”
“It says 'he who finds a wife', so it doesn't say 'he who finds a woman'... it means that they already have wifely qualities.”
“Find doesn't mean pursue... fine means fine. You find stuff when you're not even looking.”
“Ruth literally positioned herself to be found. It wasn't random, she was in pursuit of Boaz... was she thirsty? No. But did she make it clear she was interested? Yes.”
“She didn't demoralize herself, she didn't degrade herself, but she did appropriately what was necessary to communicate to him that she was interested.”
“There are some Boazes... meaning men who are marriage material... that are introverted... introversion doesn't mean weak, it doesn't mean soft, it doesn't mean not assertive.”
This Week
Remember This
It is biblically permissible for a woman to position herself and show interest in a man, provided it aligns with godly wisdom and personal conviction.
A Challenge for You
So should a woman approach or show interest in a man? If you want to, that is on period. All right, take care, peace.These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.
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