Promises are not always kept. If you can’t fulfill a promise, don’t make it! To keep a promise is to act on that promise and make a commitment to follow through with your words. Your own words will prove your integrity or your willingness to compromise for your own ends to be achieved.
Broken promises are promises unfulfilled.
Broken promises reveal that commitment is not a priority. Commitments are personal. Boaz made a commitment to Naomi and Ruth to pursue Ruth’s request for him to be her husband, but he did not promise what he could not do. He had to do the next thing and that was to approach the man who was nearer in relation to Naomi through her husband who had died in Moab. If that man said he would take Ruth as his wife, and then legally that was what he needed to do, this is what Boaz needed to find out.
(NASB) Ruth 3:16 “When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “˜How did it go, my daughter?’ And she told her all that the man had done for her.”
***Naomi revealed her Tender Loving Care for Ruth when she asked her question. She was vitally interested for Ruth’s sake. Naomi was committed to Ruth and loved her.
(NASB) Ruth 3:17 “She said, “˜These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, “˜Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.”
***Naomi had come back to Bethlehem without anything in her hands – now her needs were continuing to be filled – with food and with the TLC of Boaz.
Boaz was committed to Naomi and Ruth in providing for their needs and giving them protection.
(NASB) Ruth 3:18 “Then she said, “˜Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.'”
***Naomi saw Boaz’ generosity as a signal that he would pursue Ruth’s request for him to be her husband a.s.a.p.
Boaz was a man of integrity; therefore, he would not rest until he had fulfilled his commitment as far as it was possible for him…that day. He did not procrastinate or try to find “˜a way out’.
Keeping a commitment takes effort and being found trustworthy. Broken promises and commitments not kept are evidenced in marriages that end in divorce. This is only one example. You probably can name others. Keeping a commitment usually involves a sacrifice of some kind.
The Lord God has made a commitment to His children,
