Ruth 3:11, And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. 
	In today’s reading, we are presented with the manner in which Naomi instructed her daughter-in-law with regard to winning the heart of Boaz. It is apparent that Boaz was already looking out for the interests of both Naomi and Ruth. He gave the instructions to his field hands to leave Ruth alone as well as to leave extra stalks of grain for her gleaning in his field. He had also told Ruth not to glean in any other field in order to protect her from the unwanted advances and abuse of those who might have had ill intentions toward her. 
	Boaz had a regard for Ruth, probably based on her treatment and care of Naomi, which made him both interested in her and protective of her. As well, he seemed to have sought out more information about her since he could declare the statement in this morning’s passage …for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. That is a tremendous and thought provoking proclamation to make upon this widow of his kinsman. Boaz was a man of honor who wanted to do the right thing in terms of all that was required before the Lord. He seemed to do so with all love in his heart for this woman, whom he described as a woman of excellence. 
This aspect of her character was essential for Boaz, for Ruth, and for all those who belong to the Lord. Every Christian should be thus characterized in this realm of our sojourn. We are to be seen by the world as people of excellence who will do the right thing before God and man. Our testimony is to be that as so defined by excellence in the honor of the Lord. 
Therefore, we will look at what the scriptures have to say, first about the excellence of the wife that God prepares to be a help and a support and a life-mate for those men who will seek for the full blessing of God’s choice. Then, the reality that what is seen in an excellent wife is to be completely reflective of all those who belong to and obey and honor the Lord.
The whole of marriage is that growing together into the oneness of Jesus Christ that was ever the design of God in the creation of marriage. It is never a matter of how she must honor and obey him, or how he must ever decide what is right for her. Marriage is to be always and ever considered in relationship to what Christ would bring forth to the blessing of Our Loving and Merciful Heavenly Father. This is in the working together for the glory of God in the union of a man and a woman. That is where the excellence is found and flourishes within the interactions that develop complete unity in Jesus Christ, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, in complete subjection and reverence to God.
Of primary concern is what we are told in Proverbs concerning the immense responsibility that marriage brings forth within the relationship of a wife and husband. It is initially concentrated in the declaration of Prov 12:4.
Prov 12:4, An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is as rottenness in his bones. 
	Notice how the husband and wife are both included in the manner of the excellence and the character of both. As the wife is excellent, the husband is brought into the scope of the consideration of all as blessed and as worthy to so care for and be honored with the mutual element of the crown of God’s glory. There is the declaration of praise and adoration and reverent honor that is evoked in this design of God’s creation.
	However, when the course is contrary to what God has designed, the whole consideration of shame and rottenness and perverseness is brought to the forefront. It is not just the wife who is blamed in this passage; it fully includes the husband with rottenness in his bones. The oneness of glory and praise is replaced by the foul aspect of decay and filth and putrid intent. What was to be the glory of God in this union is defiled and perverted into the diseased corruption and humiliation and devastation of what was designed to be joyous and lovely. 
	Now turn to Prov 31:10-31. In this passage, we have the heart of the matter laid before us. The Lord’s design of the excellence of a wife is inherently invoked and presented in terms of how blessed is the life of the one who honors the Lord in the manner of how she deals with others. This is not just in terms of being a dutiful wife. It is the way in which her heart sees the needs of others, as reflective of how Christ Jesus sees the utter necessity for His love in the lives of those He came to save. The heart and mind of an excellent wife shows the manner in which the husband is to regard and cherish the work of God that springs forth from the service so rendered for the sake of the oppressed and the disadvantaged. 
Prov 31:10-31, An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. She looks for wool and flax, And works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night, And gives food to her household, And portions to her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, And makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor; And she stretches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates. 
So often, this passage is used to try to make a woman feel that she must be subservient to her husband, while quite the opposite is in view here. It is the man who needs to learn to appreciate and to encourage such a love for others to become embedded within his own manner of conduct and attitude and demeanor. The excellent wife is the model of how an excellent husband is to respond and to consider the needs of those in his sphere of influence. 
The labor and energy required is the mutual honor and respect which works hand in hand to reflect the Love of God in complete sacrifice of service. This can only proceed forth when both hearts are united to so answer the call of submission unto the will of The Lord. 
This then brings forth the work of God in the manner of the excellence of those who belong to Him. The Apostle Paul puts it very bluntly and succinctly in describing the excellence of character that will define those who are truly living new lives in Jesus Christ. Please turn to that most familiar passage of Phil 4:4-9.
Phil 4:4-9, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. 
Notice the full course of what is at hand in this encouragement to excellence within the manner in which a Christian is to look at and engage within the society of our sojourn. We are to first of all, be rejoicing that we know the Lord and what He has done for us. There is to be that rejoicing spirit and attitude and heart after the Lord to thank Him that we belong to Him and that we know that He has all things well in hand. There is no reason for concern or anxiety over the manner of this age. That it is falling apart at the seams is not a reason for any worry or disruption of our spirit or demeanor. 
There should be that evidence that we belong to a completely different and perfect place within the plan and the purpose of God. Accordingly, our entire focus of heart and mind is that of the truly wondrous and marvelous Excellencies of the Hand of God in operation. This is not just within our lives, but within the whole of His creation. In that truth, the peace of God must be the forthcoming witness that is proclaimed and heralded in the course of how we now live and the manner of our walk on this earth. 
… Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Then, in Titus 2:2-14, the Apostle harkens back to the manifest course of this consideration of excellence! It is to be the manner of the attitude and the behavior and the demeanor of all who are part of the redeemed family of God in Christ Jesus.
Titus 2:2-14, Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Then, in 2 Peter 1:1-11, the Apostle Peter brings the examination of the excellence expected and evidenced in the lives of all who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit to the forefront in the course of how we live before God and man. This is something that is not inherently natural to us. It is something that must be shown as the gift of God in Christ Jesus being lived out in truth and in honor unto Him. We are incapable, in our meager frailty, to show forth the exceeding righteousness and mercy and joy of the Lord. As He is our life, so will we be the testimony of Who He is and all that He has done to bring forth this living reality to the praise of His glory and His honor!  
2 Peter 1:1-11, Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. So be it!

And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. Amen.

This morning’s benediction is 2 Tim 4:22. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.