MANUFACTURER'S HANDBOOK: Domino Effect

Domino Effect

A Domino Effect is defined as a cumulative effect that is produced when one event starts or initiates a sequence or succession of similar events. Dominos is a game that is believed to have originated in China as early as the 13th century. It consists of 28 pieces of oblong ivory that are plain on the back side, and have a face on the front side. The front side is divided by a black line in the middle, and is indented with dots. In modern times, it has become a popular game, and some people have used dominoes in the competitive play of standing them on end and beginning a toppling sequence that is very interesting to watch. Videos featuring the Domino Effect have replaced dominoes with objects and sequences that range from technical to outrageous.

Although the game might have its origin in China, the essence of a Domino Effect is rooted in the laws of God. It occurs in the chain reactions that God has woven in the way the universe responds to us. One of the most profound instances is in the Law of Reciprocity. This law dictates that giving equals receiving. Jesus Christ spoke of it in Luke 6:38 (NLT), where he said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

The bible is full of examples of the effects of this law. One such case is in the Book of Ruth, where we can learn a lot about what it means to have a high caliber of manhood and womanhood. In this record, we have a mother-in-law, Naomi, who was widowed, and had also lost her two sons. This was an incredibly harsh situation for a woman to be in, because in those times a woman would be cared for and supported by her husband or her sons. She wasn’t allowed to be independent and call her own shots. If she found herself in the unenviable position of being without a husband or sons, she would most likely have a life of poverty and be dependent on the charity of others.

Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law, was well aware of the dire straits that Naomi faced, but still pledged her allegiance and promised to stick by her mother-in-law no matter what. In Ruth 1:16-17, she said, “16Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” This is a measure of loyalty that we rarely see in anyone. To know the difficult time that laid ahead, and to willingly submit yourself to it demonstrated the quality of commitment that was in Ruth.

Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think. He is willing to go far above what we can imagine, but there’s a condition. He will do it according to the power that works in us. You and I are responsible for giving God something to work with. We have to create the space in which He can come in, expand, and bless. He’s in the business of multiplying and increasing us, and you and I determine the extent to which we will allow Him to move.

If we are the kind of people that skimp and only give a little bit, then a little bit is what we can expect to receive. In Ruth’s case, she pledged her devotion to Naomi to the point of incredible self-denial. Ruth was a young woman, still able to marry again. She had not birthed any children when she was married to Naomi’s son, and could still hope to do so in her next marriage. She put all of that aside, and instead put Naomi’s welfare above her own. This is the kind of sacrifice and character that gets God’s attention.

Throughout the Book of Ruth, we can see the Domino Effect of Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi. When she and Naomi left Moab and returned to Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem, The Book of Ruth, Chapter 2, verse 3(NLT) says, “So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law,” This was not a coincidence. This was God’s Domino Effect at work. He strategically positioned these individuals because Ruth demonstrated a quality that aligned her with a destiny far greater than she could have imagined.

Her level of commitment was matched by the quality of Boaz’s manhood. He had many opportunities where he might have taken advantage of a woman in Ruth’s position, but he dared not. He behaved honorably at all times, and ultimately made Ruth his wife.

Naomi and Ruth referred to Boaz as their family’s redeemer. This is what Jesus Christ is to us. He’s our Family Redeemer. Romans 8:29 (NLT) tells us, “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” When we give our lives to God through Jesus Christ, a Domino Effect of spiritual transformation begins. One right after the other, blessings chase us down as we experience the reality of Jesus and see the fingerprints of God’s love throughout our lives.

Ruth was a virtuous woman, the kind we should seek as a marital partner and mother of our children. Her commitment to honor God and her allegiance to Naomi created a Domino Effect of blessings that paved the way for the Messiah to enter the earth. Boaz was a great blessing to Ruth and Naomi, and before he made Ruth his wife, he made sure they had plenty of food. In other words, fellas, he demonstrated the caliber of his manhood by making sure Ruth was better off for having met him. Ruth’s loyalty and Boaz’s generosity are a few of the stellar qualities that we should strive to have, because they please Heavenly Father and will cause of Domino Effect of blessings to come our way.■

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~