-- Sunday, 9/5/10 -- TRUE LOVE -- Ruth 1-4
J.R. & Bonnie Ricks
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TRUE LOVE -- Ruth 1-4 NIV
Oh, what a bright light the book of Ruth is in the midst of the dark days of the Judges of Israel. The relationship between Naomi and Ruth is such a beautiful example to us of what a relationship should be. Naomi was Ruth's mother-in-law. Historically, that very fact should make her perfect material for a comedy routine. But Naomi is by no means someone we should laugh at. Instead, we should look at her life and that of Ruth and the beautiful relationship between these two women… and learn from them.
First of all, Naomi was a woman of God, and it showed. She was living in a pagan foreign land, in the middle of a time of idolatry, anarchy, and violence – but none of this dimmed the light of God in her life. She was a shining witness for God everywhere she went. This fact showed very strongly in her selfless attitude toward her daughters-in-law. Having lost her husband and both her sons to death, she was in a frightening situation. God's law said that the nearest relative of a woman's dead husband should care for her. But Naomi was living in Moab, outside of the Promised Land. And she had no way of knowing whether any of her relatives back in Bethlehem were still alive. Considering the unrest of the times, she probably had good reason to doubt that she would find anyone living when she returned home.
And yet, Naomi put the needs of her two daughters-in-law first. Making the decision to go home, she told Ruth and Orpah to return to their families where they would be safe and cared for. We know that Naomi loved Ruth deeply, and it's probably safe to say she felt the same way about Orpah, although we aren't told one way or another. But in any case, Naomi was willing to give up the companionship of these two young women, along with the security having them along offered, in order to allow the young women to return home and be safe and fed. As we know, Orpah did go home, never to be heard about again. Ruth, on the other hand, understood selfless love. It was a part of her, also.
The Christ-like love of these two women for each other is a glowing example of how you and I should deal with each other... understanding that love, true love, is not an emotion. Rather, it is a conscious commitment of your will to do whatever is in the best interest of the other person, no matter how you feel about it or how it might affect you. That is love. That is the love Jesus has for us, and that we must have for each other.
"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17 NIV
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