Love That Never Fails

47. Loyalty and Love

Journeying through the history of God's people the Israelites, can be quite a sad and frustrating ordeal, especially reading through the account of the Judges! Again and again, we read of God showing mercy and bringing peace for a time as the people turned to Him under a particular judge, only to end up in a terrible situation as they began to worship idols once more.

Therefore it's quite refreshing to come to the book of Ruth and read a very different recount.

"In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man's name was Elimelek, his wife's name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. Now Elimelek, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband." Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, "We will go back with you to your people.""
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1:1-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Naomi had certainly been dealt a heavy blow to lose her husband and her sons! What a comfort it must have been to have both her daughters in law, willing to stand by her. However, in these difficult times, thankful as she was, Naomi also considered the needs of these kind women, feeling that their offer was far too burdensome!

"But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord's hand has turned against me!"

At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. 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 I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1:11-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What devotion and loyalty Ruth showed to her mother in law! She was willing to give up her chance of remarrying, just to be there for Naomi. In the midst of her own grieving, she was able to offer her love to another.

At this time, many in our world are experiencing grief brought about by losing loved ones or just having been severely impacted by job losses and economic downturn. It's now that we need to show our loyalty and love to family, friends and strangers. Let God lead you with a heart like Ruth, to make a difference in someone's life this week!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your Word that speaks so honestly of the depths of human suffering and sadness but so often surprises me with contrasting joy as I see emerging in this story. Lord my heart goes out to all who are suffering at this time in history. Please bless them and stir up people to show compassion. Lord show me how I can love others around me, being determined to love them in practical ways. Give me a heart that is loyal and puts the needs of others before my own. I want to serve You and bring glory to Your Name.

Amen.