Life Lessons from the Book of RUTH, 7

Ruth 1:16-17

And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for thither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest I will die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.” (KJV)

¹⁶But Ruth replied, “Don’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!” (NLT)

These beautiful words of love and devotion are the kind of vows that are appropriate for marriage partners. There is total commitment here. Ruth said, “Don’t try anymore to discourage me. I have completely made up my mind!”

Ruth made six decisions here:

1. I will follow you in your pathway of life, wherever it leads
2. I will live in whatever kind of dwelling you live in, no matter how poor it may be
3. I will accept your relatives and friends, no matter how imperfect they may be
4. I will receive, love and serve your God
5. Nothing but death shall part us – a complete commitment
6. Don’t even send my body back for burial with my family – this meant a lot in that culture: she was burning every bridge behind her.

She confirmed her commitment with a strong call to God to give her double the punishment she deserved if she failed to keep her word.

Ruth’s motives in her decision were of the purest and highest nature. They were based solely on her love for Naomi and Naomi’s God.

Naomi could only offer her:

1. Poverty
2. Sorrow
3. Loneliness away from family and friends
4. Second-class citizenship in an alien country (which viewed the people of her nation as accursed by God). She could expect to be hated and shunned.
5. Employment only as a servant of the lowest class.
6. Continued widowhood with the unlikelihood of marriage.

To Ruth, to have Naomi and her God was worth it all. Her decision was complete, without reservation, and totally unselfish. Hers was a true conversion from sin to the Living God.

Is it any different today? Jesus said, “If any will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross; and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24-26). The so-called gospel that promises worldly wealth, success and never any sickness or sorrow to its followers is not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

God has wonderful things for us and the best things come when we leave the choice to Him. The evidence of our salvation is our faith in God no matter what comes. It is not in our material possessions, pleasant circumstances, health or other people’s opinions about us. Any faith built on these things will crumble.

The old hymn by Priscilla J. Owens expresses the matter well:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

Let’s look for a moment at the natures of Orpah and Ruth as they faced this serious life choice. We have three parts to our nature: intellect, emotion and will.

1. Intellect – both Orpah and Ruth knew the way of God as Naomi had taught them
2. Emotion – both girls felt true sorrow at the thought of leaving Naomi and her God
3. Will – but only Ruth determined to go with Naomi and God.

Applying this to our day:

1. If we apply only our intellect to God’s Word, we can be scholarly and have a head full of Bible knowledge that we never apply to our own lives
2. If we only react to God’s Word with our emotions, we can weep over our shortcomings and sins during the Sunday service and then go out and live the rest of the week just as we did before
3. If we only respond with our will, we can go through all sorts of religious effort without actually accomplishing anything for God. Paul called this “zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”

God wants all three parts of our nature to be functioning in the power of the Holy Spirit, that we might live well-rounded lives pleasing to Him. We need to KNOW, to FEEL and to DO. We must believe, receive and obey. Ruth did all three.

Dear God. Let me learn about You, to fall in love with You so deeply that I am consumed by You with all of my heart and soul, pursuing You and Your plan for every moment of my life. Not just my head, God, but my heart and my soul, too! I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.