Life Lessons from the Book of Ruth, part 6
We choose
Ruth 1:14
And they lifted up their voices and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her. (KJV)
Orpah was deeply affected emotionally. Naomi spoke the same words to both girls, but each reacted differently.
Orpah let her own fleshly nature have the upper hand. In her mother’s household there would be food and friendship. In her community there would be the possibility of marriage.
With Naomi, there was only the unknown. She would be a stranger, and poverty seemed certain. Difficulties sent Ruth on, but they sent Orpah back. Orpah’s return strongly highlighted Ruth’s loyalty and selfless devotion to her desolate mother-in-law.
Orpah had affection for Naomi, but didn’t love well enough. Jesus said to Peter, “Lovest thou Me?” (John 21:15-19). Many people have Christ’s life and teachings and have an affection for Him, yet they come short of salvation because they cannot find it in their hearts to forsake other things for Him. We choose the things we love the most.
To Orpah, good food, a comfortable home, family and neighbors, and the prospect of marriage meant more than God and His people. Orpah went back to her family, her Moabite friends and to Chemosh, her Moabite god. She also disappeared into oblivion as far as the record goes; it is the last we hear of her. Orpah didn’t hate Naomi or her people; she didn’t hate God. She was a kind, loving person, but she just put personal, temporary, material security in first place to her affections.
God did a wonderful thing when He made humankind. He made us with a will by which we can choose to love and serve God, or we can choose to love and follow our own desires. God seems to have wanted someone who would love Him by choice, not by force. The choice is ours:
- We can have our own way, follow our own desires for our brief stay on earth – and spend eternity in torment apart from the presence of God
- We can choose to go God’s way – and have life now and forever with Christ
This is why God sent His Son to live and die for our sins and rise again to make us righteous. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7).
Ruth did more than show affection. She clung to Naomi (KJV “clave”). She would not let Naomi go without her.
Each one of us is personally accountable to God. We cannot excuse our failure to love and serve God because of:
- Our national or family background
- Our religious background
- Unknown or difficult things in the present or future
- The decisions and actions of other people
Remember: The same life situation and the words of Naomi that sent Orpah back only increased Ruth’s desire to go on with Naomi and her God!
Ruth 1:15
And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law.
Naomi has one more word for Ruth. She wanted Ruth to be absolutely sure of her decision. She really put her on the spot. Notice that it was a choice not only of “her people,” but also of her God.
Dear God.
I choose. Today, and tomorrow, and the day after that, I choose You. I accept Your Son, Jesus, as my Savior, my Lord. I put You first place in my life, Sovereign over all of my todays and tomorrows. I choose You. Amen.
