Investment of Love
Ruth 1:15 – Naomi told Ruth, “Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law!” 16 – But Ruth answered, “Stop urging me to abandon you and to turn back from following you. Because wherever you go, I’ll go. Wherever you live, I’ll live. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.
Verse 17 – Where you die, I’ll die and be buried. May the LORD do this to me – and more – if anything except death comes between you and me.” 18 – When Naomi observed Ruth’s determination to travel with her, she ended the conversation.
Naomi was grieved that she had lost the men in her life and even conveyed to Ruth and Orpah that while she was returning to her people because she heard that God was aiding them, she felt that God was working against her (Ruth 1:13).
Sometimes we may suffer consecutive losses that may make us feel like Naomi – that God is working against us. Jesus certainly felt abandoned by His Heavenly Father when He cried from the cross: “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34. – But God had something better planned.
Naomi tried to get Ruth and Orpah to return to their homes and their gods so they could have a hope of having families. Orpah departed for her people, but Ruth refused and said those moving words of love to her mother-in-law.
Naomi and Ruth had formed such a close bond that Ruth was willing to abandon her people and her gods for a new people and the God of heaven. This is the power of God at work. Let us love the people in our households like Naomi loved Ruth and Orpah – with the love of God. It was this love that gave Orpah the freedom to leave and gave Ruth the freedom to stay.
God will use the investments of love we make in our relationships today to bless us in the future, much like He did for Naomi and Ruth. Let us determine to follow God and show His love to those around us today.
Where two are gathered 