Scripture References: Ruth 1:1-18; John 8:31-38
There are all kinds of things that can come between us and those we love. We have to work hard, very hard, not to let changing attitudes and differing needs damage a commitment of love. Leave the punishment of the God issue aside. It’s still a great act of devotion to think in terms of sharing life with another over the long haul and to speak of the absolute seriousness of one’s intention.
Ruth was the one who stayed with a potentially difficult role and responsibility no matter what the consequences. We must applaud such loyalty, and let us also learn from it. Naomi saw that Ruth meant to go with her and stay with her, period, so she finally stopped pressing Ruth to go back to Moab, and Naomi accepted Ruth’s expressions of devotion.
Ruth’s decision at its heart was, no doubt, relational. A good part of the reason she was doing what she was doing was because of her devotion to Naomi. There was something in Ruth that wouldn’t quit. She was willing to stay with the course she had chosen, not in a negatively stubborn way, not in a closed-minded way, or not in a way to prove that she is always right in everything she does. She had confidence that she could receive a blessing out of what is less than perfect. After all, dear friends, what position, relationship, church, or team is perfect? If we leave behind responsibilities and people because we experience them as imperfect, where, then, will we turn?
Ruth does teach us much about the importance of staying with it. I can’t help believing that this is an important word for many of us today. Some of us today are thinking about giving up on some relationship or other arrangement which we don’t have to give up on. We’ve already decided that we’re not going to persevere. We’re ready to walk away, not for any of the good reasons to cut it short. Don’t give up on your marriage. Don’t give up on your child. Don’t give up on your education. Don’t give up on your job. Don’t give up on your therapy. Don’t give up on your rehabilitation. Don’t give up on your moral standards. Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on life.
We can apply what we learn from Ruth to several areas in our lives, and we mustn’t forget about applying it to our faith. That is what Jesus is getting at in His words from John’s Gospel. Jesus said to the Jews who had declared faith in Him: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
“If you abide [continue] in my word,” He says, if you stay with it, your Christian commitment, that is, you are truly My disciples. You will know the truth about life and faith, and this truth will make you free . . . not running around changing all the externals any time you feel trapped or displeased in a responsibility. In so many ways, only by staying with it, staying committed, can we find our faith and the efforts of our lives fulfilled.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 