Strong Loyalty
Devotional Contributor: Al Schierbaum
Scripture:
Ruth 1:11—18 "But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me." Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law."But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
Observation:
Loyalty is defined as a “feeling of strong support or allegiance, faithfulness to commitments or obligations.” (Oxford Dictionary) Ruth is a wonderful example of someone who showed a feeling of strong support or allegiance. Ruth could have easily walked away from Naomi. Naomi had come to Ruth’s homeland with her two sons and husband and now was going to return to Israel with only her two daughters in laws. Why would Ruth decide to leave her homeland and go to Naomi’s? With no husband or son’s, poverty awaited them. It was going to be a tough to go back to Israel. Besides a challenging financial future, Naomi was depressed. She felt that God was against her by all the bad things that happened. In fact, she wanted to change her name from Naomi (beautiful one) to Mara meaning bitter. Naomi had life experiences that changed her for the worst. But Ruth had the ability to see the totality of Naomi’s life and the faithfulness of her God. Ruth saw Naomi’s God, as Naomi loved her and Orpah, even though she suffered great tragedies. Naomi’s confidence was surely shaken and as low as she could be. But God ministered to her through Ruth because Ruth was willing to stick with her through thick and thin.
Application:
Don’t we all need that loyal friend that will stick with us through the ups and downs of life? As life unfolds there are times when we are at our worst and best. Loyalty may be the greatest virtue in life because it is demonstrated over long periods of time. When everyone abandons you, it is that loyal friend that sticks with you. It is wonderful to have loyal friends and family, but the most loyal friend we have is Jesus! Jesus will never leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is a loyal friend that was willing to lay His life down for us. (John 15:12-14) Jesus knows our weaknesses and failures and sticks with us. Jesus can identify with our pain of rejection and abandonment, as society and even His disciples, rejected Him. There is no greater pain than feeling all alone in tough times. We are never alone! You can be the hands and feet of Jesus by being a loyal friend to someone.
Request:
Dear Jesus, thank you for being a loyal friend to me who has stuck with me, even when I am at my worst. By the power of the Holy Spirit help me see people who need to experience the loyal love of Jesus and be that loyal friend to them. I am so grateful for Your love. Amen