Ruth's example

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither 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, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Ruth 1:16-17 [KJV]

https://cdnuploads.aa.com.tr/uploads/Contents/2020/01/09/thumbs_b_c_b64a39a13b4868ffa4ed8bbab660bd93.jpg?v=183401

I recently watched friends play volleyball. Some players were happy to laugh and chat as they hit the ball back and forth over the net, but others were more, er, competitively minded.

One player dived for a ball and ended up slamming into the ground.  As they stood up, brushing grass and dirt off their face and clothes, another spectator said admiringly, “That dive sure showed commitment.”

Now, that was just a casual game of volleyball. But there are times in life when a decision to commit or not commit has eternal consequences. Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple”. ‘Commitment’ means to be dedicated to a cause or person, regardless of cost. When we became Christians, we committed to a life that pleases God. We are given the same instruction as King Solomon in 1 Kings 8:61, “Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day”.

A touching and familiar example of commitment in the Bible comes from the book of Ruth. It’s a passage many associate with weddings, yet the context is a Gentile woman’s commitment to the people and God of Israel. Widow Ruth has just been urged by her mother-in-law Naomi to return to Moab, rather than returning with the impoverished Naomi to the land of Israel. “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither 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, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Ruth 1:16).

Ruth’s speech contains five lessons about commitment, which have direct application as to how Christians should follow the Lord God. Let’s look at each of these in turn.

“For whither thou goest, I will go.” Commitment to God involves going where He calls us to go. Some, like Barnabas and Saul, will be called by the Holy Spirit into a specific ministry or mission field (Acts 13:2). Others have, or will, know the Lord’s calling into marriage (1 Corinthians 7:17). However, all are called to be followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1, Luke 14:26-33). Sometimes we are so caught up in trying to do things, including attempting to meet needs, that we overlook the importance of seeking – and then obeying – God’s will. Jesus himself surrendered to doing God’s will (John 5:30, Matthew 26:39). How much more should we? Sometimes God is silent when we have questions about our future, because we have placed unscriptural limitations on the answers we expect from Him. Someone once told me the story of a single woman who declared she would only date someone called to be a deacon, pastor or preacher. Frankly, wanting to marry someone to gain a self-esteem boost from their office is as shallow as marrying someone for their money. It also ignores the fact that some men need to obey the Lord in marriage before they are called to other responsibilities. And it is an illustration of someone putting their own desires above commitment to following the Lord’s leading.

“Where thou lodgest, I will lodge.” Surrender to going where God has called us can seem hard. But sometimes staying where God has placed us is even harder. How do we respond when relationships become strained, problems arise at work, churches hit issues, life is unexciting, or singleness seems unbearably lonely? Paul wrote, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11b). Have we learnt this lesson? Have I? When the Lord tells me to stay in a situation that I find difficult, resentment rather than contentment often surfaces. Yet the Lord reminds us His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20b). He will never fail us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). When we serve God faithfully and wholeheartedly at whatever stage of life He has placed us (Colossians 3:23), we can rejoice in knowing that “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).

“Thy people shall be my people.” Commitment to God also means commitment to the people of God. One application of this is actively serving in a sound, Biblical church. Some churches have professional troublemakers. Others have large groups of people who are merely spectators to the work of the church. Whether or not you serve in a formal ministry, all church members are called to be workers and encouragers. Hebrew 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Encouraging other Christians should happen on other days of the week too, but don’t underestimate how encouraging faithful church attendance can be to yourself, your pastor and each other. Another application of commitment to the people of God is supporting God’s workers and missionaries. This might include giving financially or writing a note of encouragement; it will always involve praying. The Apostle Paul pleaded, “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25). His cry continues to echo all around the world. Keep on praying for the people of God (Ephesians 6:18).

“Thy God my God”. We have one God. One Lord. In Deuteronomy 6:5, the Israelites were commanded, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might”. Thousands of years later, Jesus describes this as ‘the first [chief] commandment of all” (Mark 12:29-30).  Being a Christian is an ‘all or nothing’ scenario. Sometimes we think that we can be a ‘little bit Christian’ and the rest of the time whatever our society, culture, friends, family, or social media think we ought to be. Some Christians claim to have found the perfect ‘balance’ between the two. But Jesus himself said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). At your point of salvation, you chose Christ. Stick to that decision by God’s grace and enabling!

“Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried.” Commitment to God is life-long. Commitment to a job lasts as long as you are an employee. Commitment to a specific church is for the time the Lord places you there. Commitment to a marriage is for as long as your spouse lives. But commitment to doing God’s will is life-long. Romans 14:8 states, “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.” The Bible places no expiry date on instructions such as, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Regardless of your life stage and whether you have failed in your commitment before, by God’s enabling, be faithful to Him until Jesus comes again or death ushers you directly into God’s presence.

In summary, Ruth’s words illustrate what living the Christian life should look like. May we exemplify the words of Ruth in our commitment to our God. May we go where He leads, stay where He places us, embrace the people of God, and serve Him all the days of our lives.