WHERE ARE THE RUTHS OF OUR DAY?

WITH

Simon Okhime

RUTH WAS A FOREIGNER (a Moabitess) to the commonwealth of Israel, a status that should have denied her a place among the people of God. She also had the obstacle of being from a nation that had been precluded from interaction with Israel because Moab refused to provide the children with support when they were traveling through the wilderness to Canaan, Deuteronomy 23:3-4.

BUT AGAINST these two odds, Ruth redefined her destiny and chose to become a shining star in a darkened sky.

RUTH WAS THE WIFE of Mahlon (Ruth 4), one of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi, Ephratites of Bethlehem-Judah. Orpah was the wife of Chilion, their second son. In the process of time, Elimelech their father died. His two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, died afterwards, leaving Naomi, their mother, and their two wives behind. When it was reported that situations in Judah had improved, Naomi decided to return to her people. Ruth, one of her daughters-in-law, chose to go with her. In spite of her plea for her to return to Moab, Ruth insisted that she would follow Naomi. But Orpah had returned.

RUTH SAID,

“…thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Ruth 1:16

THIS HAS BECOME an inspirational byword today. This declaration of Ruth cuts her away from the affiliation and relationship with her idolatrous land and people.

WE READ THAT she took good care of her mother-in-law in her old age, displaying a rare virtue. She bestowed much love on Naomi and was patient. If our young women would have such a mind as this, the ever raging quarrels between mothers-in-law and their daughters-in-law would be minimized.

NO WONDER God rewarded her eventually with a good and a rich husband, Boaz. God rewarded her again with the offer of being the great-grandmother of David, through whose lineage we have Jesus Christ our Lord.

LESSONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

RUTH WAS A MOABITESS who was not worthy of being a part of Israel, but her decision to follow Naomi and to worship her God changed her destiny and offered her an entry into the family of God

OUR DECISIONS can be of great help to us. Our decision to have a change of heart – from the devil’s service to God’s way, will transform us from our old nature of sin into God’s divine.

YOUNG WOMEN (as Ruth was) need the true Bible conversion which must be devoid of hypocrisy and insincerity. The hypocritical behavior of our young people, as well as their lack of interest in the things of God stem from not having a true experience of conversion.

TO BE BORN AGAIN means to be regenerated and your sins forgiven and a new nature given to you. This is when you become a member of God’s church as seen in 1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19-20. At the time of our being born again and being filled with the Spirit of God, we lose our identity as ordinary man and take up the identity of Jesus Christ and His church. It means we lose our taste, ambition and aspirations for the world and get our whole hearts on where God wants us to be. When we are crucified with Christ we have no life of our own to live, but Christ now lives in us.

• PEER GROUP PRESSURE

MOST YOUNG PEOPLE in the church today find themselves in situations they least expect as a result of peer pressure. But Ruth never allowed Orpah’s decision to leave to discourage her. Serving God is a personal issue. Don’t allow your peers or friends to dictate your choice in life. Always allow God, your father, and the church, your mother, to dictate your taste. Prov. 1:10 admonishes us to always refuse pressure from your school mate that is against God’s standard for His people.

• A DISCIPLINED LIFE

DO YOU SEE in Ruth a disciplined life?

Ruth 3:10 -

“…inasmuch as thou followest not young men, whether poor or rich.”

SHE LIVED a life and had a goal. As a young Christian sister you need to have a goal in life that gives a clear reflection of Christ in you to the world.

• THE CHURCH, YOUR MOTHER

NAOMI SERVED as a mother to Ruth, although initially as mother-in-law. You will enjoy your life, your marriage and spiritual life if you listen to your mother, the church- Gal. 4:26. In Gal. 6:7-8 we are told that we should not deceive ourselves, because we reap what we sow.

HOW WE LIVE our lives now matters a great deal, for we shall be rewarded. Ruth lived and was victorious; you can also do the same and receive a blessing from the Lord.

~SIMON OKHIME