Loyalty

Ruth 1:6-17
Length: 16:25

This is a message given on November 1, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.

Loyalty

The book of Ruth focuses on the life of a women, named Ruth. Throughout the scripture we see three main characters, although there is a fourth character, but they aren’t mentioned until the New Testament book of Matthew.

The first person is an older married women who has two sons, each of which have their own wives. After a while, the women’s husband dies as well as the two sons. She is left alone with her two daughter-in-laws. This women is of course Naomi.

The second person, is Ruth. She marries Naomi’s son, but then finds herself a widow in a foreign land.

The third person, is Boaz. He is a wealthy and powerful young man, who just happens to be single and who also happens to be related to Naomi. As we shall see, Ruth is loyal to Naomi. Naomi finds Ruth a husband in Boaz. And they all live happily ever after, so to speak.

The important part of the story is not just about love or loyalty. As with anything, God has a plan and purpose. That fourth character that I mentioned, she was a prostitute named Rahab. They were included in the physical lineage or Christ’s genealogy.

The book of Ruth describes several themes throughout it. First, we see what God’s grace is extended to all, not just the Jews. Gentiles can receive His blessings, His mercy, and His grace as well.

Expanding upon that idea, God’s grace isn’t just available to men either. Even though during this time was a very male-dominated society. God cares for all, both men and women.

The story of Ruth occurred in the days when the judges governed Israel. God used a famine in Judah to set in motion these events. The entire story covers about 11 or 12 years.

Because of the great famine, Naomi, her husband, their two sons went to live in Moab until the famine was over. While in Moah, the husband died and the two sons got married.

They lived together as a family for ten years, then the two sons died. Word came to Naomi, that the famine was ending. No doubt, Naomi was a little upset and displeased at the events she had gone through, but knew that she had friends, family, and prosperity waiting for her in Bethlehem. So she decides to return to her hometown.

Think about everything that had happened to Naomi. She lost her husband and her sons. She probably didn’t have much food or material possessions in the land of Moab. She probably felt as if God was punishing her.

When she finally did return to Bethlehem, the people barely recognized her. Probably because of the hard life she lived for the past ten years. She was in emotional pain. It was a physical struggle just to survive.

But look at what she does next.

Naomi graciously tells her two daughter-in-laws to return to their own home towns and remarry, to live their own lives. Both daughter-in-laws insist on going with Naomi. Once, again, Naomi reasons that she cannot provide for them and they would be better off with their own people. What a selfless act of love and mercy Naomi is showing her daughter in laws.

This time though, Orpah, the one daughter in law decides to leave and return to her hometown. But Ruth stays. Naomi once again pleads with Ruth to return to her hometown. This is where we see that wonderful passage of loyalty, of commitment.

Ruth responds, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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 I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”

After this speech, Naomi truly saw the loyalty of Ruth. She saw the dedication Ruth had not only to her, but to God. See over the past ten years, living with this Jewish family, Ruth had been converted and believed in the true God.

What a wonderful picture of dedication. Ruth who was no longer under any commitment to stay with Naomi, does so because of her dedication and loyalty. By going to Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth is giving up her chance to have her own life with her people.

Ruth is loyal, she is faithful, she is committed, she is trusting, she is selfless. What a wonderful characteristics to have. Can the same be said about you or someone you know?

It seems as though it is so difficult to be loyal like Ruth in our society today. Our society is self-serving and looking for instant gratification, not something that takes commitment and dedication.

We need to remember what Jesus said, we need to deny our self, take up our cross and follow Him. That takes commitment and dedication. It means being loyal. It means thinking of others first. It means doing what is right and not necessarily what is easy.

It is important for us to be faithful in our commitments because we are representatives of Christ. He is faithful, true, and loyal. We should be the same.

He gave His life as a ransom for ours. He didn’t have too. He could have escaped from the Romans or the Jews, but he obeyed the will of the Father perfectly.

Think about the blessings that you have received from a faithful friend, spouse, or parent. Think about the blessings of commitment. Think about how loyal you have been to those in your life. Think about how loyal you have been to God.

Closing Prayer:

Father, we thank you for our time in your Word this morning. Forgive us for our broken commitments and our lack of dedication to things in this life and especially to you and your Word and to the life that you want for us.

Thank you for being faithful to us, even when we do turn from you. Help us this week to show the loyalty and dedication and trust that we see in people like Ruth. In Jesus Name AMEN.