Ruth 1:11-17

Our text helps us to see the value of decisions. The godly woman Ruth had to make a momentous decision in her life. The book that bears her name is one of the most beautiful narratives ever written. A famine had driven Elimelech and his wife Naomi, along with their two sons, Mahlon and Chillion, into the land of Moab. the sons married Moabite wives but the three men soon died, leaving three widows. Naomi then determined to return home, entreating her daughters iin law to stay home with their people. Orpha did so, but Ruth will not leave her beloved mother in law, determining to return to Palestine with her. What a decision!

 

Decisions are important. James Russell Lowell once wrote:

    "Once to every man and nation

        comes the moment to decide;

    In the strife of truth and falsehood

        for the good or evil side."

 

Lives are the sum total of decisions and consequences. History was made by people of decision, and the Bible is a record of such great decisions (Josh. 24:15; 1 Kgs. 18:21). Whether one speaks of marriage, occupation, financial or child rearing duties, decisions are important. And so our text deals with a great decision by a great woman, and we encourage all to imitate Ruth's decision. That decision involved two things:

First, Ruth made the decision for the true and living God. As a Moabite she was reared in idolatrous surroundings. They had "Chemosh," their "fire god," a worship to whom even king Solomon once directed (1 Kgs. 11:7) - and by the way, this was not one of his wise decisions! What did Ruth (and may we) gain by choosing God?

 

She gained a God who had revealed himself to man (1 Sam. 3:21; Amos 3:7; Eph. 3:5). This was a God, who in due time, visited mankind in the flesh (John 1:14). This is a God who redeemed man by his Son (Gal. 3:20-29; 1 Pet. 1:18). Ruth gained, and so may we, a God who invites us to come to him. And so our text sets before us this great blessing - as we learn about Ruth's decision, we find that God becomes a part of our lives; he tes those lives and always makes them better.

 

Second, Ruth chose the people of God as her companions In determining to follow Naomi to Palestine, not only was the God of Naomi to be Ruth's God, but she also said "Your people shall be my people" (1:16). Men are social beings; they will choose to be with someone. And so a great thing revealed in our text is that we ought to have the right sort of people as our companions. Worldly people will imperil our salvation; the power of association is strong. God's people are the best companions; they are the wisest, most truly affectionate and profitable for us.

 

Such people will give us counsel and for the most part guide us right (Pro. 11:14; 12:15). They will pray for us (Acts 12:5), yes, even as Paul did for the Romans, "without ceasing" (Rom. 1:9). They will exhort us (Heb. 10:24-25); sympathize with us (Rom. 12:15, and yes, probably even "scold" us when we need it!

 

All of us should adopt Ruth's decision; our text makes it plain that this is sthe wise course to take. The need for right decisions is clear; the world will allure, Satan will tempt, and in a moment of weakness the strongest of us is liable to fall. Like Ruth, learn to make decisions that are earnest; decisions from the heart and soul. and not those that may be cast aside at a whim, or until "something better comes along."

 

"It's tough in today's world," you say? Think about Ruth; she lived in the iest period of Israel's history - "when the Judges ruled" (1:1). And so what this text says is - "decide" - not for the evil, but for the good!   - Bill Moseley