Ruth – Lessons for Caregivers – Part 2
Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to return to their people, their Moabite families, their gods. Naomi can’t promise them a future husband or any support. “Please go! Leave me, too!” Orpah does, but not Ruth. She “clung” to her mother-in-law, begging her to quit urging her to leave. She gives her now-famous words: “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.” I can almost see Naomi’s face. She understood that Ruth was “DETERMINED to go with her, so she said no more” (1:18).
RUTH – A closer look
1:14 Ruth “clung” to Naomi. She would not leave. This speaks of a deep commitment, a not running away to an easier, more comfortable, more familiar life. What motivated her? It doesn’t say, but in chapter four, the Israelite women said that Ruth’s love for Naomi was proven.
1:16 Ruth communicated well. Not only was she determined to stay, she verbalized this commitment to her mother-in-law.
– Do not urge me to leave you or to return
– Where you go, I’ll go; where you live, I’ll live.
– Your people are my people; your God is mine, too.
– Declares emphatically, “May death part us!”
– Naomi understood her determination and quit talking about Ruth’s leaving.
Applications
1. I must be committed to this life, this calling from the Lord.
2. I must verbalize my commitment to the people involved.
3. I must beware of the untruths of my emotions, filling my mind with God’s Word instead. Part of this involves stepping back from the situation, and seeing how God might be working in the big picture. Why do bad things happen? What is God’s purpose in the world as He has revealed it in the Bible? How do we fit into this plan?
4. Nurture your faith in God. Remind yourself of His character traits. Is He really vindictive? Mean? Hateful? Or is He loving, full of grace and mercy, just, and kind? Remind yourself that God is always working. Most of the time, we don’t see how. We need eyes of faith.
5. Compare: “I went away full, and God has brought me home empty.” When I compare Philippians 2:7-8, I see that same word: Jesus “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant….He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” My situation does not compare with what Jesus endured! He is my model, my perfect example. He totally understands my life and feelings and outcomes. And really, compared to eternity, this time is extremely short. Yet the dividends are out of this world. Literally!
And look at Phil. 3:8b! “For his sake (Jesus’s) I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.. Lord, help me to forget what lies behind (the hopeful expectation of nicer living arrangements, in this case) and strain forward to what lies ahead – the goal, which is “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
—- Lyrics to “The Servant King” by Graham Kendrick —-
6. Where is HOME?
I’ve been remembering Cameron’s testimony on “HOME” and where that is. It’s speaking to me in a real way. I don’t want to have my mind set on earthly things, because my citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:19-20). This world is not my home! This domicile at 305 N. Liberty Street is not really my home. My true home is in heaven, and it’s definitely not a dump! My name is in the book of life. My eternal future is secure! Nothing can steal it away from me, not death, not a terrorist, not a conspirator, not my government, not even the devil. It won’t rust, fade, or wither away. My reservation is secure. It won’t be long until I see my Savior face to face! Then this will all have been worth it.
7. My attitude is my choice.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. (This is a perfect backdrop to let this be seen!) The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4-7). This is so encouraging to me! Rejoicing is my choice. I can be reasonable. The Lord is with me! I have no reason to fear or be upset or worried about anything. What I can do is bring every worry, concern, and sadness to my Lord, making requests of Him, telling Him my fears, leaning on His strength, and being thankful for how His hand is at work, both in me and in those around me. The resulting unbelievable peace is what I long for! Peace that doesn’t make human sense! This peace will guard my heart and mind! What a security promise! Nothing can breach that! This section ends with this command: “..whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy, think about these things!” (Phil. 4:8).
As icing on the cake, Phil. 4:11 relays Paul’s testimony: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).