Devotional -

Ruth and Naomi ( 16 June )

But Ruth answered, "Don't ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the Lord's worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you!" When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
Ruth 1:16-18

Ruth makes a surprising choice when she "clings" to Naomi (Ruth 1:14). It is remarkable that in the short dialogue between Naomi and Ruth, Ruth is not put off by Naomi's attempt to reject her. Naomi is in a terrible state; she is in despair and bitterness, having been stripped of all that she had and of all human companionship.

Ruth decides not to abandon Naomi, but to stay with her. The narrative does not indicate the reason for Ruth's decision, but surely, at an emotional level, empathy and compassion for the plight of her mother-in-law played an important role in Ruth's decision not to desert her. Ruth's decision to remain with Naomi was no small thing. She decided to do something that would be difficult, perhaps even dangerous, since she was ethnically a Moabite. But because she believed it to be the right thing to do, she pledged to stay with Naomi.

Ruth's unshakable love for her mother-in-law makes her "more useful than seven sons" (4:15). Ruth's compassion for those who suffer shows that emotion has a definite place in a balanced ethical life. Perhaps it is this that marks her out in God's eyes to be a woman of great worth and an inspiration to others. This story demonstrates clearly that God can choose someone outside of his covenant people to transform history forever. Bringing in a Moabite woman to be an agent of salvation also reveals much about God and his love for his creation, both male and female, Jew and Gentile.

What is our role then? May we show love, kindness, and care towards one another with no regard to gender, race, age, or looks. If Ruth had not decided to show kindness and care towards her mother-in-law, she would have missed out on great things! Let us never put off doing good and showing mercy towards the weak and the needy, even if it involves taking risks and facing dangers.

"Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God." (Hebrews 13:16)

- 16 JUNE -