Being Loyal

Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. 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.”

Ruth 1:16

One time there was a famine in Bethlehem. A Jewish man named Elimelech moved to Moab with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons so they would have food. Elimelech was Jewish and worshiped God, but Moab was a pagan country, one where the people worshiped idols. While the family was living in this foreign country, the two sons married Moabite women. One of the women was named Ruth.

Things didn’t go well for Elimelech’s family in Moab. Elimelech died. Later, both of his sons died. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were left alone with no husbands to care for them. Naomi decided it was time to go back to Bethlehem, where she still had family and friends. One of her daughters-in-law, Orpah, returned to her family. But the other daughter-in-law, Ruth, decided to go with Naomi to Bethlehem.

Naomi tried to persuade Ruth to stay in Moab, but Ruth stayed with her mother-in-law even though Naomi was a bitter woman because of all she had lost. Ruth chose to give up her pagan ways and worship the true God. She became one of God’s princesses.

When they reached Bethlehem, Ruth didn’t feel sorry for herself because she was in a strange country. She didn’t ask for pity because her husband had died. She didn’t let her grief keep her from doing what needed to be done. She went to work to care for herself and Naomi.

In those times, when farmers harvested their fields, they’d leave behind the grain that was dropped. The poor could come and gather that grain to feed themselves. That’s how Ruth provided for herself and Naomi.

Ruth gathered grain in a field that belonged to a man named Boaz. After she married Boaz, she took care of Naomi. God blessed Ruth and allowed her to be a part of Jesus’ family tree by being the great-grandmother of King David.

God wants you to be loyal to your family and to take care of your family members. When you choose to spend time playing or working with them, you are honoring God, who gave you your family.

Look for opportunities to put your family members first this week. Take time to play a game with a younger sibling, or allow an older sibling to choose which movie to watch, even if it’s your turn to pick. Do a job for a family member, and help without being asked.