Ruth 1:1-2 TO GO OR STAY What am I to do in dark days of moral and spiritual decline? Am I responsible to accept and/or acquiesce to every decision society and the government makes as laws, and compromise the unchanging laws of God? The days in which the judges ruled the land of Israel got progressively worse with each passing generation of people and changing leadership. It seemed like a hopeless task to live for God when there were so few around that were committed to the Lord and His word. Perhaps it was in the time when the Midianites took almost everything the people of Israel had, that Elimelech took his family from the fertile country of Bethlehem-Judah in a time of famine, east of the Jordan River to Moab.
There are times when we make life-changing decisions and we hardly realize what we have done and the serious consequences that can come from them. We may try to justify leaving where we are because we can make more money there. Or, the job opportunities are better for our children and the school-system here is poor and I don't want to hone-school my children. Unless we are conscious of the leading of the Lord to another location, it is best for us to endure the pressures and difficulties of hard times where we are, then to make a move to an area where the influences around will lead us away from the Lord and into the influence of idolatry.
The book of Ruth teaches us how to remain strong in character and true to God when all around us people are “doing what is right in their own eyes.” A dark day had descended on God’s people spiritually, and morally, society was getting rapidly worse. Disobedience to God, idolatry and violence was all around. But God was still at work in the lives of at least three people: Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. God’s grace is in evidence in the midst of difficult circumstances. In times of crisis and deep despair, there are those who follow God, and through whom God works to bring blessing to others. He will use anyone who is open to Him to fulfill His purposes. The book of Ruth, therefore, is a book of encouragement to remind us God is still at work in the world and He can use you to bring others to Him.
It is quite probable that many of God's people today, like in Ruth's day, live in unbelief and disobedience and are not enjoying God's blessings. They make the mistake of walking by sight, not by faith. Faith enables us to look above, and live above the things around us that seem so obviously acceptable to the majority of people. Running away from difficulties does not necessarily mean we will escape the consequences of them. We can also make the second mistake Elimelech made by majoring on the physical and not the spiritual parts of our lives. We need also to make sure we are honoring and obeying the Lord, not the enemy. By immigrating to Moab, the result was he forsook the spiritual rest that he could have had even in difficult times, and led the others of his family into the consequences of following the ways of the world.
Whether we realize it or not, a time of famine is a time of harvest. Even though the situations in life may seem more than we are willing to accept, "Seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." It may be in the tough times we have our highest spiritual experiences. Often in the difficulties that befall people, they are inclined to turn to God. The harvest time is still on-going presently in this world in spite of the indifferent and careless attitude toward God and the Bible in privileged places. It is our responsibility to discipline ourselves in "times of famine" and keep our commitments to God, His people and the world of lost souls around us.
There is not a lot drama in the book of Ruth like obvious miracles being performed or battles being fought and won. The people the Spirit of God uses to teach us some of life's important lessons were folks like us who lived life from day to day without a whole lot of excitement. A family suffers the consequences of a bad decision by the father. This happens to people like us. Death comes in and leaves grieving widows who wonder what to now. Because we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, does not make us immune to the inevitable "last enemy." But when a young man, woman or child dies we have a tendency to think God has been unfair to us. We think this should not happen to a young person. And when a person has had a certain amount of security and now is left destitute, we have to be careful lest bitterness makes our lives worse than they already are. In this book of Ruth there are common-sense lessons taught to us that are illustrated by ordinary people who haven't had some great spiritual call to a great spiritual work.
But in the main characters of the book we learn how to respond to life as it is for most people. They went through normal day to day living and stayed faithful to God.
We will make mistakes. What should and can we do about it when they create havoc in our normal routine of daily living? When death comes into our own family in an unexpected way. How should we react to tragedy? When an older person feels abandoned and hardly knows where to turn for help. What can that person do? When a young widow is feeling especially vulnerable in the situation in life where she hasn't lived much yet and wants - and needs - the companionship and physical connection with a husband. What is appropriate behavior? When a man is successful in business and is looked up to by many as having achieved what they want, and yet is wanting a solid relationship that is not built on his success or money - how should he conduct himself and what should he do to maintain his reputation and still be consistent to his convictions? All these and more questions that arise in the lives of those who are just common people are dealt with in the book of Ruth. God is at work in our lives even though we may not always be conscious of it and nothing really big happens to us. Basically, the point is that our Lord teaches us how to be faithful in ordinary living. How to do what is right no matter what other people do. How to please God without hardly being aware of it.
There are principles and practices that we need to follow As we make choices in the course of our lives. Many of the attractions and temptations are hollow Still people seek for them hoping for a better prize.
To leave what has been proven and give to us by God Is to go outside His provision through grace. Following the road away from the Lord millions have already trod, Will lead to a spiritually dark and perilous place.
The danger is there to lose what we had In exchange for some temporary gain. Separations and death serve to make one sad, Bringing to others and self unneeded pain.
Lessons from those in the past and the mistakes they made If we heed them will preserve us from failing. We will be strengthened in faith for the unknown ahead And in difficulties will find the Lord for us prevailing.
"Father, I know there have been many times I have made mistakes and failed in the work to which I have been called. The way back to usefulness and fellowship with Thee is a wonderful experience and the lessons learned, I would like to pass on for the benefit of others. If this is the way to do this best, I pray I will be guided by the Holy Spirit to be biblical and appropriate to those in the family who will take time to read this. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.'