Ruth was a woman who dared to love and live in sacrifice

From: April 17-23, 2007 Study: # 488

TOPIC: “Ruth was a woman who dared to love and live in sacrifice” Ruth 2:1-12 Nowadays it seems that no one wants to do anything for others. But Ruth was a woman who was willing to love and live in sacrifice. To live in sacrifice as Ruth did seems to be something of the past because nowadays we only seek for others to please us and we live complaining. We even complain when we do well to others because we expect applauses and to be recognized. This is proper in all human beings, to complain all the time. But it should not be this way. When we make a commitment we should be willing to the sacrifice. It is good and pleasant before God when we serve and love others giving ourselves in sacrifice. God cannot be fooled. Ruth was not interested in obtaining rewards from men, but from God. God is sovereign, His love is great and He never gets tired of loving us. Men are scarce, abundance is found only in God. The more we love, the more we will have to sacrifice. There is great sacrifice in love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 Many are only interested in rewards and applauses and not in loving. This is the reason why they are never satisfied. Ruth was a young woman who lived satisfied. If we want to work in a person’s life we must understand that this implies much sacrifice. When we love it is not easy to work in the lives of others, it hurts to give ourselves or to correct those who we love. We must understand that all kinds of people arrive at the church. This is why the Bible tells us that the weed and the grain will grow together and we must love both, but the best thing is that God will eliminate the straws. When a person seeks recognition they are never satisfied. Ruth exerted herself for only one reason: for love. Sometimes we can find some who appear to be vigorous, but there is no sincerity in them. Naomi’s other daughter-in-law, Orpah, was only interested in her own welfare. We choose if we want to be like Ruth or like Orpah. Naomi was a pleasant woman; that was the meaning of her name. She was a woman who everyone loved, she was a tender woman. Orpah was fond of her mother-in-law, but not as strong as the love there was in Ruth that turned Ruth towards sacrifice. If Orpah would have understood clearly this love, she would have never left her mother-in-law, Naomi. Love is, and will always be even if there is nothing in return. Affection will cease when the essence of love is not there. To love is to leave behind anything that can hurt the person we love. Ruth and Orpah enjoyed the love Naomi had for them, but it was time for them to decide, not for Naomi but for God. There are things that can only come from God and not from men. We must decide for the God who blesses us, who is our providence. It is God who demands this from us. We either choose Orpah’s path or Ruth’s path. In each decision that we make we will bear fruits. Orpah loved Naomi but she was not willing to sacrifice. Sacrifice will bear a fruit at a certain moment. Sacrifice is needed for everything. When one loves there is much sacrifice. The greater is the one who serves. Luke 22:27 Naomi made clear to Orpah and Ruth that she had nothing more to offer them. Orpah thought there was nothing that could attach her to Naomi. Ruth’s answer to Naomi was that wherever Naomi would go she was going to stay by her side. Ruth 1:16 It was the beginning of the path for Ruth, she was not scared even though she knew that Naomi had nothing to offer her. Ruth offered her mother-in-law her youth, her strength and all the love she had because all this she had learned from Naomi. She didn’t care about the suffering because this is sacrificial love. The best quality we can find in a person is when the person is determined. No matter how far or how hard the journey would be, Ruth was determined to stay with Naomi. A sacrificial love gives it all. Naomi was a woman who served God. Ruth made a total sacrifice for love expecting nothing in return. Naomi was moved to see how determined Ruth was. When we are determined

we convince those who surround us. It was more convenient for Naomi to return alone then to bring a young woman with her. Ruth had to understand she would have problems since she was a Moabite where idolatry existed. It is not how great we are or how strong we can be, but how welldisposed (determined) we are to love and give our lives in sacrifice. This young woman who was completely determined, without any experience or maturity, had learned to love her mother-inlaw. Naomi recognized that she was bitter (Marah). Ruth 1:20 But regardless of this Ruth was determined to stay by her side. We must learn and understand that we must continue to love unconditionally. Naomi was bitter; Ruth promised to stay by her side and help her be free from her bitterness having God as her providence. Humbly, Ruth went to work. She was a hard working woman; she was not lazy or comfortable. She gleaned in the field for her mother-in-law who was completely bitter because she lost everything she had. God guided her and became her provider. Ruth requested permission to work in the worst job. She asked to go to the fields and pick up the leftover grains that were left behind. It was a low job, but she did it because of her love towards Naomi. She was a hard working woman; she had been working since the early rising without resting. Ruth was a stranger; she wasn’t related to Naomi’s family. She had left her family to find refuge in the God of Israel. She only knew she needed a job to help Naomi. Ruth 2:17 An ephah is a measurement in Israel that equals 35 liters. Ruth picked enough barley for several days and she threshed it. Those who are willing to pay a big price are those who will be blessed. Ruth gave her self completely. We should do the same, give ourselves completely. Nowadays everything is laziness and as far as being spiritual there is little effort, then we began to decay. It is complicated to find a Ruth in these days. When we live in comfort there it no strength, neglecting ourselves or determination. When a person has strength and abnegation, then we know that the person will have victory. We must continue working until we get what we need to get. The birth of our Savior Jesus came from the linage of Ruth. She seeked God’s blessings. Ruth had nothing to offer but her love and sacrifice. Will you be willing to do as she did? Will we love with sacrifice? Amen. Tierna = tender, soft Cariño = affection, love; fondness, liking (a for); cariños plural endearments, show of affection; tener cariño a be fond of; gift Dispuesto = well-disposed (hacia towards); architecture well designed; poco dispuesto a infinitive reluctant to infinitive, loath to infinitive; Disponer = arrange, dispose, lay out; line up en fila; (preparar) get ready (para for); intransitive verb disponer de (usar) make use of, avail oneself of; (tener listo) have something available. Abnegación = self-denial, abnegation