SelfLess Love

The other night I read the story of Ruth in the Old Testament.  To be clear, this was actually the first time I had read it from start to finish. Here's the jist of the story: A man named Elimelech was from Bethlehem in Judah, but a famine swept the land so Elimelech left for Moab with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons.  Once there, each of their sons married Moabite women. Suddenly, Elimelech and their sons died, leaving Naomi with her two daughters-in-law: Ruth and Orpah.  Imagine their sorrow, their most-loved ones: gone.

Naomi heard that the LORD had blessed the people in Judah, so she decided it would be best to return to her husband's homeland. On the way, Naomi, having pure love for her new daughters, told them to go back to their homes to marry and have a new life of joy instead of sadness.  This is selfless love.  She wanted the BEST for them... even though that meant loneliness for her.  Orpah agreed to turn back, but Ruth decided to stand by Naomi's side through the loneliest of times.  She said, "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.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us."  This, again is love true: to sacrifice self for the betterment of someone else... UNTIL DEATH! So incredible. She does not just choose to love today, or promise to love tomorrow, but she commits to loving forever.  When we say, "I love you" do we mean this kind of love?  Do we show this kind of love? Do we desire THIS kind of love? I want to submit to you that the LORD wants to offer THAT kind of love to YOU-even if you think you have nothing to offer.  He will never leave you or forsake you; in your loneliest or darkest of times... He will be with you. And He will be with me.

So, as the story goes on... Naomi and Ruth hear about a man named Boaz, once they arrive in Judah.  Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, owned a field nearby.  Ruth went there to pick up fallen grains that were not going to be used by Boaz or collected by his employees.  She just gets the scraps... maybe that's all she thought she was worth.  But, Boaz comes to her, lovingly and allows her to retrieve for herself the good grains and tells her to help herself to water, bread, and wine. (Interesting combination... living water? communion? food for thought.)

As the story goes on Naomi, again with her pure love for Ruth, wants the best for her.  She convinces Ruth to dress nice, put on her perfume, and go over to Boaz's to make an impression.  Boaz is a part of the family, so he is the one that can "redeem" her husbandless life (Bible-time's culture).  Boaz, in his honesty, reveals that there is a family member closer in line to Elimelech.  So he says, "Stay here tonight and in the morning I will talk to him.  If he is willing to redeem you, very well.  Let him marry you.  But if he is not willing then as surely as the LORD lives, I will redeem you myself!"

The next day, Boaz finds the man that should be given the first opportunity to buy Elimelech's land.  He agrees, but Boaz tells him that, "Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow.  That way she can have children who will carry on her husband's name and keep the land in the family." He says that he does not want to marry Ruth because it might endanger his own estate (sounds like an excuse to me).  So, in front of the town Boaz announces that he is going to buy the land and marry Ruth in order that she may have children! They live happily ever after ;)

I am humbled by this story... in more ways than one.  I am a New Testament reader. I admit it.  It's hard for me to read the Old Testament, because I feel like I cannot connect with the stories.  My pride... to think I am too good for parts of the word of God.

Ruth's commitment to Naomi is the kind of commitment I want to have for my friends and family.  I don't want to give up, even when asked to, or even when life's circumstances make it easy to.  To stand by someone through hard times is such a gift and a blessing.  I'm so glad Naomi, once hearing Ruth's commitment to her, let her love and help her.  A lot times, in our society we reject help, even when we need it most.  Please, let people in.  Let people walk the journey with you; we need each other.
And, how about Boaz's character?  That he felt concern for this woman, Ruth, in that he provided for her, got to know her, and still offered that she marry someone else because it was the right thing to do... another example of selfless love.  So, then he marries Ruth, redeeming her and her land.  She may have felt worthless, but Boaz counted her worthy.  Maybe this is like how Jesus wants to redeem us, and give us worth.  A lot of times, I put my worth in what people think of me and find my identity in the types and amount of friendships I have.  I believe that the LORD is going to use this summer to shed that desire in me, because my focus will be on Him alone.  May He be my joy and salvation, may He be my rock and worth.  May I find delight in how the LORD sees me: beautiful, blameless, and blessed.

So, that people... is what I have been thinking about lately.  Your thoughts or response is greatly encouraged.  I'd love to hear what you think :)