Commitment

Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Ruth 1:16

Isn't that a sweet picture? I wonder how long they've been married? I wonder what they've been through? Many would have given up long ago. Did they have more love than the average couple? I doubt it. I think what they have is commitment. Commitment to each other, their family and perhaps to God.

Our verse is often used in the marriage ceremony but actually, that's out of context. A young woman named Ruth is speaking this to her mother-in-law. Why? Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi had come to Moab with her husband and two sons. The boys married Moabite women. In the course of time, Naomi's husband and both her sons died. There were no grandchildren. When Naomi heard the famine was over in Israel, she decided to return home. There was nothing left for her in Moab. She tried to convince the girls to return to their families. One did, but there was no convincing Ruth.

Ruth made a commitment first to her husband, now to her mother-in-law, and to God. She is willing to go to a new country, a new language, and culture, and follow the God her people did not know. She had no promises from Naomi that life would be good. There were no promises of income, a husband or anything. Because of her faith in God, she just knew that following Jehovah was her best option.

God honored Ruth and Naomi's trust in Him. Unbeknownst to Ruth, God led her to glean in a field of Naomi's near kinsman. Through this near kinsman, they were provided with sustaining food. She would soon marry this near kinsman named Boaz and become the mother of Obed. Strange name, but Obed was King David's grandfather.

Ruth went through some very difficult times that would have caused many to throw up their hands and quit. Her commitment to God, her mother-in-law and to her husband reaped great rewards for her and her family. Her greatest reward was to be one of the women in the lineage to the King of kings, Jesus Christ.

Commitment is sadly lacking in our day. It's becoming very unusual to see two elderly people still walking hand in hand. Those who stay committed find great rewards at the end of their journey.

Hey Kids:

Ruth's commitment didn't start with her marriage. It started with her commitment to follow God because of the example of her mother-in-law. She saw Naomi's commitment to God and the strength is was giving her to return to Bethlehem without any promises.

Who do you see setting a Godly example for you?

In what ways is that encouraging you to follow the Lord?

Are you committed to following the Lord no matter what?

Have you made a commitment to read your Bible every day? To pray every day?

Maybe the next step would be to investigate the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:22,23

You might draw and cut out a piece of fruit and label it with one of the fruits. Try practicing that fruit for a week and journal your successes and mishaps.

Next week add another fruit. Commitment to the Lord will help you find your way in life and marriage. When you come to the end of your journey you may very well find yourself and your spouse reaping the rewards of commmitment.