Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
Elimilech and Naomi move from Bethlehem to Moab to avoid a great famine that hits the land. They have two sons Mahlon and Chilion. Their sons marry Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Elimilech dies. Then Mahlon and Chilion die. Naomi, having lost her husband and both her sons, makes the decision to move back to Bethlehem. Naomi encourages Ruth and Orpah to remain behind in Moab. Perhaps, Naomi reasoned, they could find husbands among their people.....it would probably be difficult for Ruth and Orpah to find husbands in the land of Bethlehem being Moabite women. And after all, they are both still young with a lot of life in front of them.
Orpah stays in Moab, but Ruth insists on going to Bethlehem with her mother in law. One of the motivating factors for Ruth, was that she recognized that the God she had worshiped being part of Naomi's family, the God of Israel, was the one true God. It was an unacceptable thought for her to return to a people who worshiped false gods. But to follow God by going with Naomi would not have been the most prudent economic decision for Ruth.
Ruth becomes an example for believers in that she followed God no matter what the cost. Too many believers make decisions based, not upon the will of God, but on whatever is going to produce the most positive outcome for their family financially.
There is no shame in financial prosperity, and the bible tells us that God delights in the prosperity of His people. However, if there ever comes a time in which following the direction that God wants you to go, comes into conflict with the best economic decision.......choose God's direction. Follow God, no matter what it costs you. By the way, I hear the rewards in heaven for sacrifices made here are pretty substantial.
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