Ruth 1:16-17
“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. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”
With the many seasons in my life, God has provided at least one faithful friend to keep me company as I journeyed through each one. Being a relational person, I love having many friends but am content when only a few become really close ones. To do friendship well it takes time, devotion, and faithfulness and, I must admit, on occasion I have failed.
One of the best examples of one who didn’t fail comes from the Book of Ruth. During the period of the Judges, approximately 1200 BC, a famine in the region of Bethlehem persuaded a man named Elimelech to take his wife, Naomi, and their two sons to fertile fields in Moab. Soon after, Elimelech died leaving Naomi to live in a foreign land of idol worship. In time, the two sons chose wives, Orpah and Ruth, but soon the sons died. Naomi could see no future in the foreign land and decided to return to her homeland. She insisted both daughters-in-law return to their own homes. Orpah agreed, but Ruth resisted and vowed to go with Naomi, renouncing her family and her religion. Ruth pledged her faithfulness to Naomi using the beautiful words in today’s scripture passage.
This statement of commitment and faithfulness is often used in the marriage ceremony but is actually a pledge from one friend to another. Ruth pledged her all to Naomi; she gave up everything to follow her to a foreign land with a promise to accept her God. Through the faithfulness of both women, God used Ruth to fulfill the family tree that led to the birth of Christ.
We may not be called to give up everything or go to a foreign land for the sake of friendship but would we be willing to go the extra mile for one? How strong is our faithfulness? Do our friends know we can be counted on to keep our word? To love them no matter what? To see good when they can’t? To hold on when they’ve let go? To show them the promises of scripture when they cannot see? Friendships are often hard, and we may ask at times if they are worth all the effort required. Oh, yes, dear readers, they are worth it! True, faithful friendships are treasures, investments if you will, that will pay rich dividends as together we journey through the seasons of life.
Dear Father, thank you for the example of Ruth who shows us what a faithful friendship looks like. We are grateful for the friends You have brought into our lives, faithful, devoted treasures who keep us company on our journey. We thank You mostly for Jesus, our Savior, and friend, the One Who will never leave or forsake us, Who goes wherever we go, and Who loves us more than anyone can. We pray in His faithful name. Amen.
Painting by Victor Gabriel Gilbert
