THE CHOICE OF RUTH

“But Ruth said, ‘Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried.  The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.’” (Ruth 1:16-17).

Introduction:

A.     The lesson setting:

1.    The sojourn in the land of Moab (v. 1-5).

a.       Characters:  Elimelech, Ruth, Mahlon, Chilion, Orpah,  and Ruth.

b.      Circumstances: famine and death.

2.    The return of Naomi to the land of Judah (v. 16-17).

a.       The words of our text are often used for the bride as she commits herself to her groom in a wedding ceremony.

b.      But these commitments were originally expressed by a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all daughters-in-law could express such commitment to the family into which they marry? 

c.       In this context, Ruth made a choice that would result in effects that would last a lifetime and beyond.

B.     The choice of Ruth will be the point of our emphasis today:

1.    Choices must be made throughout our lives.  And we must live with the consequences of those choices.

2.    Moses made a choice (Hebrews 11:24).

3.    Joshua called upon the people to make a choice (Joshua 24:15).

4.    Ruth made a noble choice.

C.     The choice of Ruth parallels choices that we must make and provides a wonderful example.

I.                    A PERSONAL CHOICE.

A.     No one persuaded Ruth to make it; none of her relatives had set the example for her; of her own will or volition she made it.

B.     We make personal choices today – give examples.

C.     Christianity is a religion of personal choice.

1.      We are not born Christians, like one is born a Jew, etc. No one can force or coerce us into being a Christian (nominally, perhaps, but not in reality). (Matt. 16:24; Rev. 22:17).

2.      In the performance of all of our Christian duties, it is likewise a matter of choice.  Each one of us chooses either to do or not to do what is pleasing to God (Acts 2:38; Phil 2:12).

3.      In the Day of Judgment – our choices will determine our rewards (Rom. 14:12; Rev. 22:12).  

II.                 A DETERMINED CHOICE.

A.     Ruth did not allow the example of Orpah or then insistence of Naomi to changer her mind.  Her resolute decision silenced the plea of Naomi.

B.     The decision to follow Christ must not be a knee jerk reaction to an emotional plea.  It must be a reasoned response to the instruction of God’s Word.  It must be a decision from which we must determine not to turn back and which leads us to deny ourselves in order to follow Christ.

III.               A COMPREHENSIVE CHOICE. 

A.      It involved a number of new relationships:

1.        A new country.

a.       Ruth left Moab.

b.      “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot My disciple.” (Luke 14:43).

2.        A new home.

a.       Ruth determined to live with Naomi.

b.      We are looking for a new home (John 14:1-3).

3.        New relationships.

a.       Ruth was willing to look for new friends and relationships in Judah.  She sacrificed the friends of her youth.

b.      “He who loves father or mother Me is not worthy of Me.  He who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37-38).

4.        A new religion.  

a.       Ruth was ready to give up the religion of the Moabites.

b.      Christianity involves a new religion for many, and a change of religious convictions on the part of others.  It is a new start (2 Cor. 5:17) with a new faith in God and the confidence in the gospel of Christ (1 Thess. 1:9-10).

IV.              A CHOICE MADE WHILE YOUNG.

A.     Boaz recognized the youthfulness of Ruth. While she was yet young and able to (capable of) change, she made her decision and stuck with it!  How different from many who make commitments they do not intend to keep and who change their minds with the changing direction of the wind.

B.     We are called by God to give our youthful years to Him (Ecc. 12:1).

C.     Early devotion is likely to be permanent devotion, distinguished devotion.  Life becomes happy and useful when we begin to serve God in youth! 

V.                 A CHOICE FOR ALL TIME.

A.     Though made in a moment, it was made for all time.  She didn’t make the choice as an experiment.  Having put her “hand to the plow,” she determined never to look back.  She was making a new life for herself in a new land among a new people.  Her choice gave her a permanent place in sacred history and a distinguished position as an ancestress of the Messiah (Matt. 1).  Her good choice had a far-reaching consequence that she could not have possibly imagined at the time it was made.

B.     The choice to become a Christian should be one that is made for all time as well.  Having begun we should carry through to the very end.  What God has in store for us is more than the mind of man can possibly comprehend.  “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed….Beloved, now are we the sons of God.  And it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know….” (1 John 3:1-2)