Alongside

“A man of Bethlehem, Elimelech and… his wife Naomi, and… his sons Mahlon and Chilion… went into the country of Moab. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives: Orpah and… Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so the woman was left without her sons and husband.

“Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from Moab, for she had heard… that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out.., and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. Naomi said to her daughters-in-law, ‘Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!’ Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept… and said to her, ‘No, we will return with you to your people…^‘ Then they… wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

“She said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.^‘ Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return 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 will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

“So the two of them went on.” Ruth 1:1-19,14-19

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

“Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The desire and willingness of Ruth to remain alongside her mother-in-law Naomi is nothing other than unusual, and divine. Yes, Naomi was the mother of her foreign husband, but he had died, and if she was returning without husband or sons to her home country that would mean a large and lonely change for this young woman. It was her God who drew Ruth to commit to uprooting, traveling, and relocating to Bethlehem. Her pledge is firm and far-reaching.

We meet many similar heartaches in this life: famine of finances, friendship, hope, soul. We lose people we love, and have our plans upended in ways we would never expect. Yet the Lord in His Body provides people to come alongside, to stand by us, walk with us, encourage us to keep on. He calls us to do the same for those who hurt, grieve, and need companionship whether they are aware or not.

Whom has the Lord provided to stand by me when I most needed it? How am I bearing in love and faithfulness with others? What have I learned from my own sorrows or hardships that enables me to care and sacrifice for another’s help or encouragement? How might I come alongside a brother or sister today? (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Father, help me readily, joyfully, sacrificially, faithfully serve others as You have me.