Ruth & Naomi

She was grouchy, negative, resentful. She was unpleasant to be around. She was angry with God, embittered about her life. Naomi was the kind of person I want to run away from and avoid. And yet Ruth moved toward Naomi. I can imagine that the suffering of her own loss, grieving for her husband and entering a strange new country, Ruth longed for the support and comfort of friends. But even in her own suffering, she saw the needs of another, this irritable old woman named Naomi. She persevered in faithfulness, serving her in love and gentleness.

What do you do with the “Naomi’s” in your life? When I encounter a “Naomi,” criticizing and complaining about life, I just want to run away. I want to cover my ears or leave the room. I want to go find some friends to laugh with.

I want to go back to Moab.

But I have been bought with a  price. God has brought me out of Moab, out of my old slavery to sin and selfishness, and transferred me to His kingdom, the kingdom of His Son. Like Ruth, I have a new life and a new mission. My life is not my own. I belong to the Faithful One.

I cannot forget – I was once angry with God. I was once bitter and resentful. When I was a sinner, Christ died for me. And every day, when I forget Him, He does not forget me. I spurn Him, but He pursues me. He is always with me. He has promised to never give up on me, but to hold me in His strong hand.

Only in the ridiculous blindness of my fallen mind can I want to give up on my “Naomi’s.” In the true light of His grace, I find the love to be faithful.

What does this mean? To be faithful to “Naomi,” we will be on the alert to see God’s activity in Naomi’s life, even in the smallest of ways. God is working and His work is unfolding in beauty. We will trust Him, and we will watch for Him, and when we see Him, we will share it with Naomi.

We will walk alongside “Naomi.” We will enter the details of her world as Christ entered our world. Sometimes we will patiently sit with her in quietness. Sometimes we will serve her by “gleaning the barley,” or by bearing some of the weight of her own heavy loads.

Most importantly, we will pray. We will bring the needs of “Naomi” to the Father. We will pray Scripture and ask Him to make it real in Naomi’s experience. We will rely on the One who loves Naomi, and trust Him to work His redemption through me and through her, for His glory.