My new favorite story may just be Ruth and Naomi in the Bible. I read the book of Ruth through a couple times recently, which can easily be done because it’s only four chapters! There were moments that jumped out at me as if I was reading them for the first time. I found myself inspired, and even tearing up, by the loyalty and bravery Ruth revealed. She showed integrity and grit when the outlook was uncertain. When we follow her story, we can see God rewarding her for her remarkable faithfulness.
Lately, there’s been a recurring thought I’ve been satelliting around—being faithful without knowing how our circumstances will resolve. One of the ways this theme made an appearance recently was while I observed the birds in the tree outside my bedroom window. I’m not sure if you’ve seen the meme that says, “One day you’re young and free; the next you’re like, ‘Is that a tufted titmouse at my bird feeder?’” Well, I can raise my hand in admission on this one. If you’ve been around me the last couple of years, I may or may not have recommended a free bird app that identifies birds by their songs. I don’t know how I arrived, but here I am.
In my budding birding interest, I started noticing birds in ways I hadn’t before. For example, the aforementioned tweeters outside my window sing before the sun comes up. Ask me how I know. When I fully woke, I questioned whether I just half-dreamed this, so I decided to do some internet research. As it turns out, it’s a real thing. I read a Duke University study where researchers confirmed that not only do birds sing while it’s still technically night to us, but they sing louder and longer just before dawn. And it’s not just to wake me up early; they are warming up for the day! Before dawn even breaks they are practicing faithfulness in their God-given assignment.
A similar kind of faithfulness can be found in the story of Ruth and Naomi. Young Ruth had been through so much. Her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law had all died. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, was leaving Moab to return to her homeland, the land of Judah. In a weepy exchange, Naomi encouraged her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to stay in their own homelands to start new lives. They were young enough to marry again and raise children, and frankly, as the two young women were Moabites, they would not necessarily be welcomed with open arms into Bethlehem. You can see the struggle and the bond between the women in Ruth 1:14 (NIV): “Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.”
My breath caught for a second when I read this. Ruth clung to her. Without knowing what her decision would bring, Ruth clung to remaining faithful to her mother-in-law. She went on to pledge her faithfulness to Naomi, who could offer her no husband, no children, no culturally accepted future (Ruth 1:16–17). Reluctantly, Naomi agreed and the two began their journey together. When it made no sense, Ruth left all she knew to stay by the side of her grieving mother-in-law.
What we can learn: make the decision to be faithful before you know the outcome.
So the two women traveled to Bethlehem, “[a]nd Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor’” (Ruth 2:2 NIV).
The Lord allowed “for the poor and for the sojourner” to provide for themselves this way (Lev. 19:9–10). So with her mother-in-law’s permission, Ruth followed behind the servants of that field and gleaned what they didn’t harvest. Boaz, the owner of the land, took notice of her efforts. He inquired about this young woman and saw her sacrifice on behalf of Naomi. He not only allowed her to continue harvesting behind his servants, he also offered her protection as she worked. At hearing of Boaz’s generosity, Ruth fell before him in gratitude. Boaz responded to her gesture, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (Ruth: 2:11–12).
It was at this point that Ruth began to see favor for her faithfulness. When she left her own family and homeland to travel with Naomi, Ruth decided she would be faithful. She showed her faithfulness to the watching world through her actions of gleaning the field to provide for her mother-in-law. In James 2:17 (NIV) we read, “[F]aith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Ruth’s faith was very much alive.
What we can learn: faith without action is phony.
A couple years ago I signed a contract to do some work with a global company which was an incredible opportunity for my career. By about day two of the first week of meetings, it was clear that we did not agree on how people should be treated. I watched the CEO criticize his executive team members publicly. I personally endured degrading and inappropriate comments from coworkers. And though my survival instinct was to push through and make it work, something inside of me was shouting, “No!” After praying about it, I felt like I should walk away. And so with no other plan in place for what was next, I did. It was scary and was for sure irresponsible by the world’s standards. But the God I read about in the Bible asked people to do some crazy things. And this moment was just the beginning of a more faith-filled journey for me and our family over the last couple of years. We intentionally chose to trust God when it didn’t make perfect sense. And I’ve seen him work and move on our behalf, and we have experienced His presence and His favor. He took care of our every need just like He did for Ruth. And He still does.
At the end of the book of Ruth, Boaz marries Ruth. He acted as a kinsman redeemer, a relative who takes responsibility for another family member. This was a beautiful foreshadowing of what Jesus did for us on the cross. And Ruth and Boaz ended up being part of the lineage that Jesus came from. I can’t think of a better way God could show favor.
What we can learn: God’s blessings follow faithful actions.
My friends, stay faithful when it doesn’t make sense. Do the things that seem crazy in the world’s eyes when God asks you to. Sing loud and long before you even see the dawn like the birds outside of my window. Listen for His instruction and trust Him enough to follow even when it doesn’t make sense. Faithfulness is not easy but it’s not about what it costs you, it’s about what it makes you. Faithful.
Maribeth is a creative, get-outta-the-box instigator with over twenty years’ experience leading and encouraging people professionally. You could call her a business exec, speaker, blogger, worship leader, podcaster, entrepreneur, or mentor, but whatever you do, don’t call her late for Taco Tuesday. MB loves lighting a fire under people who want more for their lives. She believes if you invest in building incredible people, you can grow an incredible organization.
In her free time, you can find her cooking authentic Mexican food with her husband, Chris, at their home in Tennessee and trying to keep their four boys from tracking mud through the house.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™