Date: Wednesday 20th June, 2018.

Topic: Love and Selflessness

Bible Reading: Ruth 1: 8–13 (The Holy Bible, New Living Translation®. Copyright 2007 © by Tyndale House Publishers.)

1. But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.

2. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.

3. “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”

4. But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands?

5. No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what?

6. Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.”

Word for Today: But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. – v. 8.

Inspiring Commentary:

Naomi continued, “May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage” then she kissed them goodbye and they all broke down and wept. These three widows demonstrated and displayed to us two basic ingredients needed in human existence and relationship, which is love and selflessness.

It was a moment of great emotional struggle. The widows were confronted with two possibilities: the imminent possibility of separation forever from a mother-in-law, whom they have lived with for years and have come to love and care for as their mother and who also loved them as daughters, and the possibility of following a mother-in-law to an uncertain destination.

Naomi demonstrated genuine love and selflessness in demanding that the young widows return home to their parents and seek a better future which she can’t possibly give them. The young widows, on the other hand, were obviously struggling, because of their concern for the older widow whom they wished to stay with in order to provide help and support. This is what Christianity is, in practical terms, when we seek the good of others as we do ours (Philippians 2:3-4).

Our relationships, families, fellowships and local churches will become better when all seek the good of others in genuine love and selflessness.

Prayer: O God, make us selfless in service so that our society will get better.