What can we learn about commitment from Ruth 1:10? Setting the Scene “and said to her, ‘We insist on returning with you to your people.’” (Ruth 1:10) Commitment Begins with a Choice • Both Ruth and Orpah voiced the same resolve. • Commitment starts with a deliberate, spoken decision (cf. Joshua 24:15). • Words alone cannot sustain devotion, but they reveal where the heart aims to go (Matthew 12:34). Commitment Must Survive the Test • Verses 11–14 show Naomi’s persuasive warnings: no husband prospects, no security, only hardship. • Orpah’s departure exposes a commitment limited by cost. • Ruth stays—proving true commitment outlasts inconvenience (John 6:66–68). Commitment Is Relational, Not Transactional • Ruth clings to Naomi because she loves Naomi and Naomi’s God (v. 16). • Our loyalty to the Lord and His people is rooted in covenant relationship, not personal gain (John 15:13). • Real commitment always involves another person’s welfare, not merely our comfort (Philippians 2:3–4). Commitment Requires Abandoning Plan B • Ruth leaves homeland, family, language, and gods—no safety net remains (Luke 9:62). • True devotion removes the escape hatch. • Following Christ means losing life to gain it (Mark 8:34–35). Commitment Invites God’s Providential Favor • Ruth’s steadfastness positions her for Boaz’s kindness (Ruth 2:12). • Her loyalty weaves her into Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:5). • God honors those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30). Living Out Ruth-Like Commitment Today – Settle the “yes” in your heart before trials come. – Align with godly people even when culture pulls the opposite direction. – Count the cost; then choose Christ over comfort every time. – Stay faithful in the mundane—gleaning in the fields precedes harvest blessings. – Trust that obedience today shapes eternity tomorrow. |