But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from
you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will
be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be
buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but
death separates you and me."
It takes a special grace, LOVE for a man to give himself out
without any expectations. Man, by nature always seek his profit in everything
and when there is none coming, man takes the easiest route out.
It is possible for us to give our money or gifts to people
around us especially the needy but often, we need more to give.
Naomi was a poor (formerly rich), embittered woman (she lost
her husband and two children) and had lost all with no hope but to go back to
her land and await death in pain and regrets. Not wanting to blame the little
women who married her two sons, she kindly and wholeheartedly sent them back to
their parents so that they can be married again. Even though it was painful,
but she has to do what was right; knowing that she has nothing to offer them.
Ruth, on the other hand was a young widow (even though she
had lost a husband at a very youthful age).
She had hope of a brighter future even though it fails with a man,
therefore, instantly comforting herself, she moves on with her life. Her
experience had made her to understand what it feels to be lonely and sorrowful;
therefore, she was ready to stay this old mother – in- law. She persisted on
not going back but staying with the woman until they be parted by death, in
fact she was ready to die with the old woman. Despite her need (for comfort and
companionship), she decided to meet the need of others. She gave herself
totally to Naomi. She had no money to offer Naomi but she made herself a source
of provision unto her. She had no child to replace the dead sons of Naomi but
she made herself a daughter unto her. Despite her loneliness, Ruth reaches out
to strengthen Naomi with her presence.
There are many people out there like Naomi who need no money
but someone to be Ruth to them. Some need a simple word of encouragement to get
out of the pit of depression and state of desperation. Words like, “It is
well”; “It is okay”; “Don’t worry”; “No matter what, Jesus loves you”; “ Jesus
cares for you”… are what many crave for and couldn’t get that led them into
compounded situations.
How many times have we spent time listening to people’s
problems even when we don’t have solutions to them? How many times have we
stretched forth our hands to embrace the lonely and dejected? How many times
have we taken the burden of others to God in the room of prayers? How many
times have we made ourselves a friend in need to someone? How many times have
we become reliable and reliable to someone? How many times have we made
ourselves someone’s confidant? How many times have we made ourselves people to
have around? How many times have corrected someone’s mistakes without
criticism? How many times have we gone extra mile to make another man stand?
How many times have we cried with those in pain and laugh with those rejoicing?
It is more than our money. Give your time; give your words;
give your hugs and embrace (but not to the opposite sex), give your strength;
give comfort, give your smile; give your prayers; give your best : make phone calls (flash if you are short of
airtime); send messages; comment on appearance, dressings etc; ask if they have
eaten even if you don’t have food to give them; visit people; run errands for
people (it doesn’t lower your status).
GIVE YOURSELF, GOD WILL BE HONORED, OTHERS WILL BE
ENCOURAGED AND YOU WILL BE APPRECIATED BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN TRILLION
DOLLARS!
