Daily Worship

Love is unselfish…

March 12, 2013 0 0

Ruth 1: 3, 5, 11-16

​3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.… 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

11… Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters (in law). Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—13 would you wait until they grew up?Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”

14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.  15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods.Go back with her.”

16 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…

​“As I have loved you, love one another….” (John 13:34,35) How do we love like Jesus?  It’s a tall order! But let’s continue to look at those who have tried.

No one would have blamed Ruth for going back home.  She was young and could find happiness again – but Ruth chooses to stick by Naomi.  Her mother-in-law needed her and Ruth obviously loved her.  Ruth cared for more than just Ruth alone…

Lord,

help me to love unselfishly:

to love more than me…

to love without thinking of the cost

without weighing up the odds,

Just as you did.

 

And do even now.

 

Because that’s the kind of love you love me with

and those I love,

as well as those I don’t

and don’t know.

Thank you.

Amen.

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written by Susan Brown