We’ve probably all heard infamous stories of meddling mother-in-laws, ones who resemble the humorous example in the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” This particular television show positions a young couple and their children right across the street from the husband’s overbearing parents. The mother-in-law constantly criticizes the daughter-in-law in that “bless your heart” backhanded kind of way. The daughter-in-law is always self conscious, trying to live up the standards of her mother-in-law’s cooking or cleaning or child rearing. The husband spends most of his days clueless or trying to extinguish fires created between his wife and his mother. It’s really not an uncommon portrayal of these types of family relationships.
The Bible, however, illustrates this unique link between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law in a much different way. In the book of Ruth, God uses a mother and her deceased son’s wife as exemplars of loyalty and sacrifice. Naomi is a mother to two sons, both of which were killed in battle, leaving behind wives. Having previously lost her husband as well, Naomi was left with just her daughters-in-law. Though she was surely lonely and scared, this mother knew that the young women should go back to their homelands in order to remarry and continue on their lives. However, Ruth refused to leave Naomi’s side, despite the mother-in-law’s urgings. And her willingness to support the family in this way illustrates numerous lessons about how we, as loyal followers of Christ, should help meet the needs of those around us, how we should find ways to be true givers.
giving is sacrificial
Naomi and Ruth both mourned the loss of a shared loved one; however, Naomi was wise enough to realize that Ruth was still vibrant and youthful, still likely to remarry and continue on with a family of her own. Despite her fewer years, however, Ruth proved to be even wiser, understanding that the love she had developed for Naomi was far more important than starting a new life. Naomi was her family, and she was easily willing to sacrifice an comfortable future for a continued relationship with a woman she respected and cherished.
In verses 8 and 9 of Ruth 1, “Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. 9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Ruth, however, responds with humility and a sacrificial spirit: 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” (16-17). She did not hesitantly follow along out of guilt or obligation; she stayed committed to Naomi because of an unconditional love, a love worth giving up her own independence or dreams.
giving requires sensitivity and humility
Ruth not only loved Naomi, but recognized a need in Naomi’s life that only she could fulfill. Naomi had been left alone, outliving a husband and both sons. She was in need of companionship, but just as importantly, she had physical needs which would be even harder to meet as she got older. Ruth obviously understood the tangible, day-to-day hardships Naomi would face as an elder widow with little chance of remarrying, so she not only remains loyal to Naomi as a friend, she also commits her life to serving Naomi’s needs. In Ruth 2:2, “Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.’” She acknowledges that Naomi will need her help to physically survive and is humbly willing to become a servant to aid her. She readily visits fields to pick up scraps so that she and Naomi will not have to go hungry.
giving reaps rewards
Ruth was never looking to be repaid for her love and service to Naomi. She was simply loyal because that is what she knew Naomi needed at the time. Because of her willingness to give sacrificially to her mother-in-law, however, God blessed Ruth obviously and generously.
First, when Ruth visits Boaz’s fields and asks to take only the leftovers, this honorable man orders his workers to leave a bountiful supply of grain behind for her. (Boaz gave orders to his men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don’t embarrass her. Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.” Ruth 2:14-16)
Second, Boaz not only gives food to Ruth, but eventually buys Naomi’s family’s land and marries Ruth herself. Such an action provides both stability and protection for Ruth’s future, even though she was willing to live without these things for Naomi’s sake. (Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!” Ruth 4:9-10)
Last, God blesses Ruth’s loyalty and service in the most awesome way. She gives birth to a son, Obed, part of the lineage of the future king David, a royal family for sure. Because of Ruth’s example of conditional love and giving, God not only blessed her present life but allowed her to be part of the most incredible legacy. (”Naomi has a son.” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:17).
Early in the book of Ruth, when Boaz learns of the devotion Ruth has shown Naomi and God, he says “”I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:11-12). God did indeed give Ruth refuge and rewards. When we, too, love God enough to sacrifice to meet the needs to those impoverished around us, then we will finally, truly understand the peace and blessings God desires us to possess. Ruth is a perfect reminder of the giving spirit present in the hearts of those who love God.