Dear Family and Friends,

Our son gave us a pleasant surprise this week. Unbeknownst to us, he took our old VHS home videos and had them converted to digital files. Memories came rushing back as we watched our children as children.

But as fond as the memories were, I couldn’t stop thinking about how little we knew at the time where life would take us as a family.

For example, we are so proud of who our children have grown to become. Aileen deserves all the credit for that. And as for me, if someone had told me back then that I would one day dedicate my days to Jesus Christ…

I’m not sure about your life, but mine has been and continues to be a series of unplanned events. And in response, life has been and continues to be a series of decisions that change the direction of my life.

Some of these unplanned events were good, others were not. Likewise some of my decisions were good, while others were well…

Have you ever stopped to reflect on your life thus far? Have you experienced unplanned events and made decisions that changed the direction of your life? We all have – for life really is like a box of chocolates.

Today, I would like to share a few thoughts about our decisions when facing unplanned events.

But these thoughts are not my own. They’re actually lessons from a young woman who, like us, experienced unplanned events. Her story can be found in the book of the Bible named after her – Ruth.

If it’s been awhile since you last read Ruth, I encourage you to read it again. It’s only four chapters long. Today, for the sake of time, we will focus on one particular event in her life – a startling request by Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, asking Ruth to leave her and return home to her family.

Let’s first look at what led up to this conversation.

The story begins with the land of Judah suffering from a drought. The resulting famine drives Elimelech, an Israelite, to move his family, his wife Naomi and their two sons from their home in Bethlehem to Moab, a foreign land that sits across the Dead Sea.

Elimelech dies in Moab. Their two sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but then ten years later, the sons die too.

Weighing her options, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem with her two daughters-in-law. But soon after beginning their journey, Naomi stops and urges them both to return to their homeland, people and god. 

They initially resist but before we look at their responses, let’s take a closer look at what Ruth likely had to consider. 

When Ruth lost her husband, she lost so much more. She lost her dreams for the future, her hopes for a family, and the stability and security only a husband could provide in the male dominated society. 

Ruth’s story is very much like our own. We too have dreams, a whole bucket list of plans for the future. We too want stable and secure lives, where every day is drama-free. 

None of us want unplanned events, those that are beyond our control that disrupt our lives. But they happen anyway.

And when they do, it’s natural for us to think about our wellbeing and seek stability and security.

Orpah, Ruth’s sister, decided to seek stability and security in her homeland, people, and god. Her security would be the familiar world she grew up in. 

On the other hand, “Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”” Ruth‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ESV

Jewish historians say Ruth was actually a Moabite princess. She gave up more than dreams. She walked away from a comfortable life to follow Naomi into a life destined for poverty, into a land of foreign people and customs.

So given the fact that we too will face unplanned events, what can we learn from Ruth?

First, Ruth’s loyalty, respect, submission to her elder, and friendship all started with love.

Ruth’s love for Naomi is the kind of love Jesus asks that we have for others, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew‬ ‭22:39‬ ‭ESV

As mentioned earlier, we have a tendency to think first about our wellbeing. Ruth is teaching us to consider others, to factor in a love for others, as we decide on a course of action.

Second, Ruth chose to pursue our God, that our God would be her God.

Ruth is teaching us to do as Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ESV

Ruth pursued God’s kingdom, trusted in His righteousness, and let God take care of the basic needs of their lives. 

As it turned out, God took good care of Ruth. To this day, Jews celebrate the story of Ruth in a yearly observance called the Shavuot. The book of Ruth ends with a blessing from God on her life. Her great grandson became the King of Israel. His name was David.

We Christians have reason to celebrate Ruth as well. This is an excerpt from the genealogy of Jesus Christ found in Matthew. 

“and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:5-6‬ ESV

For those who may have a hard time seeing how Ruth’s lessons can apply to our lives, allow me to end with two personal examples.

It was two Easter’s ago that I had an unplanned event. I was showing signs of depression and needed a break from my role at the church.

Four months later I started on a new course in life. In response to my God given assignment, raising up young pastors in the Church, I wrote a book called Choosing Your Path. And I still meet with young pastors, all so anointed and gifted, and others who will also be pastors one day. 

Another unplanned event happened one Easter ago. This was when I learned that family members and many friends were not receiving spiritual nourishment. Yes, it has been a year since I began these weekly emails.

Please know that I share this not to self-promote, but to God-promote.

My wish is for us to see that the story of Ruth is not just an ancient feel good story.

Ruth’s story is about being true to the two commandments of Jesus.

It’s a story that teaches us how to love others and love God even in the midst of turmoil. “Let all that you do be done in love.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:14‬ ESV

It’s a story that encourages us to put our trust in Jesus as we make life changing decisions, even when it makes no sense.

And finally, Ruth’s story is a reminder that God finds ways to bless us. We will never end up in Jesus’ genealogy or have a book in the Bible named after us, but God will bless those of us who seek first his Kingdom and righteousness.

In love always,