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Ruth 1:16-17(NKJV) 16But 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. 17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
A Mother Worth Her Weight In Velcro Ruth 1:16-17
Worth Her Weight • Today is Mother’s Day in our country • Paul said we should render to all their due, giving honor to whom honor is due (Rom. 13:7) • It’s only fitting that we honor our mothers today, since they are the creation of God
Worth Her Weight • Most of us take the time on Mother’s Day to think about the qualities of our own mothers • We admire those qualities that made our mothers so special • We do our best to live as we were taught by our mothers
Worth Her Weight • God has given us some wonderful examples of mothers in His word • These examples are there for a reason (Rom. 15:4) • One example we want to look at this morning is a mother so wonderful that her daughter in law desired to cling to her
Worth Her Weight • 1. Naomi was a faithful wife • When we say our wedding vows, they usually include a line like this: “…in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse…until death do us part” • Naomi’s marriage was not without difficulty • There was a famine that forced them to move
Worth Her Weight • 1. Naomi was a faithful wife • Hardships often cause stress and arguments in a relationship • One of the leading causes of divorce is financial issues • Through it all, Naomi stayed faithful to her husband until he died
Worth Her Weight • 2. Naomi was a good mother • Following the death of her husband, she still had 2 sons to raise and care for • It appears that her sons did not marry until after their fathers death • She was faithful to her sons and stayed with them
Worth Her Weight • 2. Naomi was a good mother • They say you never stop being a mother, no matter how old your kids are • Naomi certainly did not stop being a mother • She was also a good mother-in-law • We know this by the way her daughters-in-law wanted to stay with her
Worth Her Weight • 3. Naomi was selfless • Naomi was no doubt lonely following the death of her sons • Selfishly, she could have begged Orpah and Ruth to remain with her and help her • However, she told them to go back home to their families
Worth Her Weight • 3. Naomi was selfless • She could have blamed Orpah and Ruth for what happened to her sons (they were Moabites – Deut. 23:3-6) • Instead she put this tragedy upon herself • The bitterness of life did not cause Naomi to become selfish
Worth Her Weight • 4. Naomi saw the good in others • Naomi recognized that her daughters-in-law had dealt kindly with her • In all of the trials and tragedy, she did not fail to see the kindness that they bestowed upon her and her sons • Naomi saw this and praised them for it
Worth Her Weight • 5. Naomi was an encourager • Naomi blessed and encouraged both Orpah and Ruth (vs. 8-9) • Naomi could have allowed her circumstances to cause her to speak in an ill manner towards these 2 young women • She encouraged them to be all they could
Worth Her Weight • 6. Naomi was loving • It’s one thing for a mother to love her children and her husband • Naomi went above and beyond in her love for Orpah and Ruth • The very definition of love says that love does not seek its own (I Cor. 13)
Worth Her Weight • 6. Naomi was loving • Naomi really fits the entire definition of love • Her love for Ruth was probably one of the main reasons why Ruth would not leave her • Naomi continued to be as faithful to Ruth as Ruth was to her • Love is the crux of the greatest commands
