We have a lot to still learn from the life of our friend and model Ruth. This week our focus is on SOCIAL CAPITAL. Social capital simply means human resources of economic value. The kind of people we accommodate in our lives go a long way to affect us positively or otherwise. It is impossible for a relationship to leave us the same way it met us. May I ask you at this juncture, how has your friends affected your life? Ruth had at least 5 people who crossed her path in life and each one of them was critical. From our next episode we shall examine each of these people, the influence they had on Ruth and how Ruth responded. As a take away, note that friendship is influence. Who is influencing you right now?
TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS. While Naomi was a positive influence in Ruth’ life, Orpah was not. Right in the middle of their journey Orpah chose to abandon the goal and turned back. It was a subtle way of saying “friend we can’t make it, let’s quit”. Thank God Ruth did not succumb. Despite their years of togetherness, once their vision and goal was no longer the same Ruth did not allow emotions and sentiment to keep her bound to Orpah, she let her go. Successful people have mastered the art of cutting away from toxic dating relationships, toxic business partnerships and toxic friendships etc. If I may ask, who is that person negatively influencing you to quit school, to join the cult, to be carnal and worldly, to end your marriage, to commit suicide or to give up on God? Like Ruth endeavour to have the courage of heart to say loud and clear “I will not give up on God, I will not quit my marriage when God has not said I should, I will pursue my goals in life so help me God and if you are not headed in my direction I suggest you move”
POWER OF INFLUENCE. Ruth 1 vs 15 – 17. 15 “Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.” 16, But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” Moral: Naomi was in a foreign country but it didn’t stop her from talking about her God. Naomi had lost her husband and 2 sons but her pain did not take away her praise. This and more is what convinced Ruth to abandon her family and follow Naomi. Ruth decided to follow her mother in law because Naomi’s life had positively impacted her life. Ruth chose to adopt Naomi’s God as her God because she had seen and heard about the wonders of God from Naomi. Can someone adopt your God because of your lifestyle? Have you gotten to the point in your walk with God where someone can look at you and say “your God will be my God?” . As we look closely into Ruth’s story this month, I urge you to imbibe the amiable virtues of these wonderful women (Naomi and Ruth)
A mother-in-law’s wisdom was a powerful influence in leading and committing Ruth to God for the remainder of her earthly life. A mother-in-law’s impact upon family life should never be minimized as the story of Ruth illustrates. Naomi was an example of a Godly woman and mother-in-law. Ruth’s admiration of her mother-in-law’s life was exemplified by her care and loyalty towards her. Through Naomi’s quiet life style, Ruth learned about God and accepted him as Lord, a thing that did not occur during her marriage to Mahlon. Through Naomi’s advice Ruth married a second time from within her previous husband’s family. Through Naomi’s teachings concerning God and marriage to a Godly man Ruth lived the remainder of her years a happy and blessed life. One might think this is a grand ending to a story of an indigent widow that found God through her mother-in-law. Not only did Ruth find God, remarry a Hebrew Godly man, but Boaz and Ruth would be blessed with a son, Obed. Obed, was not just simply the son of Boaz and Ruth, but the father of Jesse, the grandfather to David the King and Prophet. Some thousand years later, the Lord Jesus Christ would be born a descendant of Obed. And yet, Ruth’s story was not final. Ruth, the indigent widow who cared for her mother-in-law and listened to her advice would be blessed even more by the Lord as she would be one among only four women listed in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew, chapter one. Through the positive power of Naomi’s influence, Ruth (a woman who gleaned the barley fields of Judah) would come to be written among the lineage of kings!!! Who is influencing your life? Who is influencing your business decisions? Who is influencing your relationship decisions? This is a very important question that we all need to think and pray about and as the week unfolds, I pray that God will give us the wisdom to discover the positive influencers of our destiny! Have a lovely week ahead!
GOOD REPUTATION. People with godly reputation don’t go cap in hand begging, they are always in demand. Boaz was willing to trade his entire empire just to get Ruth, not because she was a beauty pageant model but because of the solid reputation she possessed. In Ruth 2:11 it was said that the testimony of Ruth was known all over the place. Who will not want a lady like that for a wife? who will not want a job applicant like for a full time staff? who will not want such a person for a business partner? It is important we consider how we are living our lives because you never can tell who is watching, your Boaz might just be around the corner while you are doing that crazy stuff and golden opportunities might be lost.