What does it mean to be loyal? It means to be a faithful supporter to someone or something. A loyal person is reliable and can be counted on. The Bible tells us that God is loyal and kind to us. He will not abandon us. He is our strongest supporter! Even if we mess up or fall short, He will not abandon us! Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” He has kept His promises to His people since He created the earth. We can trust His promises and His unfailing love today, tomorrow, and forever! Ruth was an excellent example of being kind and loyal. She stuck with Naomi in good times and bad times. She also remained loyal to God and did not go back to her false gods when given the chance. Ruth 1:16-18 says, “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. 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!” When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.” Ruth remained loyal to Ruth by words and actions. She volunteered to work in Boaz’s fields to provide food for them. This she did faithfully and remained with Naomi. (Ruth 2:23). Loyalty is more than words; it is validated by actions. Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter and the other disciples vowed they would not deny Jesus, even if it meant dying with Him. The Bible tells us that Peter did deny Jesus three times as Jesus had predicted. The other disciples ran away and were scattered. Peter and the others meant well, but fear kept them from backing up their words. (Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:50, 66-72). Loyalty is a valuable and rare trait to have. It is worth pursuing in our relationships with both God and others. “Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?” (Proverbs 20:6). The Bible also tells us in Proverbs 3:3 how important kindness and loyalty are: “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”

In the Bible, God places importance on caring for less fortunate people, like foreigners, orphans, poor, and widows. He does not want those who suffer hardship and distress to be neglected (Leviticus 25:24-26, 35-43; James 1:27; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah. 58:6-7; Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 146:9) God can intervene directly to provide for others, however, most often He cares for others through us! We have a responsibility to help those in need and to share the blessings God has given us with others. Proverbs 3:27 tells us, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them.” Ruth was humbled and shocked by the kindness and generosity that Boaz showed her as a foreigner and one who was poor. “Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.” (Ruth 2:10). God was clear in Isaiah 58:7 when He talked about those who wanted to appear religious yet did not show God’s love to others. “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” Boaz looked out for Naomi and Ruth. He showed kindness and respect to his workers. Let us always treat others with respect and show them God’s love by caring for them and sharing what we have generously been given.

Throughout the Old Testament we see patterns and examples that give us a glimpse of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. In the book of Ruth we see Boaz as an example of the kinsman redeemer, which is what Jesus became for all mankind through His death and resurrection. So, we see Jesus in the compassion and redemptive act of Boaz toward Naomi and Ruth. (Ruth 4:1-10; Titus 2:14). We also see the bloodline through which Jesus would be born. Boaz acted as the kinsman-redeemer to Ruth; they married and had a child named Obed. He became the father to Jesse, and he became the father to King David. Jesus Christ descended from this royal bloodline. As a descendent of Boaz and Ruth, Jesus is the promised son of David who sits forever on the throne of Israel. (Ruth 4:17-22). Yes, Boaz purchased back, or redeemed Naomi’s property for her. She was no longer poor and without hope. She was now under the protection and provision of Boaz. This was God’s plan to restore the joy to Naomi and Ruth for their faithfulness and trust in Him. God also has a plan of redemption working in our lives -- and through our lives. “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” (Romans 3:24). We were without hope, slaves to sin, unable to pay the price for our sin. God came to our rescue and delivered us from sin and death! Ephesians 1:7 says, “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” God sent Jesus to earth to do what we are helpless to do on our own! Let us proclaim without a doubt that Jesus is our Redeemer! He freed us from sin and death to live for Him on this earth, and with Him in heaven forever! “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” (Job 19:25)

In the book of Ruth, Naomi told Orpah and Ruth to return home to their parents. Orpah left, but Ruth refused. Naomi told Ruth to do as Orpah had done, go back to her old life, and to her false gods. “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. 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!” Ruth would not be moved. In the ten years she was married to Ruth’s son, she had experienced the goodness of the one true, living God! She was committed to being a child of God and living among His people! Naomi knew Ruth was in it for life! (Ruth 1:1-18). After Jesus’ death, Peter and other disciples went back to the Sea of Galilee. They were heartbroken, confused, and scared. Jesus was gone! They tried to go back to what they knew and did before they met Jesus. Jesus came to them as they fished on the Sea of Galilee. Once Peter realized that it was Jesus on the shore, he immediately jumped into the water and swam to Him. The old life paled in comparison to the new life he had begun with Jesus! He couldn't return to his former life. (John 21). Sometimes our old way of life may look attractive to us again. This is especially true in difficult times like temptations, trials, or peer pressure. Elijah confronted God’s people who were trying to worship both God and idols. He told them to quit going back and forth and to choose who they would serve! (1 Kings 18:21). When Joshua led God’s people into the Promised Land, he called them to serve God wholeheartedly and to put away their idols. Then he boldly declared that he and his family had committed to serve the Lord! He did not wait for the others to make their decision. This was his choice regardless. (Joshua 2:14-15). This was like Ruth; she was not swayed by Orpah’s decision to return to her former life. Paul said this about His pursuit of righteousness in God: “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” (Philippians 3:13). Paul refused to look back! Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Once we have experienced the goodness, grace, joy, love and mercy of God – how can we go back and be satisfied?

We all have a choice to blame God and become bitter, or to trust God and become better as we allow Him to work His plan. In the story of Ruth, we see how Ruth chose to trust God and not become bitter. She would not return to her false gods when given the easy way out!