Cover Up, Give Up or Stand Up

When we face trials in our lives, what do we do? Notice that the question starts with the word "when". This means that we will face trials in our life; it is just a question of "When?" This earth has not been an easy place to live in from the time that Adam and Eve sinned. We need to toil with sweat to fill our stomachs. We cannot control the circumstances of life but we can control the response to them. That is what faith is all about. We are to be daring to believe that God is working everything for our good even when we do not feel like it is so, or do not see things coming in our favour. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says that we are to give thanks for everything. I admit that it is not easy but obeying this commandment is the best antidote against a bitter and critical spirit.

When trouble comes to our lives, we can do three things: endure it, escape it or enlist it. If we only endure our trials, then trials become our masters and we have a tendency to be hard and bitter. We would look for reasons and things to blame for our suffering. We could even blame God or our parents for having brought us to this world. If we try to escape our trials then we will probably miss the purpose God wants us to achieve in our lives. However, if we learn to enlist our trials, they become our servants instead of being our masters. They will work for us, and God will work all things together for our good and His glory. Note that we are to love God. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28).

In the book of Ruth, we read that Naomi and her family migrated to Moab and lived there for ten years. They escaped the hardship in Israel and went from the land of God to a heathen place. Her husband and both her sons died while at Moab. How bitter life can be for this widow! She also had two daughters-in-law left behind — Oprah and Ruth. These three widows then planned to return to Israel. Here we see how Naomi tried to persuade the younger women to go back home so that they could have a "new life". She was indeed trying to cover up. She knew that it was wrong for her to allow her sons to marry Moabite women. By returning alone to her old homeland, she was hoping to be seen alone. In this way, her wrong doings would be covered up. No one would know what happened while Naomi and family were in Moab. Oprah heeded the advice and returned to her own family. She could not face the prospect of uncertainty to live in another land that was unfamiliar to her. She gave up. Ruth, on the other hand, wanted to follow Naomi. Ruth stood up. Despite all the discouragements from Naomi not to follow her, Ruth chose to return to Israel. The reason was that she has chosen to trust in the God of Israel. Her confession was most touching and magnificent. She confessed her love for her mother-in-law even unto death. Then she confessed her faith in the true and living God, and her decision to worship Him. Ruth made this decision at a very difficult time of her life. She was desolate and Naomi could offer her nothing. She was richly blessed for her action. "The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust" (Ruth 2:12). She became the great grandmother of King David. Had Ruth returned to her own land, she would be like Oprah, completely forgotten and not mentioned again in the scriptures.

Who would not wish for God's blessings and rewards? We ask for blessings all the time, both for ourselves as well as for others. Did it dawn on you (and me) if we are indeed "blessable." We need to confess our sins before God and then ask Him to change our behaviour so that we are "blessable." By this, I mean that we ought to show our trust in God both inwardly and outwardly (this, Ruth did well). We need to start to examine ourselves so that we can be like Ruth — being able to come before the Lord with no other motives but to put our whole trust in Him. Then we are to follow His commandments. In so doing we become good examples for others to follow as well. According to the divine law, a Moabite "shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation" (Deut 23:3). This meant permanent exclusion. By trusting God and throwing herself completely on His mercy, Ruth experienced the grace of God. Law excludes us from God's family, but grace includes us if we put our faith in Christ. May we be like Ruth, putting all our trust in God and following Christ in faith, whatever situation we may be in. As God blessed Ruth, so He will bless us. He is still the same God, full of grace. All Glory to His name! Amen!

Adapted from Calvary B-P Church Encouragement Page 13, May 2007.
Written by Elder Foong Kon Yu.