Trade 'Ya

Ruth 1:10-14

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. (11) And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? (12) Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; (13) Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. (14) And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Sales professionals are often taught that people make purchases for only one of two reasons: they wish to gain a benefit, or they wish to avoid a loss. Every purchase I make involves giving up something. When I have money in my hand (or bank account), I have the ability to purchase anything that amount of money will be. Usually that's no more than a pack of gum, and the way this economy is headed it won't be long before I'll only be able to afford to lick the wrapper, but I digress. I can hold on to that money and save it against an emergency, or I can add more money to it so I can buy more things, or add to my "security" in the future. I can also spend it up. It's a trade off. Is the benefit I will gain, or the loss I will avoid greater than the loss of what I currently have? Every decision I make involves this process. Its a constant trade off.

Naomi's daughters in law both originally set out to leave their homeland, friends, family, and all that they knew to follow Naomi to Israel. A land of which they knew nothing other than what Naomi and their husbands had told them, where they knew no one other than Naomi, and had no possessions. Why? Why would they trade what they had in this land, for that?

Naomi removed one reason. "You will not have a husband by me," which is akin to saying, "There is no provision for you with me." Orpah kissed her mother in law and returned to her own land. Nothing more is said of her. She lived her empty life and died. That's all.

Ruth clave to Naomi. Once again Naomi attempted to rid herself of this woman. "Telling her she had no future with Naomi didn't work, maybe she'll follow the crowd and my voice with that of her sister in law will convince her to stay," Naomi thought. It was to no avail. Where Orpah was looking for provision, Naomi had something else in mind.

vs 16 - 17 "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." Ruth wanted God. Ruth wanted to be with God's people. Ruth wanted to live and to die in the presence of God. She esteemed the blessings of God far greater than the treasures of earth. What ever she must endure, she was willing to go through. Nothing was worth trading for the riches to be had at the hand of God. God blessed her. She had a full life, even being used in the lineage of Jesus Christ, and when she died entered into an abundant life.

It reminds me of Moses. Heb 11:24-26 tells us that he valued the reproaches of Christ to be more valuable than the riches of Egypt.

I heard a preacher once say, "Show me the reason you got into the ministry, and I'll show you the reason you'll get out." Why am I doing what I am doing? If it is for anything in this world, including the praise of man, I will get out when it ceases. Only one reason will outlast them all, the glory of the riches of Jesus Christ.

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