Ruth: Selflessness

Starting today, I will be posting parts of a series that I'm going to call Character Traits. Ruth, one of my favorite Bible characters, will be the first person we'll cover.

Today's topic is Ruth and her selflessness for her mother-in-law, Naomi. We'll be studying Ruth 1.

Ruth 1:3-5: Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

After the death of Naomi's husband and her two sons, she encourages Ruth and Orpah to go back to their homeland, their friends, and their family. All three of the women get a little emotional during the goodbye, but it soon becomes evident that Ruth doesn't intend to leave. Naomi tries to convince her to leave and to go enjoy life, but Ruth refuses.

See, Ruth was devoted to Naomi. She realized that Naomi was an older, vulnerable, widow and wouldn't be able to live very well on her own. Pushing aside her own wants and feelings, Ruth stayed with Naomi and cared for her.