How to Learn From the Life of Ruth in the Old Testament

It has been called one of the most beautiful stories ever written. No doubt, there is much that Christians can learn from the true story of Ruth.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Read the book of Ruth and ask God to help you understand it and how it applies to your life. Take notes.

2. Learn that God loves everyone. Ruth was not a Jew, but she came to believe in the God of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Are there people we think are beyond God's love? They are not. We should pray for them, even tell them of Jesus, if we have a chance. Is there a slight chance that you have never believed in Christ yourself? If so, you are not beyond God's love, if you trust the blood that Jesus shed on the cross that you can have a home in heaven.

3. Learn at least one thing from Naomi, too. Naomi, after her husband, Elimelech, died she wanted to return to the land God had given the Jews--the land her husband had left with her. We can learn the power of a testimony in God. It was because of that that Ruth wanted to follow Naomi. Ask God how powerful your testimony is.

4. Learn about friendship from Ruth, its power and the love involved. We can learn that we should have Godly friends. Ruth refused to leave Naomi. She refused to return to her own land. She said she would follow her mother-in-law until she died and that Naomi's people "will be my people, and thy God will be my God." Ask God if you are that kind of a friend.

5. Learn that God is always with us--even when things look bad. When Naomi and Ruth went to Naomi's homeland, she told her friends to call her "Mara," meaning bitter, because God had dealt bitterly with her. Nevertheless, God used a man named Boaz to provide food from his land for the two women. God even led Boaz to marry Ruth, who had come to believe in the true God of heaven, and redeem the inheritance of Naomi and Ruth. One last thing we can ask is that as Boaz was a redeemer, have we trusted in Jesus to be our Redeemer, to give us a home in heaven?

[YvonneRobert]

on 8/20/2009 I'm sorry. I stand corrected. Ruth and Boaz bore Obed, who then bore Jesse, who bore David.

[YvonneRobert]

on 8/20/2009 5*. This is a good teaching. I love the story of Ruth. It is sweet. From Ruth's union with Boaz, they bore Jesse, King David's father. I never realized Ruth wasn't Jewish until I read your article. Then I went back to the scriptures to see she was a Moabite. God blessed the relationship of a Jew (Boaz) and a Moab. It was beautiful. *****