Exposition

We are faced daily with choices that demand that we make decisions. Some are minor but others are major with great consequences. The first chapter of the book of Ruth shows some of the decisions Naomi and her family members made and the results thereof. Because of a famine, this family decided to seek greener pastures in a heathen land; the results were not pleasant at all. They went in full but only Naomi came back; and empty-handed she came. In this same chapter, we see two young ladies taking decisions that were going to determine their destinies.

Proverbs 21:2 says that a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. It is impossible to tell the future by our natural minds and that is the reason why we must invite the Holy Spirit into the decisions we make. It is not clear what motivated Ruth to make the decision to follow her mother-in-law. It could be that she did that out of the love and fondness for Naomi or because she had come to believe in Naomi’s God. Whatever her reason, this decision turned out to be one of the best decisions of her life.

In order not to regret taking decisions that have implications for the future and face dire consequences, we must take them cautiously. We should recognize our human limitations and seek divine assistance from God. We should seek divine help even when we are deciding who to mentor or to be mentored. Some people have become victims of various forms of abuse by agreeing to wrong mentoring relationships. Just as Naomi brought profit to Ruth, the right people in our lives will lead us to places of blessings.