Ruth
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Ruth: Gracious Giving (Ruth 1:15-17; 2:2-7; 10-12; 4:13-17) In a selfish and uncaring world, a gracious caring heart can be like a rose among thorns. Why should we give? It will awaken gratitude in those to whom you give It will awaken generosity in others (2 Cor. 9:1-5) Zeal for giving is contagious. Haven’t you ever gotten caught-up in it? It stimulates them to pray for you (2 Cor. 9:14) It glorifies God Ruth displayed “loyal love” to Naomi. Cleave To Cleave is to form a strong, close attachment to out of interest or affection (Gen. 2:24, Deut. 4:4, 10:20, 11:22, 13:4, 30:20, Josh. 22:5, 23:8-12, Isa. 14:1, Jer.13:11, Matt. 19:5, Mark 10:7, Acts 11:23, Rom. 12:9) To whom do you cleave? Why? What does it mean that you do? Loyal Love (Love “of the Spirit”, Rom.15:30, Gal. 5:22, Col. 2:2, “knit together”) Begins externally, coming from God, Moves internally, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, and is then expressed externally, by us! (1 John 4:16, 2 Tim. 1:7) Is done on a day by day, moment by moment basis (Prov.17:17) Is wanting what is truly best for this other person and committing yourself to provide it (Ruth 1:8-9) Involves a choice/or choices (Matt.5:43-44, 6:24, 10:37, Luke 10:27, John 13:34- 35) Involves action/effort/sacrifice(Luke 6:35, John 15:12-13, 21:15-19, 1 John 3:16-18, 1 Thes. 1:3, Heb. 6:10, Eph. 5:2 & 25, 1 Cor.13:4-5)
Is honest/truthful (Eph. 4:15, 1 John 3:18) Often involves faith (Eph. 6:23) Is often based on the realization of the value of maintaining a relationship (John 6:65-69) Is often based on gratitude/is reciprocal Loyal love begets loyal love (Prov. 8:17, 1 John 4:19) Other Examples of Loyal Love (2 Tim. 1:16-17) Asenath: Joseph, married Asenath, the daughter of an Egyptian priest named Potiphera. She bore Joseph two children (Gen. 41:45, 50). Joseph initially rejected her because of her polytheistic beliefs. Despite her high station and physical beauty, Joseph's interest in her blossomed only after her conversion to monotheism. However, before the young couple could achieve happiness, Asenath had to overcome the resistance of the Egyptians to her new faith and new husband. Should stood up and defended her husband, his faith & his people. The Bible equates love for god with love for others (Matt. 22:39; John 13:35; 1 John 4:20-21) Love sometimes involves longsuffering. The simple act of living out a commitment is a rare thing today. But God can work all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:29) Hold on to the hope of God’s countenance/presence (Ps 42:5& 11, Joshua 1:9, Rom. 4:20-24, Num. 6:26) Heb., yachal, hope, wait, desire with expectation (Lam. 3:25-26) Expect God to act (Ps. 42:11) Demonstrate confidence in God by continuing in praise & good works (Ps. 71:14, Gal. 6:9) Like Ruth, we can demonstrate love by taking the initiative with both our words and deeds. Good things often happen unexpectedly for those who care for those who cannot care for themselves. Heart-beat bounce example
Compassion: Sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it (Webster’s); fellow feeling, the emotion of caring concern; the opposite of cruelty, in Hebrew rahamanut, from the word rehem, 'womb', based on the idea of sibling love (coming from the same womb). "The word 'care' finds its roots in the Gothic 'Kara' which means lament. The basic meaning of care is: to grieve, to experience sorrow, to cry out with.. . . A friend who cares makes it clear that whatever happens in the external world, being present to each other [now] is what really matters." [Henri Nouwen, Here and Now, p. 105] Our best efforts and intentions to love and care for others will always be tainted with a mixture of motives. Selfish thoughts and actions often color our relationships with others Racham (Heb.) - compassion, mercy, pity, care, tender love as a mother for the fruit of her womb (see Isa. 46:3) Active, Sacrificial Love, Unprejudice/Unjudgmental (Lev. 19:15), Concerned with needs Splagchma or Rawkhan, (Gk.) suffering with, a yearning within to help, to demonstrate intimate mercy We are called to demonstrate compassion (Prov. 3:27-28, James 2:14-17, 1 John 3:17, Gal. 6:2, Eph. 4:32, Phil. 2:3-4, 1 Pe. 3:8-9, Jude 22-23; Matt. 18:27; Luke 6:36; 10:30-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan), 1 John 3:17, Jude 1:22) Opposites: Self-centered, Hard-Hearted Bitter people tend to think only of themselves Involves awareness, feeling and action (Matt. 25:34-40) We are called to emulate the Lord’s compassion (Zech. 7:9, Matt.18:33, Luke 10:33, Heb. 10:34, 1 Pe. 3:8) Refusal to show compassion is one of the sins for which Edom was condemned (Amos 1:11) Going through trials ourselves helps to make us compassionate (Heb. 5:2) Whether or not we demonstrate compassion a way of determining whether or not the love of God is in us (Jude 1:22; Matt. 22:39; John 13:35; 1 John 3:17; 4:20-21) Ruth uses the holy name of God, Yahweh, in her statement to Naomi rather than the more commonly quoted Elohim. This name is often associated with God’s quality of compassion. Jewish scholars believe that by doing so Ruth was showing that she wanted to be part of a relationship based on compassion between God, Naomi, herself and the Jewish people.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.-Leo Buscaglia Leo Buscaglia discovered that the capacity for compassion is not limited to wise elders. He was once asked to judge a contest to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry." "It's not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely." - Leo Buscaglia, author and university professor (19241998) “I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.” - Stephen Grellet, French/American religious leader (1773-1855) "Men are only great as they are kind.” - Elbert Hubbard, American entrepreneur and philosopher (founder of Roycroft) (1856-1915) "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop, 6th Century B.C. Writer of Greek fables "If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.” - Lucy Larcom, American poet (18261893) "The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.”- Norman Cousins, American essayist & editor (1912-1990) "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” - Edith Wharton, American novelist (1862-1937) “Compassion is the basis of morality.'' - Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788-1860) All we need in order to be moral human beings is compassion. - Nina Rosenstand summarizing the view of David Taylor in Good and Evil, from The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, McGraw-Hill, 2004 "The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get but what you give.... In any case, the giving of love is an education in itself." - Eleanor Roosevelt, American First Lady and social activist (1884-1962) "You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late." Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803-1882)
Is honest/truthful (Eph. 4:15, 1 John 3:18) Often involves faith (Eph. 6:23) Is often based on the realization of the value of maintaining a relationship (John 6:65-69) Is often based on gratitude/is reciprocal Loyal love begets loyal love (Prov. 8:17, 1 John 4:19) Other Examples of Loyal Love (2 Tim. 1:16-17) Asenath: Joseph, married Asenath, the daughter of an Egyptian priest named Potiphera. She bore Joseph two children (Gen. 41:45, 50). Joseph initially rejected her because of her polytheistic beliefs. Despite her high station and physical beauty, Joseph's interest in her blossomed only after her conversion to monotheism. However, before the young couple could achieve happiness, Asenath had to overcome the resistance of the Egyptians to her new faith and new husband. Should stood up and defended her husband, his faith & his people. The Bible equates love for god with love for others (Matt. 22:39; John 13:35; 1 John 4:20-21) Love sometimes involves longsuffering. The simple act of living out a commitment is a rare thing today. But God can work all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:29) Hold on to the hope of God’s countenance/presence (Ps 42:5& 11, Joshua 1:9, Rom. 4:20-24, Num. 6:26) Heb., yachal, hope, wait, desire with expectation (Lam. 3:25-26) Expect God to act (Ps. 42:11) Demonstrate confidence in God by continuing in praise & good works (Ps. 71:14, Gal. 6:9) Like Ruth, we can demonstrate love by taking the initiative with both our words and deeds. Good things often happen unexpectedly for those who care for those who cannot care for themselves. Heart-beat bounce example
Compassion: Sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it (Webster’s); fellow feeling, the emotion of caring concern; the opposite of cruelty, in Hebrew rahamanut, from the word rehem, 'womb', based on the idea of sibling love (coming from the same womb). "The word 'care' finds its roots in the Gothic 'Kara' which means lament. The basic meaning of care is: to grieve, to experience sorrow, to cry out with.. . . A friend who cares makes it clear that whatever happens in the external world, being present to each other [now] is what really matters." [Henri Nouwen, Here and Now, p. 105] Our best efforts and intentions to love and care for others will always be tainted with a mixture of motives. Selfish thoughts and actions often color our relationships with others Racham (Heb.) - compassion, mercy, pity, care, tender love as a mother for the fruit of her womb (see Isa. 46:3) Active, Sacrificial Love, Unprejudice/Unjudgmental (Lev. 19:15), Concerned with needs Splagchma or Rawkhan, (Gk.) suffering with, a yearning within to help, to demonstrate intimate mercy We are called to demonstrate compassion (Prov. 3:27-28, James 2:14-17, 1 John 3:17, Gal. 6:2, Eph. 4:32, Phil. 2:3-4, 1 Pe. 3:8-9, Jude 22-23; Matt. 18:27; Luke 6:36; 10:30-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan), 1 John 3:17, Jude 1:22) Opposites: Self-centered, Hard-Hearted Bitter people tend to think only of themselves Involves awareness, feeling and action (Matt. 25:34-40) We are called to emulate the Lord’s compassion (Zech. 7:9, Matt.18:33, Luke 10:33, Heb. 10:34, 1 Pe. 3:8) Refusal to show compassion is one of the sins for which Edom was condemned (Amos 1:11) Going through trials ourselves helps to make us compassionate (Heb. 5:2) Whether or not we demonstrate compassion a way of determining whether or not the love of God is in us (Jude 1:22; Matt. 22:39; John 13:35; 1 John 3:17; 4:20-21) Ruth uses the holy name of God, Yahweh, in her statement to Naomi rather than the more commonly quoted Elohim. This name is often associated with God’s quality of compassion. Jewish scholars believe that by doing so Ruth was showing that she wanted to be part of a relationship based on compassion between God, Naomi, herself and the Jewish people.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.-Leo Buscaglia Leo Buscaglia discovered that the capacity for compassion is not limited to wise elders. He was once asked to judge a contest to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry." "It's not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely." - Leo Buscaglia, author and university professor (19241998) “I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.” - Stephen Grellet, French/American religious leader (1773-1855) "Men are only great as they are kind.” - Elbert Hubbard, American entrepreneur and philosopher (founder of Roycroft) (1856-1915) "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop, 6th Century B.C. Writer of Greek fables "If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.” - Lucy Larcom, American poet (18261893) "The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.”- Norman Cousins, American essayist & editor (1912-1990) "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” - Edith Wharton, American novelist (1862-1937) “Compassion is the basis of morality.'' - Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788-1860) All we need in order to be moral human beings is compassion. - Nina Rosenstand summarizing the view of David Taylor in Good and Evil, from The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, McGraw-Hill, 2004 "The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get but what you give.... In any case, the giving of love is an education in itself." - Eleanor Roosevelt, American First Lady and social activist (1884-1962) "You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late." Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803-1882)
