Death at the Center of Love - Ruth 1:16-18

Ruth 1: 16-18

The secret of love is commitment - v17 Love given voluntarily, and until death

The cost of love is uneven - v18 Naomi silenced. No thank you recorded. The people we love may not love back the way we expect. We shouldn't be keeping track in a relationship! Eventually, because we are human, this will grate, we will get tired of this. How to endure?

The power of love is faith
Her love was rooted in God, not in a person, and it flowed out to Naomi.
Ruth didn't follow God in wealth, with His specific promises in her ear, as Abraham did. She loved Naomi inspite of Naomi having no future in a man's world. She was willing to narrow her own life to love another - this was going to cost her a chance at finding another husband and security (she doesn't know about Boaz yet!).

Faith as a noun - rather than a verb? So, instead of faith being a mountain you climb, it is a valley you fall into. She rested in her faith.

The life of love is beautiful
Ruth's love pointed to Jesus' love. So incredible that she (a woman) is included in Matthew's lineage for Jesus. God calls us not to a pilgrimage/task, but simply to receive His love. From receiving that love flows the natural consequence of wanting to tell everyone about it.

Photo - http://pastor-taylor.blogspot.com/2010/09/finding-god-in-unexpected-places.html