Who would choose a life of struggle to bless another? Ruth would. (Ruth, 1 Samuel 1-3)

1:8-10, 16-17

Naomi was selfless. She was in a dire situation without husband or sons and she didn’t want to be a burden on her daughters in law. “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.” They were her best chance of salvation - yet she asked them to leave her. “The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them.”

It wasn’t in her self-interest to encourage Ruth and Orpah to leave her. Would I do the same? We should all be progressing to where we value others so much that we are wiling to undercut ourselves to bless them.

We’re going to need this kind of selfless love throughout eternity. We need to flex those charity muscles as much as we can in this life.

Initially, Ruth and Orpah chose to stay. ”…and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.”

But, when Naomi explained more why they should leave, Orpah left. “…and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.” I have been Orpah. I’ve offered to serve someone but they try to talk me out of it and I sometimes let them. It would be better if I pushed through their initial rejection of my service. I think, when people try to talk you out of serving them, they are politely giving you a way out.

Ruth was demonstrating selflessness. It wasn’t in their best interest to go with Naomi. Ruth and Naomi were both doing things that were not in their best interest. You could argue that Ruth’s sacrifice was greater. It’s one thing to not want to pull others down when you’re sinking - it’s another to run in from the shore to help someone else. They cared for Naomi more than themselves.

This story is full of selflessness. Is the ”Story of Eric” also filled with selflessness? Not yet - but I’m working on it…

Ruth explained her commitment. “And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried.” Could anyone demonstrate more loyalty than this?

It’s one thing to commit to someone while things are good - while it’s mutually beneficial. It’s another to see that commitment continue through horrible conditions.

I think about people remaining committed when their spouse is terminally ill. I see old people pushing each other around in wheelchairs. I see one helping the other with the most basic things. This is a ‘Ruth’ level of love.

I see it with parents and children. They give up all of their comfort and convenience for the welfare of a helpless child. This is a “Ruth’ level of love.

This life is designed to develop a selfless love like Ruth. We have opportunities to be like her…and Christ. The opportunities are small and large. Obviously, this is a big part of the purpose of our lives on this earth.

1:20-21

Naomi understandably focuses on the bad that has happened. “And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty.”

I’ve seen this a lot. When someone has something bad happen, they then identify as that problem. Within 30 seconds of beginning a conversation, they will start talking about the most recent or worst trial that has happened to them. Instead of ‘Hi, I’m Eric.‘ It is ‘Hi, I’m the guy with the malfunctioning heart.’

Or:

• ’Hi, I am unemployed.’

• ’Hi, I have back problems.’

• ’Hi, my husband left me.’

• ’Hi, I am a victim of _____________.’

Bad things are going to happen to all of us. No one makes it out of this life without them. We must maintain our identity as a child of God. When we shift our identity into something beyond that, we run into trouble. We limit our potential - and we’re irritating to others.

2:3

Ruth wasn’t above manual labor. She was willing to do whatever it takes to provide food for herself and Naomi. “And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers.” Great example.

2:22

Boaz is interested in others. “And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband.” I could be more like this. Sometimes, I take people for granted. I am not fully interested. Over the course of my life, I have been asked twice as many questions as I ask.

In the past several years, I’ve tried to reverse that. I’ve tried to be more inquisitive and interested. I’m more curious about people’s backstory and what brought them to this point. As I’ve been more interested, people become more interesting. :)

2:12

We often are the hands of the Lord. Boaz knew this when he said. “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” He was the benefactor of the Lord’s recompense.

It’s helpful for us all to view ourselves that way. If we would all be better tools in God’s hand, more people would be rewarded or blessed by Him. I think there would be a greater cause and effect in relation to blessings.

2:15-16

”And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.” Boaz could have easily just gave her the food she needed. Why didn’t he?

I think he’s wise to let her continue to do what she could. It’s also how God works. He blesses us but he wants us to do what we can. He only wants to fulfill that portion that we can’t do ourselves. It’s how we develop.

God can clear the path for us. God can soften others’ hearts. He can perform miracles. Our success is not completely up to us. He’s a part of things.

3:11

I think that single people are ‘qualifying’ for their future spouse. It was true for Ruth. Boaz said, “And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Her life of good works and honorable decisions led her on a path to Boaz. When they finally met, she had become a person that he would be drawn to.

I am so grateful that I had made enough good decisions that, when I met Marci, she would be attracted to me. I qualified for her. I continue to feel the urgency to continue to earn my relationship with her. :)

1 Samuel

1:10, 14-15

Everyone has challenges. Often, those challenges make us sad and that’s okay. However, the sad part of our life isn’t usually our entire life. The problem happens when we dwell entirely in the sad part. Hannah may have felt this way. “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.”

I’m not saying that she was or that being very sad is wrong. We just need to be able to consider the blessings also. If we focus and fester on the problems, we will become bitter.

I’ve seen those who have struggled immensely and are joyful. I’ve watched those who are completely paralyzed be happy. I’ve seen very poor people, struggling for food and water, be happy.

I can’t speak from experience because my life has been full of joy. I feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world with the best life I can imagine. I hope that, if things change for me, I can focus on what is positive and remain happy. Knowing that, in the end, my problems all go away gives me peace and happiness. I know that, in the end, I will be happy.

Eli doesn’t treat her very well. He sees her sorrowfully praying and assumes that she is drunk. “And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.”

Hannah identifies with her sorrow. “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit.” This is when this gets dangerous - when we start identifying as our problems. It’s more serious than simply dwelling on our problems. Seeing ourselves as a bundle of problems, instead of a child of God, is dangerous.

I do want to point out that this was an opportunity for Hannah to be offended by her church leader. But she wasn’t. I think it’s a good example for us of how to handling things when a church leader offends us. She wasn’t going to allow Eli to get between her and the Lord. We can’t let an offense push us away from the church!

2:3

“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” Pride is so dangerous! When we do accomplish something, we need to fight the urge to be arrogant about it. Our amazing actions are simply a result of strength he gives us. The knowledge we have is given. There is no reason to “let arrogancy come out of your mouth.”

This is a good message for me to review…

2:23-24

Eli’s sons were not being good examples. “And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to transgress.” It’s one thing if we are behaving badly. It’s another if we are bringing others down with us! It’s much worse.

A bad example can turn many other people away from the church. Whether it’s mistreating a neighbor to judging a fellow member. There are always those who look to others as an example of what the gospel is about. Rather than read the Book of Mormon, they’ll simply look at Eric to see if the religion is worthwhile.

This is especially true for those in leadership positions. When we are in a position of influence, we must accept that we can influence for good or bad.

2:25, 30

This is an interesting verse. “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?” When considering our eternal progression - which is more damaging? Which affects our trajectory? To sin against a neighbor or to sin against God?

If I don’t follow direction from a neighbor, it’s one thing. If I don’t follow direction from God, it’s much worse. God needs us to be teachable to help us develop throughout eternity. To be rebellious against our fellow man makes us a jerk - to rebel against God affects us in eternity.

There’s a lot of contention between humans in the world. It’s not good. It is much worse when that contention is directed at God.

The Lord said, “…for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” Rebelling against God has it’s consequences every time. Every. Time.

3:9

Sometimes, we need someone to help us HEAR HIM. In this case, Samuel needed Eli. “Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” Sometimes, when we are in the middle of something, we can’t see the forest for the trees. We lose our bearings. It sometimes takes a third party to give us needed direction or give us perspective.

When we are in situation that we can’t see our way through. It’s often very productive to involve someone else. We can’t let our pride keep us from asking for help.