Where Does Your Loyalty Lie?
We are loyal to brands. I only want to wear Wrangler jeans. We like Heinz ketchup and Vlasic pickles. Loyalty is defined as “a strong feeling of support or allegiance.”
The words “loyal” or “loyalty” are not found in the book of Ruth. But the classic illustration of loyalty is found in Ruth (1:16-17).
LOYALTY BEGINS WITH A RELATIONSHIP:
Naomi has two daughters-in-law but (because she feels that God is against her – 1:13) if they were follow her home, it would be courting disaster. So, she has to send them away. Naomi thus loses one daughter-in-law – Orpah. We might criticize Orpah for leaving Naomi but the inspired historian does not. Rather, he simply highlights the extraordinary loyalty of Ruth. Orpah takes the safe route. Ruth takes the faith route.
When you and I, based on our faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, are immersed by baptism into Him, we begin our relationship of loyalty to Him (Romans 6:3-7).
Loyalty begins with a relationship.
LOYALTY – SUPPORT AND ALLEGIANCE:
Consider Ruth’s words from 1:16-17. Let’s begin at the top. Loyalty, for Ruth, meant allegiance to Naomi’s God. Ruth renounces the religion of her parents. For you and me, once we enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, He demands complete loyalty (Matt. 8:21; 10:37).
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Loyalty to Jesus requires each of us in covenant relationship with Him to get involved in the work and worship of the church. If you are not involved, you have to ask yourself, are you loyal?
Finally, in this regard, Ruth’s loyalty was permanent. That is the essence of verse 17. She even swears an oath to that effect. Once again, loyalty to God, to Jesus, to His church, must be a permanent loyalty (Rev. 2:10; 1 Peter 1:9).
Loyalty is not loyalty if it is not unto the end.
LOYALTY HAS ITS REWARD:
God rewarded Ruth for her loyalty. God blessed Ruth with a little boy, whom they named Obed. Obed one day has a son named Jesse and Jesse, among eight sons, has a boy named David who becomes King of Israel and the forerunner of the Messiah, putting the Gentile Ruth into the genealogy of the Son of God (Matt. 1:5).
The greatest rewards await those who are loyal to God through Jesus Christ (Matt. 19:27-30).
Be loyal to God, to Christ’s people, forever. The rewards are beyond your imagination.
–Paul Holland
