Devotion #3: It Is Not About Me
Devotion #3: It Is Not About Me
Chris Montville
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.’ Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:13-17
We live in a very selfish culture. We have learned to think about ourselves, take care of ourselves, and focus on ourselves in everything we do. We do not see this attitude in Ruth. Everything she does is for Naomi. She follows Naomi back to a land she does not know, listens to her instructions regarding Boaz, and lives it all out faithfully. Ruth never says, “But what about me?” Ruth never seeks her own glory. She lays her life down and faithfully follows. If we would take a step back from ourselves, we could do the same.
How often do we see sacrifices made for someone turn into something greater? It could be a deepening of the relationship or that sacrifice leading to another blessing for that person down the road. How often does that sacrifice actually bless us in return?
I got to witness a story when that happened for a young man in our church. In his Growth Community, a friend expressed concern that he and his mother, who were trying to find a new place to live, would not be able to afford the security deposit on an apartment they had been hoping for. They needed $1,000. As the friend expressed his worry, the young man felt a push from the Holy Spirit to cover that fee. The young man pulled his friend aside at the end of the night and told him. This, obviously, blessed the friend and the mother. However, the young man would be blessed in return! That Thanksgiving, the young man’s family did not gather together, so he planned on being alone for the holiday. However, as a thank you, the friend and his mother invited him over for Thanksgiving dinner. The young man said it was the first home-cooked meal he had eaten in quite a while. It was a fantastic experience and a fun night spent with his friend and his mother. He was filled with gratitude.
Jesus tells us to be a blessing to those around us in John 15:12-13, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” However, the blessing often goes both ways. Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
If we would be less worried about ourselves and actually trust God with our lives, we would be surprised at the amazing experiences we can have and the gratitude that can fill our hearts when we take a step of faith and bless those around us. Just as Ruth blessed Naomi by staying by her side and was rewarded with a son, the young man blessed his friend and was rewarded with an unforgettable night that continues to impact his life.
When was the last time you truly made a sacrifice for someone? We may feel like these opportunities do not show themselves, but the truth is we are just too wrapped up in our own lives. If it does not have a big enough impact on us, we are not willing to take that step for them. Odds are that you know someone, right now, who could use a real hand.
Ask yourself, “Are you willing?” If not, “Why not?” We will have to answer for that someday.