In August, we began to look at the story of Ruth and Naomi from the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Scriptures. We noticed how each decision and action had a ripple effect on the people and communities they were in. It is the same with us. Last week, we thought about the choices men and women made to confront workplace safety and inequity, and the results of those decisions.
Ruth and Naomi made many seemingly small decisions which
changed the dynamic of their family and the community they were in. The
decision to leave Bethlehem caused sorrow to their friends and other family
members who remained. Deciding to cast their lot with the people of Moab by
marriage was a big ripple that resonated among the local community. Death
always causes many changes. The loss of her husband and both sons made Naomi
rethink her life and decide to return to the familiarity of Bethlehem. The
different decisions by Orpah and Ruth made differing impacts on their family
and friends. Arriving in Bethlehem as destitute widows brings dramatic changes
to the people in the town and to Ruth and Naomi. Ruth’s obedience to Naomi and
Boaz’ response to her courage and faithfulness made a huge difference in the
dynamic of the town. Their descendants continued to impact the history of
Israel and the world generation after generation.
Every day we make choices that we don’t think make much
difference to anyone but ourselves. We may decide to go to the grocery store or
to the farmer’s market. One choice helps local growers, the other helps big
business. We respond in haste to a Facebook post we disagree with or we scroll
past without responding or perhaps take time to respond thoughtfully.
The decision we make is neither right nor wrong. It is how we respond to the information we have. With slightly different information, we might make a different decision. Ruth and Naomi made the best decisions they could within the framework of their lives. God honored the choices. God honors our choices, too. We are given free will by our loving God, so God doesn’t force us to do this or that. If we make what seems, in hindsight, to be a poor decision, God still honors our action—even if we may have to live with the results.
In the news every night we see the results of decisions
individuals and leaders make. Some are choices that lead to death and
destruction. Others are actions that provide hope and joy. Each person or group
makes their decision using the information they have and believe is true. Our
perspective is often very different from the person who decides to start a fire
or someone who has an idea to walk across the country to raise money and
awareness for some cause. Neither may be something we would do. Yet, these are
the choices made by those individuals and they result in consequences.
Might it make a difference to how you view the news if you
remembered that each story is activated by someone’s decision, which is based
on their information? We might not understand a mass shooter any better, but we
might pause to consider that he was motivated by the truths he believed.
Every decision we make has results. May we ask God to help us make helpful choices that will benefit those we are in contact with.
