Love For Its Own Sake

Who is the main character in the book of Ruth?

If you answered the obvious, Ruth, you're wrong. It's Naomi. While Ruth plays a vital role, for sure, the overall story arc is as follows: Naomi is emptied (living in a foreign land, her husband and two sons die, leaving her with foreign, childless daughters-in-law), Naomi returns to her homeland accompanied by Ruth, and then through the actions of two people (Ruth and Boaz) who are guided by the Lord, Naomi is filled again.

There are many interpretations, of course. You could look at it from a variety of angles and each would bring something a little different to the table. But this is how I am seeing it with each verse that I read: Ruth acted out of love for one other person, lived a selfless and obedient life, and God blessed her abundantly for that. God blessed others THROUGH the blessing that He gave Ruth, as well.

But I really don't think that Ruth was looking for those blessings. She was looking to love Naomi. I believe Ruth would have continued loving Naomi even if Boaz never came into the picture, even if she was to never find a husband and bear children to continue the family name.

The chief end Ruth's love was love.

It wasn't to find a husband or start a family. She didn't even pursue a relationship with Boaz on her own. She was obeying Naomi (continuing to love and honor Naomi) when she went and laid at his feet.

Ruth didn't even know the ultimate effects of her love for Naomi. Through her lineage came David and eventually Jesus. But did Ruth know the effects her actions would have on every generation that would follow? No, of course not. She loved for the sake of love, not for the sake of the blessings that God bestowed upon her.

Ruth isn't even the main character in her own book. Naomi is. God blesses Naomi through Ruth, and blesses the rest of the world through Ruth's descendants, specifically Jesus Christ. God also blessed Ruth with a husband and family, but even that blessing pales in comparison to having the Christ in your lineage.

Do you love for the sake of love, or is love just a means to an end for you?