In today’s culture, are older women looked upon with respect as a person who can share wisdom over life’s trials, to be a teacher, a confidant, a lover of God?
In the book of Ruth, we meet Naomi. She is a Jew from Bethlehem who left with her husband and children to move to Moab to flee the famine in Israel. Her sons grew and married Moabite women. Naomi welcomed them into her family, quietly sharing her faith with her pagan daughter-in-laws. As Naomi decides to move back to Israel after the death of her husband and sons, one daughter-in-law, Ruth, goes with her. By law, Ruth could go back to her parents’ house and re-marry. However, as Ruth tells Naomi, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17
How did Ruth, a Moabite, pagan woman declare her allegiance, not only to Naomi, but to her God, the God of Israel, the great “I AM?” Ruth must have been watching and learning about this God from Naomi. When push came to shove, Ruth chose God over her family and the pagan gods of her youth. As the story continues, so does the teaching by Naomi to Ruth. Ruth grows in maturity, in her faith and God ultimately brings the kingly line of David to Jesus through Ruth.
So, the question to you today is: Who is your Naomi? Who has taken you in, encouraged you, has patiently been teaching you about God? About sin and your need of a Savior? About the unfailingly love of a Savior who knows your every need, your every desire? Treasure that woman. Pray for her. If you are like me, there are probably many women God has brought across your path since your first declared your faith in Jesus. Because of these women, you have grown and matured in the faith. If you are older, maybe it is time for you to be someone’s Naomi. Share your testimony with someone who is in need. Come along side someone who needs encouragement, who needs to know Jesus and have a saving relationship.
As women, let us hold fast to our faith, as a community of believers, as sisters in Christ, that we may encourage, help, teach, prepare the next generation to love and serve our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.