Planted in the Right Soil

 

And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. (Ruth 1:15-18 ESV).

 

The book of Ruth introduces Elimelech, a man who lived in Bethlehem-Judah. The name of that town literally means "the house of bread and praise," an unmistakable picture of the church. When a famine took place in the land Elimelech uprooted his family, left the house of God, and emigrated to Moab (cf. Ruth 1:1). The Moabites were descendants of Lot's incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter. In that sense, Moab was spiritually a cursed land. Actually "Elimelech" means "my God is King." But his lifestyle didn't quite measure up to his name. That is really a lack of integrity. In fact, he stood for one thing and yet practiced another.

Elimelech was like many Christians today who readily claim that God is number one in their lives; however, the moment they see a better opportunity somewhere else, they would leave their house of bread and praise. God, in reality, is not really their King. When we say, "Jesus is Lord of my life," we should be declaring that He rules 100% of everything. This means that in good times, in bad times, you will always place Him first. His house automatically becomes the first order of consideration in the way you arrange your life.

Elimelech had a wife by the name of Naomi (cf. Ruth 1:2). In the passage of time, Elimelech and his two sons, Mahlon ("sick") and Chilion ("wasting away") all died (cf. Ruth 1:4-5). Finally, Naomi came to her senses, and she decided to go back to her community of faith. Only Ruth declared her committed to go with Naomi, telling her she would “go where you go.”  When they got back, Ruth found her kinsman-redeemer in a man by the name of Boaz. They fell in love and got married. Out of their lineage came forth Jesus Christ. By being planted in the house of the Lord, Ruth found her destiny. When you are planted in God's house, you too become part of an amazing process that will manifest Jesus Christ to the whole world. It was indeed the right soil to be planted. Are you planted in your “right soil”?