Ruth 1: 1 – 7
This is the first of a series of 6 in the book of Ruth.
v. 1 – “When the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land,”
When we hear about famines today, we think of 3rd World places like Africa or Mexico. They are usually under developed nations with poor finances or technology. Contrast that with the USA, where we have a huge abundance of food. One trip down the potato chip aisle alone reveals the variety of food that we have to choose from.
But I believe that there is a famine in this country. It is a moral and spiritual famine. Each day’s headlines show it. Jails are full. Courts are jammed. Corruption and a general lack of respect for others is all too common. Issues such as stem cell research, abortion, and physician assisted suicide continue to be hot topics for debate.
Too often, the Christian response is “Let’s make a law against it. That’ll fix it.” That is the same as relying on the judges of Ruth’s time to remedy the famine in the land. Relying on the courts (laws) today to fix our moral famine will not work. It is reliance on God that will work. Laws don’t change people’s hearts. God does. Pray.
And what about the spiritual famine? Although many people are very interested in spiritual matters, skepticism of and even disdain for Christians seems to be increasing. Our response? We turn to religious law firms, and even the (gasp!) ACLU. We too look to the judges to fix the problem. Let’s make laws to make them like us! Laws don’t change hearts. God does. Pray.
People are starving for spiritual truth. And what do they fill themselves up on? Meaningless and empty religions, rituals and philosophies that do not satisfy their deepest needs. Someone very close to me suffered from anorexia. They were starving and didn’t even know it. They would fill them-selves up on stuff that really wasn’t nourishing.
Perhaps you have a friend who is suffering spiritual famine. Today, pray for them. Deep down, they really want to be fed with the truth and have their famine ended. It is only the eternal, life giving grace of God through Jesus that will satisfy them. Rely on God to change them. And pray that disciples of Jesus in this country would seek reliance on God and not laws, courtrooms or judges to ease the famine in our land.
- Richard M.