What Your Choices Reveal about Your Love

Open the Bible UK Daily

They lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And [Naomi] said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods…”

Ruth 1:14-15

Orpah is a sad example of temporary faith. Ruth and Orpah had come under the influence of Naomi, and there is good reason to believe that they had made some profession of faith. But while Ruth persevered, Orpah turned back.

Naomi says, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods.” Notice Naomi does not tell her to go back to her gods. A godly woman would never do that. But Naomi discerns Orpah’s heart: She is going back to what she loves most—her people and her gods.

Jesus spoke about this in the Parable of the Sower. When the farmer sowed his seed, some fell in shallow soil, and it grew for a while but then withered because it did not have deep roots. Some sprang up quickly but it was eventually choked by weeds.

Orpah had a genuine love for Naomi. She had set out on the journey, ready to make great sacrifices. But she found herself of two minds. Part of her wanted to believe and follow. Part of her wanted to turn back. She was torn, but she made her decision.

Scripture says that in the last days people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. They will have “the appearance of godliness, but [deny] its power” (2 Tim. 3:2-5).

Here are people who look like Christians and talk like Christians, but they have never really experienced the lifechanging power of the gospel. Somewhere along the line, they will turn away from the faith.

Love chooses, and we all choose what we love the most. What you choose reveals what you love.

What are some things that might keep you from choosing God?