Do Not Lose Heart in Doing Good

Reading Scripture: Ruth 1:16 

Verse to Memorize: Galatians 6:9 

Reference: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Goal: to receive God's amazing love and blessings like Ruth by not losing heart in doing good unchangingly Some people try hard to do good in their own ways but they lose heart after a few tries. Why is that? This is because they see no fruit of the goodness. However, just as it is the law of nature to reap whatever we have sown, the spiritual law is also to reap in due time as long as we don't lose heart in doing good. In this lesson, let's delve into a woman named Ruth who received God's answers and blessings because she did good without losing heart in any circumstances.

• 1. God wants us to do good until the end

Jesus, the Son of God, came to the earth knew the hearts of His disciples who would work faithfully, how they would work, how they would be martyred and who would betray Him. On the night when Jesus was betrayed, Peter, one of His disciples said, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." Jesus replied, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter still said to Jesus, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." But Jesus' words were fulfilled (Matthew 26). Jesus also foreknew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him but He didn't forsake him or rebuke him. He led him in love by letting him know what would happen in an indirect way until the end so that he would gain realization and reach repentance (John 6:64, 70, 71). If someone stays by a person all the time and loves him, even though he knows that he will betray or kill him, he may be a truly righteous and lovely person in the sight of God. Without this kind of spiritual heart, one might think that if there is no fruit borne in doing good he is doing it in vain. However, God takes delight in and blesses men who do good with a heart that doesn't change in any kind of situation until the end.  

• 2. Ruth with a clean heart

After Joshua died the sons of Israel left God again and fell into idolatry. It resulted in being invaded by neighboring countries and the harvest was bad. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons moved to Moab to avoid famine. Elimelech was the head of the family. After moving he passed away. Naomi became a widow and her two sons took Moabite women as their wives.

 One named Orpah and the other was Ruth. Around the tenth year of their marriages, the two sons also died. Naomi's family members went to Moab to avoid famine, but all men in her household died and she became a widow. How pitiful she was! What we should realize is that God's children can't live away from God just as fish can't live outside of water. Bethlehem spiritually symbolizes the bosom of God but Naomi's family left God and moved to Moab the land of Gentiles. This means they sought the world. Then, they couldn't help but fall into serious troubles.

 Her family's situation went downhill, which caused hard times for her. One day, upon hearing that there was great harvest in Bethlehem, Naomi decided to return to her hometown. But her two daughter-in-laws, who had also become widows, troubled her mind, so she told them to go back their home. Her heart ached because her daughter-in-laws who would live hopelessly as widows in her country. Orpah left weeping, but Ruth would not leave her mother-in-law until the end. When Naomi told her to go, Ruth firmly said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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 I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me" (Ruth 1:16-17).

• 3. Ruth received blessings by unchangingly doing good

Ruth followed her mother-in-law to Bethlehem and never regretted her choice. She served her mother-in-law unchangingly with the same heart she had had at first. To support Naomi she gleaned the fields from morning till evening. She also obeyed her completely. She didn't lose heart in doing good and she didn't have a hard time. She didn't want any reward, but she just considered it her duty and diligently served her mother-in-law. 

These days, in Korea, there are many families suffering from conflicts among siblings in deciding who will live with and support their parents. If they choose goodness to follow their duties by believing God like Ruth, God will repay them with all the better things for sure. Ruth's love for her mother-in-law was very great, and it was known widely around the town. Boaz who was rich and respected in the town heard about Ruth and did her a favor. Boaz allowed Ruth to glean in his field until the end of harvest of barley and wheat. He was Naomi's kinsman, one of her closest relatives and he loved God. Naomi knew he was one of people who could 'redeem' her. So, she asked a favor of Boaz. In the Law of Moses was the law of redemption of the land. It is the law by which one recovered his own land that had been sold or one took the wife of his kinsman who had died to carry on his family line.

 Boaz knew that Ruth was a virtuous woman who was well-known by people in the town, so he promised Ruth he would redeem her land. There was another person who was a closer kinsman than Boaz, though, who had the right to redeem hers, but he had no love and rejected her. Boaz was the next person who had the responsibility to redeem it. He did it because he had love. In the end, Boaz took Ruth as his wife and begot a son. The son is Obed the grandfather of David. Ruth eventually became King David's great grandmother and she was blessed to be listed in the genealogy of Jesus.

• 4. Ruth's heart that was after God's heart

Why could Ruth receive such blessings though she was a Gentile who came to Bethlehem following her mother-in-law? This is because her heart was after God. Ruth's future life seemed hopeless, but she just sought goodness with patience. In such a desperate situation no one and nothing did she blame and moreover it was unimaginable for her to feel jealous, boastful, arrogant, or rude. She didn't seek her benefits, didn't think of anger or evil things. 

She just believed and endured all things. Ruth wanted nothing. Seeing her heart, God led her to the path to blessing. Though there were many women in the history, the story about Ruth is one of the Bible's 66 books. God wants all people to accomplish the same beautiful heart as Ruth and to receive the same blessings from God. Ruth was not an Israelite God had elected, but after being married and becoming a member of Naomi's family she thought of God as her God and the Israelites her people. We should have the same clean heart that Ruth did. That's why as long as we say we believe God we should unchangingly believe Him. Ruth's love for her mother-in-law was great and she fulfilled her duty more than she was supposed to. She didn't forsake her mother-in-law. 

She gave up her everything such as freedom and youth, and just followed her mother-in-law and supported her until the end. It was because she had a truly beautiful and pure heart. Today it is hard to find someone who has such a heart. People don't want to be with someone who has opinions different from theirs or who doesn't agree with them. Then, if the situation were as desperate as Ruth's, would you be able to take the way she did? Ruth loved and respected her mother-in-law with all her heart, so she deemed her way to be a right and proper duty and happy in fulfilling the duty. Happiness and unhappiness are not decided depending on one's circumstances. 

It depends on the heart of goodness. It is not that Ruth did good for any reward, but God gave her back with a blessing for her goodness. In the same manner, if we don't lose heart in doing good, we will surely be blessed. A person with a good heart doesn't stop it after trying to do good several times. Such people do good without changing because it is the will of God to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others and they follow the proper duties of men. Therefore, I hope you will not lose heart in doing good, but steadfastly act in faith so that you can receive answers to prayer and great love from God.

Usikate Tamaa Kutenda Mema

Soma: Ruthu 1:16

Mstari wa kukariri: Wagalatia 6:9

Marejeo: 1 Wakorintho 13:4-7. Lengo: kupokea upendo na baraka za ajabu za Mungu kama Ruthu kwa kutokata tamaa kutenda mema katika hali yoyote.

Wengine hujitahidi kutenda mema kwa njia yao wenyewe, lakini hukata tamaa baada ya kujaribu mara chache. Kwa nini? Hawaoni matunda ya wema wao. Lakini kama sheria ya asili ilivyo kuvuna tulichopanda, sheria ya kiroho pia hutuahidi mavuno kwa wakati wake mradi tusikate tamaa kutenda mema. Tujifunze kuhusu Ruthu, aliyepokea majibu na baraka za Mungu kwa kutenda mema bila kukata tamaa katika hali yoyote.

• 1. Mungu anataka tutende mema hadi mwisho

Yesu, Mwana wa Mungu, alijua mioyo ya wanafunzi wake, jinsi wangetumika kwa uaminifu, wangekufaje kama wafia dini na nani angemsaliti. Usiku aliposalitiwa, Petro alisema hata wengine wakimwacha Yesu, yeye hatamwacha kamwe. Yesu akamjibu kwamba kabla jogoo hajawika, Petro angemkana mara tatu. Petro akasisitiza hata akifa hatamkana, lakini maneno ya Yesu yakatimia (Mathayo 26). Yesu alijua pia Yuda Iskariote angemsaliti, lakini hakumwacha wala kumkemea; alimwongoza kwa upendo na kumsaidia atambue ukweli na kutubu hadi mwisho (Yohana 6:64, 70-71). Mtu akikaa na kumpenda mwingine, ingawa anajua atasalitiwa au kuuawa naye, ana moyo mwema kweli machoni pa Mungu. Bila moyo huo, tunaweza kufikiri wema wetu ni bure usipozaa matunda. Lakini Mungu hupendezwa na kuwabariki wanaotenda mema kwa moyo usiobadilika hadi mwisho.

• 2. Ruthu mwenye moyo safi

Baada ya Yoshua kufa, Waisraeli walimwacha Mungu tena na kuabudu sanamu. Majirani wakawavamia na mavuno yakaharibika. Elimeleki, mke wake Naomi na wana wao wawili wakahamia Moabu ili kukwepa njaa. Elimeleki, mkuu wa familia, akafa huko. Naomi akawa mjane, na wanawe wawili wakaoa wanawake wa Moabu, mmoja aliitwa Orpa na mwingine Ruthu. Karibu mwaka wa kumi wa ndoa zao, wana hao wawili pia wakafa. Familia ya Naomi ilikuwa imehamia Moabu ili kukwepa njaa, lakini wanaume wote wakafa na Naomi akawa mjane. Hili lilikuwa jambo la kusikitisha sana.

Tunapaswa kutambua kuwa watoto wa Mungu hawawezi kuishi mbali naye kama samaki asivyoweza kuishi nje ya maji. Kiroho, Bethlehemu huashiria kifua cha Mungu, lakini familia ya Naomi ilimwacha Mungu na kwenda Moabu, nchi ya mataifa—yaani, wakautafuta ulimwengu. Ndiyo maana waliingia katika taabu kubwa. Baadaye Naomi alisikia kuwa kulikuwa na mavuno mengi Bethlehemu, akaamua kurudi nyumbani. Aliwaonea huruma wakwe zake wawili wajane na akawaambia warudi kwao. Moyo wake uliumia akiwafikiria wajane hao wangeishi bila tumaini katika nchi yao. Orpa aliondoka akilia, lakini Ruthu alikataa kumwacha Naomi. Naomi alipomsihi arudi, Ruthu alisema, “Usinisihi nikuache, nirudi nisifuatane nawe; maana huko uendako nitakwenda, na huko ukaapo nitakaa; watu wako watakuwa watu wangu, na Mungu wako atakuwa Mungu wangu. Hapo utakapokufa nitakufa nami, na hapo ndipo nitakapozikwa; Bwana anifanyie hivyo na kuzidi, ila kufa tu kutatutenganisha” (Ruthu 1:16-17).

• 3. Ruthu alipokea baraka kwa kutenda mema bila kubadilika

Ruthu alimfuata Naomi hadi Bethlehemu, wala hakujutia uamuzi wake. Aliendelea kumtumikia mama mkwe wake kwa moyo uleule. Ili kumsaidia Naomi, alikusanya masazo ya nafaka shambani kuanzia asubuhi hadi jioni na kumtii kabisa. Hakukata tamaa wala kuhisi kuwa ni mzigo; hakutaka tuzo, bali aliona kuwa ni wajibu wake na akamtumikia kwa bidii.

Leo familia nyingi hukosana ndugu wanapoamua nani ataishi na kuwahudumia wazazi wao. Wakichagua wema na kutimiza wajibu wao kwa kumwamini Mungu kama Ruthu, Mungu hakika atawalipa mema zaidi. Upendo wa Ruthu kwa Naomi ulijulikana mjini. Boazi, mtu tajiri na mwenye heshima, alisikia habari zake akamfadhili. Alimruhusu Ruthu kukusanya nafaka shambani mwake hadi mavuno ya shayiri na ngano yalipokwisha. Boazi alikuwa jamaa wa Naomi na alimpenda Mungu. Naomi alijua angeweza kumkomboa. Sheria ya Musa ilikuwa na sheria ya ukombozi wa ardhi: mtu angeweza kurejesha ardhi yake iliyouzwa au kumwoa mjane wa jamaa yake aliyekufa ili kuendeleza ukoo.

Boazi alijua Ruthu alikuwa mwanamke mwema, anayejulikana na watu wa mjini, akaahidi kumkomboa. Kulikuwa na jamaa mwingine wa karibu zaidi aliyekuwa na haki hiyo, lakini hakuwa na upendo na akakataa. Boazi aliyekuwa na jukumu lililofuata alikubali kwa upendo. Mwishowe akamwoa Ruthu na wakapata mwana, Obedi, babu yake Daudi. Ruthu akawa nyanya wa babu wa Mfalme Daudi, na akabarikiwa kuorodheshwa katika ukoo wa Yesu.

• 4. Moyo wa Ruthu ulifuata moyo wa Mungu

Kwa nini Ruthu alipata baraka hizo ingawa alikuwa mwanamke wa mataifa aliyefuata mkwe wake Bethlehemu? Moyo wake ulimfuata Mungu. Ingawa maisha yake ya baadaye yalionekana kutokuwa na tumaini, alivumilia na kutafuta wema. Katika hali hiyo ya kukata tamaa hakumlaumu mtu wala jambo lolote; hakuwa na wivu, majivuno, kiburi au ukali. Hakutafuta faida yake mwenyewe wala kuwaza hasira au uovu.

Aliamini na kuvumilia kila jambo. Ruthu hakutaka chochote; Mungu aliuona moyo wake na kumwongoza kwenye baraka. Ingawa kulikuwa na wanawake wengi katika historia, habari ya Ruthu ni sehemu ya vitabu 66 vya Biblia. Mungu anataka watu wote wawe na moyo mzuri kama wake na wapokee baraka zake. Ruthu hakuwa Mwisraeli aliyechaguliwa na Mungu, lakini baada ya kuolewa katika familia ya Naomi alimchukulia Mungu kuwa Mungu wake na Waisraeli kuwa watu wake. Tuwe na moyo safi kama wa Ruthu; tukisema tunamwamini Mungu, tumwamini bila kubadilika. Upendo wake kwa Naomi ulikuwa mkuu, akatimiza wajibu wake zaidi ya alivyotakiwa na hakumwacha.

Aliacha uhuru na ujana wake na kumfuata Naomi na kumtunza hadi mwisho kwa moyo safi na mzuri. Leo ni vigumu kupata moyo huo. Watu hawataki kukaa na mtu mwenye maoni tofauti au asiyekubaliana nao. Kama ungekuwa katika hali ya kukata tamaa kama ya Ruthu, ungeweza kuchagua njia yake? Alimpenda na kumheshimu mama mkwe wake kwa moyo wote; aliona kuwa wajibu wake ulikuwa sahihi na alifurahi kuutimiza. Furaha na huzuni haviamuliwi na hali za nje, bali hutegemea moyo wa wema.

Ruthu hakutenda mema ili apate malipo, lakini Mungu alimbariki kwa wema wake. Vivyo hivyo, tusipokata tamaa kutenda mema tutabarikiwa. Mwenye moyo mwema haachi kutenda mema baada ya kujaribu mara chache; huendelea bila kubadilika kwa kuwa ni mapenzi ya Mungu kujitoa kwa manufaa ya wengine na kutimiza wajibu wa mwanadamu. Usikate tamaa kutenda mema; tenda kwa imani bila kuyumba ili upokee majibu ya maombi na upendo mkuu wa Mungu.