Naomi must have loved the Lord God wholeheartedly! In spite of losing her husband and her two sons, she had not turned her back upon God. For when she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of His people by providing food for them, she immediately prepared to return home from there. She was even willing to let go of her two beloved daughters-in-law, because she did not want to put them needlessly through the trouble of living as foreigners in Judah.
Both Orpah and Ruth wanted to go along with Naomi to her land and her people, because they in turn had come to love their mother-in-law. Yet, when Naomi urged them to go back and pointed to the consequences, Orpah returned, but Ruth stayed with Naomi.
So it is often with us. We can follow the Lord out of habit for a long time, but one day God will ask us to choose. Then we will get into difficult circumstances and in such adversities it will become apparent whether we truly came to love God.
Ruth had seen in the life of Naomi how much she loved God, and this had taught Ruth to love God too: ‘Your people will be my people and your God my God.’ This testimony of Ruth was the fruit of the devoted life of Naomi. What great responsibility we too have! Can people around us see in our lives Who is God? Is our life a true testimony without words?
Oh, let us not back down when we meet trials and tribulations in our life, for they will strengthen our faith.
And only a life that is tested by God has become useful to really bear fruit for eternity.