Silence the voice of discouragement – Ruth 1: 14 – 19a
She wasn’t affected by the actions of others, v15.
Orpah went back home, to her parents, to their home and a future of waiting for a new husband and the prospects of children. She went back to what she knew. She tasted the dream, but discouragement caused her to leave her destiny. She may have ended up in the genealogy of Christ, as Ruth did. She may have moved from obscurity to significance, but she was what might have been. She became a yesterday’s woman.
Naomi urges Ruth to look at Orpah and to follow her back to Moab.
That is exactly what Ruth didn’t do:
a. She didn’t look.
She didn’t look at what Orpah would have:
As for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. Why? For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Psalm 73:3
Be careful what gets your attention.
She didn’t look at what she wouldn’t have:
Discouragement will try and get you to look at other people and by doing so will ultimately get you to look at what you do not have and are not experiencing.
You have chosen a life where on many, many occasions it may appear that you have nothing.
b. She didn’t follow
Who speaks into your life the most and what do they say?
Ruth chose Naomi over Orpah.
The wrong friend can do much more harm to you than your worst enemy. For we can spend half our lives following friends whose influence upon us will drain us of the energy and passion we need.
Missions Paul 