1/23 Strength for Today

Decision of Faith

Ruth 1:22
“So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.”

The life of Naomi is among the sad stories in the Scriptures. She and her husband left Bethlehem for Moab all because they followed bread instead of following God. The result of this decision by Naomi was tragic. While in the land of Moab she lost her husband and two sons to death. The only thing Naomi had left after making the tragic decision to follow bread was her two daughters-in-law.

Naomi heard that the famine was over in the land of Israel, and she decided to return to her homeland. She advised her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab because she was too old to have any more children. This is what I want you to notice. By faith, Ruth chose to follow Naomi even though it seemed that there would be no hope for her to ever find a man to marry again. Ruth's decision to follow Naomi was a pure decision of faith, but God rewarded this decision of faith. God led her to marry Boaz and that resulted in her be placed into the lineage of Christ.

The decision of faith always comes with great reward. Look at the difference between Naomi and Ruth. Naomi made decisions based upon bread and wealth, while Ruth made decisions based upon faith. Naomi's decision to follow money and wealth led her to have nothing, while Ruth's decision to follow faith led to great reward.

Many times we are faced with the decision to follow money or faith. Though following money may seem to be the logical decision to make, the decision of faith is always where you will find the greatest rewards. When you are faced with making money and acquiring status verses following the call of God, you must make the decision of faith and follow the call of God. When you are faced with a promotion that will transfer you to another place where their is no Bible preaching church, you must follow the decision of faith and stay where you are, realizing that the decision of faith will always give you greater rewards.

Yes, the decision of faith may not make sense, but its rewards are always greater. The decision to follow money and promotion always carries great heartache with it, but the decision of faith carries an end result of joy and blessing.

Whenever you are faced with decisions, follow the decision of faith. You will find the greatest rewards in life are on this pathway. Yes, there will be heartache and trials along the pathway of the decision of faith, but the end result of this pathway are God’s blessings and joy.