Discover Your People | Week 5 | Friendship is built on loyalty – Ruth and Naomi
What the Bible teaches about friendship
The story of Naomi and Ruth
Friendship is loyalty
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17 (NIV)
Loyalty is sticking with your friend in tough times
One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home r for you, where you will be well provided for. Ruth 3:1 (NIV)
16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”
Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Ruth 3:16-18 (NIV)
Loyalty is being for your friend
The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” 16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4:14-17 (NIV)
Who do you need to thank for being a loyal friend?
How can you be a loyal friend?