Do you have a Ruth attitude or a Orpah attitude?

While I was studying the book of Ruth, I meditated on the differences between Ruth and Orpah, and their future. The book of Ruth is about a woman, Naomi, and her family, who relocated from their home in Bethlehem to Moab in order to feed themselves, since there was famine in their homeland. Naomi had two sons but lost them both not too long after their father passed on. These sons had one wife each, Ruth and Orpah, whom Naomi testified of as being kind women, before they died. Now that their husbands were dead, all three women were full of sorrow and unimaginable agony. Naomi concluded, after losing her beloved sweetheart and precious children, that the land Moab was no longer worthy of living in. She also heard that God had blessed the people in Judah by giving them crops again, so she decided to go to Judah. Of course, as kind women, both Ruth and Orpah, decided to embark on the journey with her. They both agreed not to leave her (Ruth 1:5). Naomi tried all she could to persuade them from following her to Judah but they did not listen, until Orpah finally decided to part ways with them. Why did she part ways with them after she had previously said she wouldn't leave Naomi? I pondered in my heart.

I found the answer to my question in verse 9 of the 1st chapter. Naomi said "May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage." This sentence restructured Orpan's thought. It made her realize that she might have a brighter future if she left Naomi and married another man. She knew she wouldn't have to be reminded of her late husband whenever she saw Naomi. She thought leaving her Mother in-law would bring her some happiness. Was she right? I do not know. One thing I know for sure is that the end of Ruth was much better than that of Orpan. If this wasn't so, I'm sure her story wouldn't have ended the way it did.

Ruth, on the other hand, decided not to forsake the poor, depressed, and sorrowful Naomi. She was determined to stay with her and go wherever she went. Her mind was made, and there was no word that could change it. She decided not to go with the alternative which Naomi suggested. How many times have we taken other alternatives because we think the situation we're in has no solution? How many times have we let go of our faith in Christ to seek other options? As seen in the life of Ruth, her commitment is unquestionable. God loves those who are 100% committed to Him and He won't forsake them. He favors committed people, just like He favored Ruth in verse 2 of the 2nd Chapter. God also ensures that He crowns the effort of those who are committed to Him with great success. Such people achieve a lot of success from the little effort they put into anything they do. (Read Ruth 2:15-16). So ask yourself, what attitude do you have? Ruth's or Orpah?