Total Commitment (3 of 4)
Series: Love and Marriage
Jeff Strite
Ruth 1:16-17
A college man walked into a photography studio with a framed picture of his girlfriend. He wanted the picture duplicated. This involved removing it from the frame. In doing this, the studio owner noticed the inscription on the back of the photograph:
''My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.''
It was signed ''Helen,'' and it contained a P.S.: ''If we ever break up, I want this picture back.''
APPLY: How many of you think she was NOT totally committed to that relationship?
Real commitment is a highly prized commodity and those who have experienced it know how gratifying it can be to receive such loyalty.
God also loves commitment. That's why He included Ruth's statement in your Bible. In these two short verses Ruth tells her mother-in-law:
· I'll never leave you
· I won't turn away from you
· I'll go where you go, I'll stay where you stay
· AND where you die - that's where I'll die
That's the kind of commitment God admires - unqualified commitment.
I. Unqualified commitment… that's what God had in mind when He created marriage.
I've heard of people using these verses from Ruth in their weddings vows. Those in love have had it engraved on their jewelry to communicate their undying devotion to another. People recognize the value of commitment in marriage. And so does God.
Jesus said: ''… what God has joined together, let man not separate.'' Mk 10:9
In Malachi 2:16 God showed how much total commitment in marriage meant to Him by declaring ''I hate divorce.''
WHY? Why is such loyalty important to God between husbands and wives?
First, because God regards marriage as His creation (not man's).
When Pharisees challenged Jesus if divorce was permissible He replied:
''Haven't you read,'' he replied, ''that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and ...
Series: Love and Marriage
Jeff Strite
Ruth 1:16-17
A college man walked into a photography studio with a framed picture of his girlfriend. He wanted the picture duplicated. This involved removing it from the frame. In doing this, the studio owner noticed the inscription on the back of the photograph:
''My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.''
It was signed ''Helen,'' and it contained a P.S.: ''If we ever break up, I want this picture back.''
APPLY: How many of you think she was NOT totally committed to that relationship?
Real commitment is a highly prized commodity and those who have experienced it know how gratifying it can be to receive such loyalty.
God also loves commitment. That's why He included Ruth's statement in your Bible. In these two short verses Ruth tells her mother-in-law:
· I'll never leave you
· I won't turn away from you
· I'll go where you go, I'll stay where you stay
· AND where you die - that's where I'll die
That's the kind of commitment God admires - unqualified commitment.
I. Unqualified commitment… that's what God had in mind when He created marriage.
I've heard of people using these verses from Ruth in their weddings vows. Those in love have had it engraved on their jewelry to communicate their undying devotion to another. People recognize the value of commitment in marriage. And so does God.
Jesus said: ''… what God has joined together, let man not separate.'' Mk 10:9
In Malachi 2:16 God showed how much total commitment in marriage meant to Him by declaring ''I hate divorce.''
WHY? Why is such loyalty important to God between husbands and wives?
First, because God regards marriage as His creation (not man's).
When Pharisees challenged Jesus if divorce was permissible He replied:
''Haven't you read,'' he replied, ''that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and ...
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