They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. They took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had considered his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.?Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people. ”Ruth1: 1-10 (RSV).

In this part 3 of my message on the Winning mentality, we are going to examine two outstanding (characters) women whose cases were the same. They were Orpah and Ruth both, ladies from Moab and married to two brothers, Mahlon and Chilion, the sons of an Ephrathite couple of Bethlehem Judah. These two women had the same problem and life’s challenge in that both of them lost their husbands after ten years of marriage.

They were only left to face their uncertain future with an aged and frustrated mother In-law Naomi who had earlier lost her husband and two sons in a foreign land (Moab) .For Orpah and Ruth to survive their trauma, conquer their challenges and win their battles, their attitude must reflect determination, consistency and perseverance.

However, Naomi was determined to make it back to Bethlehem Judah the land of bread, and she took her two daughters In-law along, but at a certain point in the journey she decided to give them a sincere advice to return to their mother’s houses, she blessed them and wished them well in their prospective husband’s houses, an initial test of their faith and courage which they passed when they affirmed their determination to follow her back to her people in vs10. Then came the second test, let’s read vs11-17: but Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband.

Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has turned against me.? Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.?But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you?Ruth1:11-17 (RSV).

From the above verse, we could see that while Orpah and Ruth passed the initial test of faith and courage, only Ruth passed the second test. Why did Orpha quit this time and returned to her people and to her gods and why did Ruth persevere and vowed to continue following?

The answer is not far fetched; it is the difference between the evidence of shallow or superficial faith and consistent, persevering, purpose achieving faith.

Orpah’s faith was superficial and shallow; those with this kind of faith don’t last in Christianity. They backslide so easily, even though they seem to have strong beliefs and positive confessions, yet they easily fritter away at the least obstacle or challenge that comes their way. When the facts about their situations seem to become more factual and the realities more real, their beliefs and confessions change and they throw in the towel.

It is easy to say I believe, I will go with you, I will die with you, I will cling to you alone as long as I live but will you still be able to say those things when the price you must pay is clearly made known to you. When Orpah heard the logic presented by Naomi, her mental reasoning came up alive and after a second thought, it downed on her that they were heading for their worst days and so she wept, kissed and bid her fare well.

Ruth was not walking by sight or by fact but by faith, the kind I call consistent, persevering and purpose achieving faith. Logical thinking and facts about their situation did not change her convictions, belief and confessions; she was focused being propelled by enthusiasm and faith which is evidence of things hoped for and substance of things not seen.

She said “I have left my people and my gods to follow you to your people and God, where you go I will go, where you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God, where you die I will die and there I will be buried?That’s commitment, it is faith in action, and it possesses her possession. Winning is matter of endurance, you will win if you don’t quit. How many of us will say like Ruth I’ve got mind made up and I won’t turn back till I receive my deliverance and possess my possession spiritually, physically and economically and till I see my Lord Jesus Christ someday! That is consistent, persevering faith and of course a great winning mentality.

To be continued in part IV.
Rev. Basil C. Ukaere
Senior Pastor

Pastor Basil Ukaere