Reflection: Do you push relationships away because you feel unworthy of love from people who might see you at your most vulnerable? Do you push relationships away because you feel as if you are unworthy because you assume that you have nothing to offer? Who have you pushed away because you felt unworthy? Do you push your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend away because you do not believe that you are deserving of his/her love? Do you push your children away because you feel unworthy as a mother/father because of things you believe you should have or should not have done? Do you push away friends because you feel unworthy of their loyalty?

Scripture: Read Ruth 1:5-18

“and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her 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 rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet 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. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And 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 urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.” Ruth 1:5-18 ESV

Naomi pushed her daughters-in-law (Orpah and Ruth) away because she felt unworthy of a continued relationship with them once her sons died. The three women, Naomi included, would need to be taken care of. Naomi did not believe that she was worthy of a continued relationship with her daughters-in-law because she as a widowed woman with no sons she had “nothing” to offer these young women. Naomi insisted that the young women leave her and give up on their relationship. She insisted that they go find someone who was worthy to provide for them. She pushed a total of 4 times. After the third push Orpah left. However, in Naomi’s feelings of unworthiness, this was not enough. Naomi pushed again to try to convince Ruth of the fact that Ruth would reap no benefit from their continued relationship. Finally, after 4 attempts at pushing everyone away, Naomi accepted the fact that for some reason, Ruth believed that Naomi was worthy of a continued relationship.

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s stop pushing people away! You are worthy! Pray for God to help you to see yourself the way He sees you. Pray that God will improve the relationships in your life. Pray that you will see yourself as worthy of relationship.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 ESV

Have a great day! 💖💖💖