Ruth: A Loyal Friend

    Do you have that one friend who you know will always be there for you through thick and thin? Naomi did. Ruth was not only her daughter-in-law, but she was also her faithful friend and companion. For this week's bible study I used the story of Ruth to talk about the subject of being a loyal friend. First off, we defined what that was. A loyal friend will always be there to support you whenever you need support, they listen to you, and when you are sad they'll make you laugh and say something like this, "You know, no matter what happens, I'm by your side!"

    Like Ruth and Naomi, our relationships and conversations should be formed around our faith in a God. How often do we choose NOT to mention God in our conversations with our friends? For some of us, it's second nature to ask our friends about the latest movie or show that they've seen or the latest book that they've read, but how much more effort it takes for us to talk about something that we've gotten out of our devotions for that day or something that God spoke to us about in a church service. Through the things that Naomi said and the way she acted, Ruth realized that she was genuine and came to know Naomi's God as her God. Sharing openly about our relationship with God can bring depth and meaning in our relationships with others. By our speech and actions people can see what we are all about. We need to make sure what we say measures up to God's standards. Colossians 4:6~ "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." We can win someone to the Lord through our speech, but we can also discourage someone from coming to Him too. It's vital for us as Christians to control our speech and conduct.

    Ruth's life was guided by her faithfulness toward God and it was shown through her loyalty towards others, even throughout the deep sorrow and great affliction she and Naomi endured together. Ruth showed her genuine commitment to Naomi, by leaving her country, her family, and everyone she had ever known to travel with Naomi to a country where everything was new and strange to her. Their commitment to each other reminds me of God's never ending, everlasting faithfulness to us.
Lamentations 3:22-23, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." 

 I think that Ruth and Naomi are one of the best illustrations of a pair of loyal friends. Here are 4 things that I think are key in being a loyal friend.

Trust-
     Here is a perfect description that I found online concerning trust in friendship. Trust is one of the main ingredients in a friendship. Without trust, a person could not be truthful about their feelings, goals, or desires. A healthy friendship needs trust so that there can be communication and honesty. Otherwise a person might be afraid they would be ridiculed or not supported. When a friendship has trust the people involved both feel respected and know the other person would not intentionally hurt them or abuse the trust given to them. Trust in a friendship is important to have a healthy relationship
that will last through bad and good times. Ruth trusted Naomi's leadership in two ways. She
trusted Naomi by following her to a foreign land and she also trusted her with how she asked Boaz to be her kinsman redeemer.

Respect-
     Another foundational element of a healthy friendship is respect. We need to respect our friends by taking their thoughts and feelings seriously. Respect is also shown by valuing, and not undermining, your friends' decisions. If your friend wants to do something and you don't quite agree with them, you can still respect their decision UNLESS it is going against the clear commands of God. Respect your friend enough to "agree to disagree" while still keeping your friendship intact.

Encouragement-
    Good friends support and encourage each other. A good friend is there to encourage you to pursue
a particular interest or help you find the confidence you need to start something new. When difficult
times arise, encouraging friends can give you the support you need to survive and thrive through your
troubles. Also, if you desire supportive friends, it's important to provide this quality to your friends as well.

Prayer-
     Lastly, I think prayer is the most important key that we could have in a friendship. We show our true love,support, and loyalty to our friends when we take the time to pray for them. I know how much I feel encouraged when a friend of mine tells me that they are praying for me. If it encourages us and makes us feel good, then let's start a chain reaction and start praying for our friends.

1 Timothy 2:1 - I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;