A British band called “The Bee Gee’s” was very popular from the late 1960’s through the late 1970’s. In fact they are the sixth best selling musical artists of all time. This is the chorus to one of their biggest hits. “You don’t know what it’s like, no, you don’t know what it’s like, to love somebody the way I love you”.
One of the greatest human love stories recorded in the Bible is actually between a widow and one of her daughters-in-law. The words of Ruth to her mother-in-law are so full of loving commitment and loving sacrifice that they are repeated in many weddings.
Ruth said…
“Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and whither thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die and there will I be buried also; the Lord do so to me, and more also if aught but death part thee and me”.
The first thing I notice is the fact that Ruth had made a commitment to love her mother-in-law. In the first chapter of the book named after Ruth, you see her working in the fields to help provide for the one she loved. I doubt seriously that her mother-in-law, Naomi was always in a good mood, since she had buried her husband and both of her sons. So it is safe to say that Ruth’s love was unconditional.
The second thing I notice is that Ruth’s love is sacrificial.Naomi had another daughter-in-law named Orpah. When her husband died, she left Naomi and returned to her own clan. But in Chapter 3 you will find Ruth following Naomi into a strange country in order to take care of her. I once read that “Marriage is a voyage into a foreign country, and sometimes the people are strange!”
By the time we get to the last chapter in the book of Ruth, we do see that she enjoys a “happy ever after” ending. But never forget that Ruth had no way of knowing that anything good was waiting for her when she demonstrated her love through both commitment and sacrifice.
Let this Valentine’s Day be more than an excuse to eat out. Let it be a reminder that real love always requires a “till life do us part”, commitment and a willingness to sacrifice. It is never really a sacrifice until it includes some things which we feel like we should be able to keep or at least control.
Do you really “know what it’s like to love somebody”?
Bro. Dennis