From the CANON on this blog:
Solutions
4.
Friends are called upon to bear one another’s burdens
So now I am giving you a new
commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each
other. John 13:34
Today’s scripture reading:
Ruth 1
Today’s
devotional:
The
Christian life isn’t free of obligations. The many “one anothers” in the Bible
are God’s instructions about how to treat people in our circles and give of
ourselves to enrich those relationships. Yet many people today prefer not to
invest in deep friendships, opting instead for casual acquaintances that demand
little. The devoted loyalty of Ruth—a pagan from Moab—stands in sharp contrast
to such superficiality.
Casual
friends can talk about politics, movies, and sports but avoid discussing deep
concerns. Then they won’t have to bear anyone else’s burdens or heartbreak. But
neither will they learn the deep joy of expressing loyalty to a person in need.
The human heart was created to crave intimate fellowship—the kind of
connectedness that can share feelings without fear of judgment. Because of
loyalty based on mutual trust and love, close companions can point out blind
spots and challenge each other to greater faith.
Ruth is an
example of this kind of selfless dedication. When her mother-in- law Naomi went
through a bitter period of hopelessness and loss, the young widow Ruth chose to
follow the older woman. Though this meant sacrificing the comforts of home and
any prospect of marriage to a countryman, she demonstrated absolute allegiance.
Loyalty demands a high price that too few are willing to
pay. Some hold acquaintances at arm’s length to avoid obligation. But believers
are saved to stand together in love and encourage one another (“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each
other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” John 13:34;
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are
already doing.” 1 Thess. 5:11).
Doing so brings blessing, even when there’s a cost.
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