by John O’Malley
“And Boaz answered and said unto her…and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity” (Ruth 2:11).
Boaz’s heart had been drawn to Ruth’s cause. This precious Gentile gem from Moab’s plains had made quite an impression on him. Boaz first took note of Ruth’s compassion for his relative, and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz then indicated to Ruth that his graciousness to her came also because of her heart’s conviction. Boaz knew that Ruth was a woman who would wholly follow what she believed in her heart was right, no matter what ties needed to be severed.
It was unusual to find people who demonstrated their convictions considering the days in which Boaz and Ruth lived. They lived in the days when the judges ruled. Those were days when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). When people do what they think is right and live in this selfish way, they indicate that they have a lack of righteous conviction.
Boaz stated, “Thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity.” Ruth’s behavior revealed her heart’s conviction when she stood on Moab’s soil and determined to leave. Boaz knew when Ruth left both her family and the familiar to come to the foreign, she showed that she was a woman who possessed conviction. Ruth’s behavior indicated a simple definition of the word conviction. Ruth believed in righteous living so strongly that it altered her actions, her associations, and her attitude.
Ruth’s convictions altered her actions. She left Moab for Bethlehem-judah. She did not remain in Moab with righteous convictions. She did not attempt to change Moab from the inside and not “rock the boat.” Ruth left Moab when her convictions came.
Ruth’s convictions altered her associations. She left her family and the familiar for the unknown and unfamiliar. She did not allow her convictions to be thwarted because of relationships. She simply left everyone behind when she came to her convictions.
Ruth’s convictions also altered her attitude. No longer would she be among those who lived by the rules of pride and selfishness. She began to think differently as she left her hometown’s ways of living for self. Ruth could not maintain her old attitude when she came to new convictions. Ruth’s convictions changed her way of thinking.
We live in a day when people of righteous conviction are in the minority. People are needed today who will alter their actions, their associations, and their attitudes for the cause of righteousness.People with righteous convictions do not stay in Moab; they seek to get out of Moab. Christians with righteous convictions sever the ties that would deter them. Believers with righteous convictions have a Christ-like disposition as they stand for truth. Godly people with righteous convictions alter their actions, associations, and attitudes.
Are you a believer with righteous convictions?