Who's Dream Do I Need to Support?

It is easy to become the center of our own universe. It is easy to think that our lives are about our success, our incomes, our homes, our cars, our education, our love lives, and our careers. We can start believing that everyone exists in our world to help us improve our stuff.

This mindset is reflected in how we discuss self-development.

For example, consider this phrase we have all adopted over the years: “Surround yourself with good people.” The premise is fine, but the sentence implies that you are at the center of your friendship circle. Everyone is in your orbit, and if you get to choose who surrounds you (lucky), the assumption is that you are a good person who also deserves to have good people supporting you.

Taken from another angle, though, you are no longer in the center. When someone else thinks of the people surrounding them, that might include you. If we are all the sum of the five people we spend the most time with, you are one of someone else’s five. You are surrounding someone else. We can’t exist as someone who is only in relationships to be served. Relationships should be a two-way street. You help me grow, and I should help you grow.

Ruth and Naomi exemplify this mutual commitment to supporting each other. They lose everything - their husbands and livelihood. Naomi, an Israelite who relocated to Moab, where her son met Ruth, tells her daughters-in-law to move on with their lives when she returns home. Ruth, filled with compassion and uncertain of her future, chooses to stay with Naomi.

'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… May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." Ruth 1:16-18 (emphasis mine)

Naomi shows her love and support by releasing Ruth from the burden of caring for an old widow. Ruth returned her support by choosing to do what she knew was best for her and Naomi.

Their story seems bleak - and Naomi certainly felt that it was. But their mutual support led to their kinsmen redeemer, Boaz - the relative responsible for caring for his family's troubles and needs.

Boaz supports them extravagantly by providing them with safety and food. Then, he takes Ruth as his wife. And Ruth and Boaz are the great-grandparents to King David.

Their story shows the power of supporting each other. We owe it to our loved ones to become their dream detectives. Learn from Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz by supporting people with your time and influence and exposing them to new opportunities.

Is there somebody in your life that has a dream you can support?

Prayer

God, thank You for supporting me. Help me to depend on You, believe what You say about me, and support others generously. Deepen my passion for serving others with my time and influence, and let me participate in the work You’re doing for those around me.

I pray You help me find comfort in today’s scriptures. Help me pause and reflect upon Ruth’s story, and bring me closer to You as I study Your Word. Amen.