RUTH 1:2-4 : The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names
of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion-Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the
country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and
her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the
name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.
Time has a way of slipping by quickly. Perhaps you’ve heard of the fellow who said,” You know, I’m
56. I’m middle aged!” His wife brought him back to reality when she replied, “How many men do you
know who are112?”
Time slipped by for the family of Elimelech as well. Ruth 1: 1 indicates that Elimelech moved his
family to Moab with the intent to “sojourn” there. The word sojourn carries the idea of a temporary
stay. Elimelech hadn’t intended to remain in the land only to visit a short time until the famine was
over. But verse4 reveals that before they knew it, they had been in the land for ten years. The sons
who had gone there as young men had grownup, married local women and eventually passed away,
as had their father (v.5).
Sometimes we intend for situations to be only temporary. We think, Just as soon as the kids are
through college, we’ll start tithing again. Or perhaps you reason, As soon as I get through this busy
period at work, I’ll get back to having a daily quiet time. But days turn into weeks, weeks into months
and before you know it, circumstances that were only going to be temporary have become a way of
life.
Have you allowed something that was intended as transient to become a permanent fixture in your
life? Have you been waiting for a more convenient time to do what you know you should be doing
now? If time has slipped away for you, don’t linger another day” in a distant land. “If you’re not where
you should be, this is the day to do something about it.
DON’T EXPECT TIME TO STAND STILL JUST BECAUSE YOU DO.