Most often when I counsel couples about to be married, I talk about the commitment that marriage is. It is a contract between two people to be bound together, to live together, supporting each other 'till death parts them. For what God joins together, man cannot separate. Even when divorce happens and it does at times... once they have been joined together, they will always be a part of one another.
I remind them that marriage is as much about commitment as it is about love - even more so. It is the commitment they make and keep that will help their love to stay strong and even grow. There will be days in their lives together when they may not feel like they love one another any longer. It will be in those times that they should remember the commitment they made to one another as they stood before God and the people and made a covenant to share their entire lives with each other. They will need to remember that they have committed themselves to love and to care for each other till death parts them. Marriage is about commitment. It is about faithfulness. It is about loyalty.
After such a short time of having known Ruth, Boaz cannot know if he truly loves this woman - at least not in the way that comes with caring for someone through time. But, he is committed to seeing that she and her mother-in-law are cared for. He is committed, as is Ruth and Naomi, to seeing that the family name, the inheritance of Elimelech, is passed on for another generation. He is willing to father a son, who shall be his late relative's son, who shall be the inheritor the property left behind and the son who will care for Naomi in her old age. He is committed to blessing not just Ruth, but the mother-in-law, Ruth, whom she does love. Boaz is committed to love and to care for Ruth and all whom she loves.
Marriage is a life-long contract. It is a commitment to love and care for each other, no matter what may come. There may be times when we may think that maybe we made a mistake in making that commitment, but as we work on that commitment, love will indeed grow.
To follow Jesus Christ, to become his bride, we also make a commitment. There will be many times, when life in relationship with him, may seem like it is more of a commitment than we can bear. But, as we remind ourselves of the commitment he has made to us, we will be reminded of the great love he has for us and our love for him and one another will also grow.
May the LORD give us the faith, strength, and courage needed to help us in our commitment to love the LORD with all our hearts, souls and minds and to love one another as ourselves.
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