“Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 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.”

Ruth 1:1-2

April 3, 2025

Ponder This

Elimelech made a bad choice because of a wrong motive. Verse 1 tells us there was a famine in the land. He was motivated by the physical and not the spiritual. Satan had whispered into his ear, “Elimelech, a man’s got to live.” And he responded, “I know what God has said, I know that God has promised to bless me, but I’ve got to take care of myself.” He put the physical above the spiritual.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Have you ever put God first and then He’s failed you? Think about it.

Most of us love things and try to use God, but we are to love God and use things. Elimelech acted on the physical rather than the spiritual. But God will not work in second place—not in Elimelech’s life and not in yours.

• Why is the physical often more motivating for us than the spiritual? How can that change?
• When have you made a decision motivated by the physical over the spiritual? Why does this fail us?

Practice This

Think about some of the decisions you are making and things you are wrestling with. Consider whether you are most motived by spiritual or physical realities.