“And when she [Naomi] saw she [Ruth] was determined to go with her, she said no more.” Ruth 1:18
It is true that “without faith it is impossible to please God...” (Heb. 11:6). But what concerns me at times is when Christians gladly lock into the ‘faith’ principle, but show little initiative, drive, resolve and determination in their lives. Growing in Christ and to exercise the gifting and abilities God has given us for every aspect of life and godliness demands determination. Now this might sound like I am getting all humanistic, but this is another aspect of how God’s sovereign will and our personal responsibility, work hand in hand for our good and God’s glory. (Rom. 8:28) In the above text Naomi, widowed, broken and going home to Bethlehem, pleaded with her daughter in law to stay in her familiar, pagan world. But such was Ruth’s new found faith in Yahweh she was ‘determined’ - ‘where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) In other words, Ruth’s new found faith in God, gave her direction, purpose and determination to move outside her comfort zone, and resolutely push forward into foreign territory where faith in God would be her stay.
Saving faith should never be docile, it should make us resolute and determined to strive in all aspects of life for the glory of God. I like how author Daryl Wingerd said “Since the Scriptures tell us in several places that the Christian life is a life lived by faith (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 2:20), some may feel that personal resolve and strenuous effort have no place. While no one should neglect or minimize the necessity of faith as it relates to Christian sanctification, no one should forget that Christian faith is not passive. Christian faith works itself out through personal resolve, self-discipline, and effort." [Grace Quotes]