Cling to God. Love Others.
In Ruth 1:14, we read that Ruth “clung” to Naomi—a word that carries deep spiritual weight. The Hebrew word used here is “davqah,” meaning to cleave, to cling, to hold fast with intensity and intentionality. But Ruth’s fierce loyalty to Naomi didn’t come out of nowhere. It was the overflow of a deeper devotion—a clinging that had already taken place in her heart toward God.
Before she ever committed to follow Naomi, Ruth had already committed herself to the God of Israel. Her words, “Your God will be my God,” weren’t just about Naomi’s faith—they were a declaration of Ruth’s own covenant.
Because she had clung to the Lord, she had the grace to love Naomi in a way that went beyond duty or culture. Ruth’s love was covenantal, sacrificial, and full of faith.
She is, in many ways, an Old Testament echo of Jesus' New Testament commandment found in Mark 12:29–31:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
It’s no coincidence that the order matters. First, love God. Then, love others.
Ruth’s story reminds us that our ability to truly love the people around us—especially when it’s hard—is deeply tied to our own posture toward God. When we are grounded in Him, when we cling to Him, our love for others becomes an extension of His love through us.
So what does it look like to cling to God today?
It might look like pausing in the middle of a chaotic morning to return your heart to Him.
It might look like choosing truth over fear, or Scripture over scrolling.
It might be saying, “Lord, I’m not sure what today holds, but I trust You hold me.”
And from that place of trust, you’ll find the strength to love—with patience, with grace, with hope.
May we be people who cling to God first, and in doing so, love others well.
Reflection:
Take a moment today to ask yourself:
Am I clinging to God—or just trying to love others in my own strength?
What would it look like for me to love someone in my life with the same faithful, covenantal love Ruth showed Naomi?
