04-18-10 PM - Building Lasting Relationships: Why Do Some Walk Away?

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Ruth 1:4, 11-15
4 And they took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah (mane) and the name of the other Ruth (friend). And they lived there about ten years. (A long famine)
5 Then both Mahlon (sickly) and Chilion (waisting away) also died; and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.
7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
9 "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
10 And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people."
11 But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons,
13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me."
14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law."

"If things don't work out, then I'll just walk out."                                                                        

I. Walking away seems like an attractive option
1: 5 (11-14).
A. The potential fulfillment of unmet expectations.
Everyone enters relationships with ulterior expectations.
When those emotional or physical needs go unmet, frustration develops and tension stresses the marriage.
[1] Marital Bliss  1:4-5
[2] Maternal Joy
[3] Material Security  1:19
In the end, her relationships produced none of the anticipated benefits. Instead, she experience one disappointment after another.

B. The promise of new relationships – 1:9 "husband'

II. Walking away seems like an acceptable option  1:10-13.
Except in cases of abuse and adultery, God sanctioned marriage "till death do us part."

III. Walking away seems like an easy option – 1:14-15.

Sentiment without commitment is a shallow profession from which many could part with little discomfort.