Articles
You Are Never Alone When You Choose Christ
A person who chooses to get baptized and truly aligns themselves with God is never alone. God is always watching over His children and is eagerly waiting to answer their prayers. (John 14:1-14) God also built a loving and encouraging church family network to help support His children on Earth. (Col. 3:12-17) Whether God’s children are going through good times or bad, they should know that they are always loved and supported.
After the apostle Paul left Macedonia, the only people that accepted him where the members that comprised the church of Philippi. When the church of Philippi became baptized children of God they supported their Christian brother with righteous generosity. Paul wrote in Phippians 4:10-20, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity…I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit...I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen”
Paul wasn’t the only person to be supported by fellow believers in the Bible. In the Old Testament, Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth, is another such example. God’s powerful word is everlasting, so even though Naomi’s lifetime happened before the formation of God’s church, His teachings inspired people to live in a righteous attitude.
Naomi’s story started when she moved with her sons and husband Elimelek into Moab to escape a famine in Judah at the time. While in Moab, she loses her husband and her two sons marry Moabite women, however they also die before having any children. This left Naomi in Moab with her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, when the famine ends. She tells them to go back to their home, but they both insist to stay with her. (Ruth 1:6-10) She determinedly rebuttals and successfully convinces Orpah to go return back to Moab. However, Ruth clung to Naomi and replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17) Hearing her passion, Naomi relents and they return to Judah in the town of Bethlehem. Ruth works tirelessly to support her and her Naomi by going out into the edge of Boaz’s fields—an extended family member Naomi’s late husband—to gather grain for them to live. Boaz is so touched by Ruth’s righteous heart, that he takes notice of her, marries her, and redeems Elimelek’s family line.
Ruth’s righteous dedication to her mother-in-law is such an inspiration because she accepted God into her heart and supported her mother-in-law with a righteous zeal. She even has a place in the lineage of Christ. (Matthew 1:1-16, Luke 3:23-38) Paul is also an amazing encouragement to many Christians today because he was able to achieve so much on behalf of the early church despite his past and the persecution he faced as well. However, the credit for these inspirations is ultimately God. God’s divine will put Ruth into Naomi’s life and gave her the righteous heart she possessed. Also, it was God that protected Paul through all his tribulations, and inspired Paul’s fellow church brethren to provide him with the much needed support. God makes sure all His children have what they need in the appointed moment. (Matt. 6:25-34) As His children, we just need to turn to Him and say, “not my will, but thy will be done.”
