Ruth’s Temptation

When Ruth Graham was a student at Wheaton College, they had two dining rooms. One offered a sit-down meal that cost more than the lunchroom downstairs where students could just brown-bag it and not pay for a full meal.

Ruth and her friend decided that they would stop going to the sit-down dining room and brown-bag it with the students who were struggling. Then they would use the money they had saved to give to a certain struggling student.

Ruth and her friend were feeling quite pious about doing this anonymous kind deed. Then they noticed that the little gal they were helping showed up on campus with a beautiful new coat that was very expensive. It was much nicer than the one Ruth or her friend was wearing.

The enemy came to Ruth made her feel it was a waste to help the other girl. Ruth thought, What am I doing? I’m a fool to help her. She doesn’t really need my lunch money.

Then Jesus came to her and said, “Are you giving your lunch up for her or for Me?”

She said, “Oh, Jesus, for You. For love of You.”

Ruth said, “In that moment, that young gal could have worn a mink coat and it wouldn’t have made any difference because my motivation was transformed. I wasn’t just doing it to be charitable; I was beginning to do it because of my love for Jesus.”

Thank You, Jesus, for the times You speak truth in our hearts so we can learn to express our love to You in all we do.

“All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD” (Proverbs 16:2).

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable” (Hebrews 4:12-13).