Our Daily Bread
Monday, May 15, 1995

Read: Ruth 1:1-17


                          POISONED WELL
                                
                       Oh, that men would
                       give thanks to the
                     Lord for His goodness.

                          - Psalm 107:8


One of the most beautiful conesssions of love in all of
literature is the one Ruth made to Naomi. In vowing to return to
Israel with her, Ruth pledged, "Wherever you go, I will go; and
wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people,
and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I
be buried" (Ruth 1:16-17).

But suppose Naomi had said to herself,"Ruth's just a gold digger.
What she really wants is to get into Israel to marry a wealthy
Hebrew. I'm just her passport in."

If Naomi had doubted Ruth's good intentions, and rejected her
kindness, she would have lost out on blessings she never could
have imagined.

But that's exactly what we do when we fail to trust God's
goodness. We stop believing He will do what is best for us. And
as the saying goes, once the well is poisoned, all the water is
contaminated.

James 1:16-17 states, "Do not be deceived .... Every perfect gift
is from above, and comes down from the Father." Once we doubt
God's goodness, some of His best gifts-- like trials that help us
to mature-- will seem like bad ones.

Don't doubt God's goodness and poison the wellspring of blessing
He has for you.

- Haddon W. Robinson

       Drink deep of God's goodness, His faithfulness too,
              Leave no room for doubting and fear;
          His Word is the Water of Life pure and true,
                Refreshing and cooling and clear.
                                
                             - Hess


Thought for the Day: We poison the well when we don't
                     think well of God's goodness.

The Bible in One Year: Job 5-7



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