A message from our Chaplains
Why do good things happen to bad people?
Ruth answered Naomi, “Don't ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
Book of Ruth, 1:16-18
Last week, I was asked by a student; “why do bad things happen to good people?” It’s difficult to answer why it happens. However, I do know that it is not because ‘God knows that they are capable of handling it’. What rubbish! That means that God selects individuals and makes bad things happen to them, that God takes pleasure in causing pain. This is clearly contrary to the teachings of Jesus. We need to think logically before we believe everything we are told by – even by well-intentioned people.
It’s a fact of life is that good and bad happens to everyone. The rain falls on the good and the bad (Matt 5:45). Sometimes it seems like bad people prosper. We all know of people who have done the wrong thing and supposedly got away with it. But we know, and consequently they have compromised their integrity and reputation. We need to protect our reputation and our integrity. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The good people of the Bible also encountered the cruelty of life’s twists and turns. Their fidelity in the face of the bad is the quality that makes them great. Ruth’s reputation and her integrity have been spoken of for over 3000 years. Her story is told in just four short chapters. She is one of just two women in the Bible to have a book named after them. The other is Esther. Esther took her life into her hands by approaching the king without being summoned in an effort to defend her people from persecution. We need to develop courage if we are to be people of integrity who can transcend the bad things of life.
It was Ruth’s integrity that attracted Boaz’s attentions. Now, integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles. People of integrity are valued but they are hard to find. Boaz was told about all that Ruth had done for Naomi and he says to Ruth: “May the Lord repay you for what you have done.” I guess his prayer was granted, Boaz married Ruth.
Ruth’s actions were significant because in those times, women of Judaism were not allowed to be employed. They could not earn an income. If they did not have a husband, a father or a son to protect them, they were completely at the mercy of villainy and violence. Ruth’s husband died, and although she did not have a son, she did still have her father and his extended family. She could find protection. But Naomi was a widow, and Ruth’s husband was Naomi’s the last surviving son. She was alone, vulnerable, destitute and in a foreign land.
Ruth ensured that Naomi was not alone. Ruth’s actions eventually secured for Naomi a new family and protection. She stuck to her moral principles to do what was in the best interest of Naomi. Behaving in the best interest of the other: that’s integrity. Ruth’s integrity was rewarded by God. Her son to Boaz was the grandfather of King David, the greatest king of Jewish history.
To care about the other rather than serving our own interests can be tough. Being truthful, being honest, being kind, being dependable, being respectful are all practices of integrity. We need to practice being people of integrity.
Next week, at the Year Twelve Graduation, a blessing will be sung upon the Graduates; “May you be like Ruth and like Esther. May you be deserving of praise.” May they (and us all) be blessed with courage and integrity and may they be favourably repaid for what they do.
Phil Worrad
Chaplain