路得記敘述的是發生在以色列國士師當政時一個美麗的愛情故事，那個時代以罪行、拜偶像和戰爭為人所知，而這個溫馨感人的故事，闡揚的卻是路得的忠心敬虔。路得是一個摩押籍的媳婦，寧可離開自己的家鄉與寡居的猶太籍婆婆同住於伯利恆城，上帝嘉許她無私的奉獻，於是帶領她到波阿斯(一個近親)的田間拾取麥穗，顯然也在此遇到她的丈夫!這卷書以簡潔的家譜為結束，波阿斯名列其中，他以身為大衛王的曾祖父，耶穌的祖先聞名於世。

        愛是一件充滿光彩燦亮和美麗的事。
        愛使世界運轉。
        愛••••••(你可以想出多少方法來完成這個句子？)
        很不容易為愛下定義，因為這是一種表現多於描述的生命特質。當路得心甘情願、堅定不移的向拿俄米宣告她的忠貞與敬虔時，已經表現出愛的真諦了!顯然，旅居國外對路得而言是得不償失的，她還年輕，如果留在國內，很容易找到一個本國男子再嫁，但她最大的考量不是本身的幸福，而是拿俄米的福祉，路得實足以稱為犧牲之愛的表率－－正如基督在「好牧人為羊捨命」(約10：11)經文中所描述的一樣。
        你怎樣為你身邊的人－－你的配偶、室友、上司、鄰居或朋友犧牲奉獻呢？在本頁空白處寫下一個名字，還有一個向這個人表達無私之愛的明確行動，以及你要實行的日期。千萬別讓你的愛徒有形武而無真情，否則很快就一切歸零(林前13：l－3)。

        路得與以斯帖－－既相似又相異
        聖經中只有路得記與以斯帖記這兩卷書是以女子名為標題的。路得是一個外邦人，住在希伯來人中間，也嫁作希伯來婦:以斯帖則是一個希伯來人，住在外邦人中間，嫁給外邦人。然而這兩位女子都蒙上帝重用，歸榮耀給祂。

責任鞭策人努力，愛卻使人力求美善。

English

        The book of Ruth provides a beautiful "interlude of love" in the period of the judges in Israel—an era marked by immorality, idolatry, and war. This heartwarming account of devotion and faithfulness tells the story of Ruth, a Moabite widow who leaves her homeland to live with her widowed Jewish mother-in-law in Bethlehem. God honors her commitment by guiding her to the field of Boaz (a near kinsman), where she gathers grain and eventually finds a husband! The book closes with a brief genealogy in which Boaz's name is prominent as the great-grandfather of King David, and an ancestor of Jesus.

        Love is a many-splendored thing.
        Love makes the world go around.
        Love ... (How many more ways can you think of to complete the sentence?)
        Love is difficult to define because it is a quality of life more readily demonstrated than described. Ruth demonstrated the true character of love when she willingly and steadfastly pledged her allegiance and devotion to Naomi. Clearly, by traveling to a foreign country she had more to lose than gain. She was still young and easily could have remarried someone of her own nationality. But her primary concern was not for her own well-being, but rather for the well-being of Naomi. Ruth exemplifies sacrificial love—the kind that Christ portrayed when He "[gave] his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
        How can you give of yourself sacrificially to someone around you—your spouse, roommate, employer, neighbor, or friend? Jot down a name in the margin, a specific act of selfless love you can do for that person, and the date when you will do it. Don't let your love be "Ruthless," or it will soon become useless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

        Ruth and Esther —Alike and Yet So Different —
        Ruth and Esther are the only two books in the Bible named after women. Ruth, a Gentile, lived among Hebrews and married a Hebrew. Esther, a Hebrew, lived among Gentiles and married a Gentile. However, both women were greatly used by God to bring glory to Him.

Duty makes us do things, but love makes us do things beautifully.