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KISSING AND CLEAVING

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 20, 1880

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 6, No. 19.

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KISSING AND CLEAVING.

By Theodore L. Cuyler

"ORPAH kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her." The kiss was good; but the cleaving was better. Orpah showed that she had enough affection for the sad old mother of her dead husband to give her a kiss, but she had not enough to quit her native land, and go with her to the land of God's people. One could give what was cheap and easy; she was not ready to make the sacrifice that cost something. In this pathetic little touch of human history, pictured to us in the matchless story of the Moabitish woman, we see a parable that illustrates thousands of experiences in our own days. To "salute" Christ by an act of public profession at His table is easy. It usually costs but little; for in these times it requires no great self-denial to join a Christian church. It may even be a popular step, and give credit and currency in society. No "spoiling of goods" or dungeons await a profession of Christianity in America, as it once did in Asia Minor and in Rome.
It cost something for Ruth to cleave unto Naomi. We always feel glad that she could not have foreseen the handsome estate and rich kinsman that was waiting for her at Bethlehem—for that would have subjected her to the suspicion of selfish motives in her choice. She acted from principle, and with no hope of earthly reward. "Thy people shall be my people and thy God shall be my God," was a noble confession of faith. The beauty of it lay in the fact that she carried it out, and took the decisive steps that showed her heart and conscience was in what she said. The glowing excitements of a revival commonly fill up our church memberships with not a few Orpahs among the godly-minded Ruths. In a little while the Orpahs are back in the world again, to their own sin, and the church's sorrow. Profession is easy; then comes the test of performance. Revivals cover the threshing-floor with sheaves. The duller and more monotonous seasons that come afterwards winnow out the wheat from the chaff. In this solemn and significant fact lies the reason why, with all the occasional large gatherings, the actual working force of Christians increases so slowly.—T. L. Cuyler.