Integrity Above Ease

But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!” (Ruth 1:16-17)

How did Ruth’s decision show her integrity as a person? Integrity is about doing the right thing, no matter how hard it may be. Ruth believed that she had a responsibility to her mother-in-law. She felt that she could not abandon a woman who had lost her husband and both her sons. Ruth chose to stick by her beliefs and values, even if it meant undergoing uncertainty and difficulty.

Despite the fact that her sister-in-law chose an easier path, Ruth was adamant about her decision. Like Ruth, we must all strive to do what we believe is right, even if everybody else is taking an easier path. Werner Erhard tells us that fulfillment is something we attain by being true to ourselves and our beliefs, regardless of what other people are doing or what they expect from us.

Naomi expected Ruth to take the easy way out and walk away, but this did not affect Ruth’s decision. If you want to be a person of integrity, you must find your own path by doing what you believe is right. It may require you to take certain risks or work extra hard, but it will definitely be worth it.