First Slide A Mother s Gift to Her family Proverbs 31:10-31 & Matthew 6:33-34

Transcription

1 1 First Slide A Mother s Gift to Her family Proverbs 31:10-31 & Matthew 6:33-34 Please turn in your Bible to Proverbs 31: The verses will not appear on the screen. Today, we honor the mothers in our church. Motherhood is a lofty position ordained by God. Motherhood is one of the most important jobs in our society. Motherhood is vital to the survival of our world. We re grateful for our mothers. We applaud our mothers. We honor our mothers. We praise our mothers for what they do and who they are. Thank you, mothers. We love you. Proverbs 31:10-31 is a statement of honor to godly mothers. Our world is indebted to godly mothers. Our nation is blessed by godly mothers. Our families are stronger because of godly mothers. Our church prospers due to the love and talents of godly mothers. We hold our mothers in high esteem. More importantly, God holds our mothers in high esteem. Today s message is for mothers. Mothers, my intent is to praise you and encourage you to be a godly mother. Additionally, this message is for everyone who is part of a family, because the truths apply broadly. Let s look at a mother s gift to her family. Proverbs 31:10 speaks of an excellent wife. Verse 28 shows that this outstanding wife is also a mother. Let s look at the characteristics of this godly mother. Let s read verses and notice the gift that this mother is to her family. Verse 10. An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. This verse declares that a godly mother is far more precious than jewels. Go to the finest jewelry store in the world, and you won t find a jewel that matches the value of a godly mother. You can hold the Hope Diamond in your hands, but you re better off to hold the hand of a godly mother. Verse 11. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Trust is a priceless gift. A family prospers due to a trustworthy, godly mother. Verse 12. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Good things happen to a family and harm is prevented because of a godly mother.

2 2 Let s look at several verses about the role of a godly mother in her home. We ll skip over some of the verses as we proceed. Verse 13. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. Verse 15. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. Verse 19. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. Verse 21. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. Verse 22. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Verse 27. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. In summary, A godly mother fulfills family responsibilities with a willing attitude. Responsibilities were very different in ancient times, but the truth is relevant today. Mothers provide a very special gift to their families within their homes. Many of the verses in Proverbs 31 speak to the godly mother s role outside her home. Let s look at several verses. Verse 14. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. Verse 16. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. Verse 18. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. Verse 24. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. These verses make it very clear that God sanctions mothers to have an influence that is way beyond in-home domestic duties. The woman in Proverbs 31 has a career. She s industrious. She s an exporter. She s a wholesaler. She s a marketing expert. She s an entrepreneur. She s a realtor. She has an influence in the community. The key to your role outside your home is what God desires for your family. Does God want you to be a stay-at-home mom? Does God want you to limit your employment to part-time because it s important that you have extra time to provide strength to your

3 3 family? Does God want you to work full-time? God sanctions all these options. Seek the best option for your family. In summary, A godly mother has important influence outside the home. God sanctions that influence in the church, the community, and the workplace. Mothers provide a very special gift to their families outside their homes. The other verses in Proverbs 31 describe the character of a godly mother. Verse 17. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. This is my paraphrase: She puts on her workout clothes and goes to Curves. Just kidding. The meaning is that the godly mother has strong character and works with all her might. Verse 20. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. A godly mother is sensitive to human need. She cares enough to take action. Verse 25. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. A godly mother is strong. She s a person of dignity. She looks forward to the future with confident gladness. Verse 26. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. The godly mother is wise, and she speaks wisely. She teaches valuable life lessons to her family in a kind and compassionate way. Verse 28. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Here is the cry of a mother s heart. Every mother wants her children to tell her she s a blessing. Every mother wants praise from her husband. A godly mother gives her best to her family. She puts her family s needs before her own. She sacrifices, gives, loves, and prays for her family. She lays down her life for her family. Her gift to her family deserves blessing and praise. Verse 30. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Here is the godly mother s greatest character trait. She fears the Lord. Fear doesn t mean to be afraid. Fear is reverence and respect for the Lord. To fear is to be in awe of God. A godly mother glorifies and magnifies the Lord. 1 Peter 3:3-4 expands on this theme. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of fine jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God s sight.

4 4 Braided hair, jewelry, and nice clothes are OK. It s OK, even advisable, to consider your outward appearance, but your best beauty comes from within. Your real beauty, your real gift to your family, is your gentle spirit and godly character. In summary, A godly mother has God-pleasing character. She s strong, generous, dignified, confident, wise, kind, and best of all, God-fearing. Mothers provide a very special gift to their families through their character. Next slide. Matthew, the tax collector turned disciple and apostle, gives advice to mothers that can enhance their gift to their families. Please look at Matthew 6:33-34 on the screen. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. (34) Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Mothers, do you want to excel at your responsibilities in the home. Do you want to maximize your influence outside the home? Do you want to possess exemplary character? Then, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Next slide. What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? It means your first priority is to serve God and love spiritual things. It means that foremost you live a godly life. Make time for family but Seek God and a godly life first. Then, you ll be prepared to excel as a mother. Seeking God first will make you a better mother. When you team up with God to handle motherhood, you will be better than you could ever be by yourself. By seeking God first, your family will receive more from you than if you seek the welfare of your family first. I know that sounds odd, but it s true. By seeking God first, your family will receive more from you than if you seek the welfare of your family first. Seek God first. Mothers and Fathers, part of a godly life is to make time for family. Mothers and Fathers, to your family, Love = time. Have dinner with your family, so you stay in touch with what is going on in everyone s lives. Intentionally and deliberately, carve out time for your family. Mothers and Fathers, if you work outside your home, your place of employment is just a resource. Your real job is to spend time at home. Don t let your job outside the home cause you to neglect time with your family.

5 5 Matthew has a second piece of advice. Verse 34 says, Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Don t be anxious about your family. Don t worry. Have faith that God will take care of your family. Trust God. Count on God to provide. Turn over your motherhood responsibilities to God. Your Heavenly Father knows how to make you a heavenly mother. We ve listened to advice from Matthew. Here s some advice from Mark, not the disciple and Apostle Mark, but Pastor Mark. Pray for your family daily. Pray for your family as if their lives depended on it, because that may be the case. Give the gift of prayer to your family. Go to your room, shut the door, and pray. Pray while you drive. Pray while you work. Pray while you cook. Pray while you vacuum. Pray during TV commercials. Pray all the time. My mother has given many gifts to me, and her best gift has been the gift of prayer. She has never neglected to pray for me. She has been faithful and relentless in prayer for me. Our church used a prayer sheet to pray for me each day of January. My mother uses that prayer sheet everyday of every month. She is a prayer warrior on my behalf. Here s a poem that illustrates the importance of a praying mother. MOTHER'S ELBOWS ON MY BED I was but a youth and thoughtless, as all youths are apt to be; Though I had a Christian mother who had taught me carefully, But there came a time when pleasure of the world came to allure, And I no more sought the guidance of her love so good and pure. Her tender admonitions fell but lightly on my ear, And for the gentle warnings I felt an inward sneer. How could I be my own person were I not firm of will? No threat of future evil should all my pleasure kill. But mother would not yield me to Satan's sinful sway, And though I spurned her counsel she knew a better way. No more she tried to caution of ways she knew were vain, And though I guessed her heartache I could not know its pain. She made my room an altar, a place of secret prayer, And there she took her burden and left it in His care. And morning, noon and evening by that humble bedside low, She sought the aid of Him Who best can understand a mother's woe. And I went my way unheeding, careless of the life I led, Until one day I noticed prints of elbows on my bed. Then I saw that she had been there praying for her wayward boy, Who for love of worldly pleasure would her peace of mind destroy.

6 6 While I wrestled with my conscience, mother wrestled still in prayer, Till that little room seemed hallowed because so oft she met Him there. With her God she held the fortress, and though not a word she said, My stubborn heart was broken by those imprints on my bed. Long the conflict raged within me, sin against my mother's prayers. Sin MUST YIELD for MOTHER NEVER while she daily met Him there. And her constant love and patience were like coals upon my head, Together with the imprints of her elbows on my bed. Mother-love and God-love are a combination rare, And one that can't be beaten when sealed by earnest prayer. And so at last the fight was won, and I to Christ was led, And mother's prayers were answered by her elbows on my bed. Unknown. Mothers, please check out the screen again. Seek God and a godly life first. By seeking God first, your family will receive more from you than if you seek the welfare of your family first. Love = time. Have faith that God will take care of your family. Pray for your family daily. Their lives depend on it. Next slide. Mothers, your family is watching you, even when you don t know they are looking. Please listen to this. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a homeless dog, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

7 7 When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, and it's all right to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be. When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking." Conclusion Mothers, you are a special gift to your family. Motherhood is a lofty position ordained by God. Motherhood is one of the most important jobs in our society. Motherhood is vital to the survival of our world. Our nation is blessed because of you. Our families are stronger because of you. Our church prospers due to your love and talents. We hold you in high esteem. More importantly, God holds you in high esteem. We are grateful for you. We applaud you. We honor you. We praise you for what you do and who you are. Thank you, mothers. We love you. Mothers, fathers, everyone, here is one closing thought. Here are two questions for you to ask yourself as you consider your role in your family. What will your family remember most about you? (Long pause) What will you leave behind?