3 Things Every Mother Needs Proverbs 31:10-31

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1 MESSAGE FOR SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010 MOTHER S DAY MESSAGE CHRISTIAN HOPE CHURCH OF CHRIST, PLYMOUTH, NORTH CAROLINA by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister 3 Things Every Mother Needs Proverbs 31:10-31 Since today is Mother s Day, I thought it would be fitting to take a break from our sermon series on PRAYER and hear a message from God s word especially for all you mothers. Read Scripture Text: Proverbs 31:10-31 P R A Y E R *********************** Illustration: The story is told about a young preacher who went to hear a well-known Revival evangelist one night. The young preacher was shocked when he heard the evangelist say, I have spent some of the happiest years of my life in the arms of another man s wife. At first the young preacher thought he misunderstood what the evangelist said, but then the evangelist repeated it a second time: Yes, brothers and sisters, I have spent some of the happiest years of my life in the arms of another man s wife. After a brief pause the evangelist added, And that woman was MY MOTHER. Well the young preacher thought, I have got to use that one in my sermon next Sunday.

2 So the following Sunday, the young preacher stood before his congregation and said, I have spent some of the happiest years of my life in the arms of another man s wife. He could hear the gasps of the elderly ladies and see the frowns on the faces of his Church leaders. Then he said it again, Yes brothers and sisters, I have spent some of the happiest years of my life in the arms of another man s wife. (Forgetting the punch line, he paused.) Then he said, And for the life of me I can t remember who that woman was. ************************ In her book, The Proverbs 31 Lady and Other Impossible Dreams, Marsha Drake writes: Proverbs 31 has been both a marvelous model for the Christian wife and the cause of more guilt for her than anything else. When those verses become the pattern for a do-it-yourself project, frustration, guilt and disillusionment can only result. But when seen as what the Holy Spirit can do in the life of a godly woman, those same verses are winsome and hope-filled. Most of the time when we preachers use this passage of scripture as our text for a Mother s Day sermon, we focus on all the wonderful virtues of this model wife and mother in the scriptures. But for just a few minutes this morning, I would like to approach this passage of scripture from a somewhat different angle that I pray will be a source of real encouragement to all you wives and mothers. In the midst of all these noble virtues of this woman, we can also see 3 THINGS EVERY MOTHER NEEDS. *********************************

3 First of all. I. Every Mother Needs Appreciation vs. 28a vs. 28a Her children arise and call her blessed. 1. Did you ever wonder who this model wife and mother was? We learn her identity in verse 1 of this 31 st chapter of Proverbs. She was the mother of King Lemuel, who wrote this chapter of Proverbs. Now we don t know much about Lemuel other than he was the King of Massa and his name means, belonging to God. In verses 1-9 Lemuel writes about the things his mother taught him as he was growing up. And then in verses Lemuel expresses his appreciation of his mother for living the truths she had taught him and his siblings. Her children arise and call her blessed. 2. When it comes to our mothers, how easy it is to be generous with our criticism and yet so stingy with our appreciation. How easy it is to point out all the things our mother did wrong and yet fail to praise her for all the things she did right. 3. NO GIFT is more precious to a mother than an appreciative SON or DAUGHTER..A mother can go many days on an expression of appreciation from one of her children..a simple expression of appreciation can give a mother a new found strength and resolve to go about her daily mundane tasks.

4 My Miracle Mother Mom, I look at you and see a walking miracle. Your unfailing love without limit, your ability to soothe my every hurt, the way you are on duty, unselfishly, every hour, every day, makes me so grateful that I am yours, and you are mine. With open arms and open heart, with enduring patience and inner strength, you gave so much for me, sometimes at your expense. You are my teacher, my comforter, my encourager, appreciating all, forgiving all. Sometimes I took you for granted, Mom, but I don t now, and I never will again. I know that everything I am today relates to you and your loving care. I gaze in wonder as I watch you being you my miracle, my mother. ************************ But not only does every Mother need appreciation.. II. Every Mother Also Needs AFFIRMATION vs. 28 a, b 28a, b Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. 1. This woman s husband AFFIRMED her. He verbally praised her as his wife and the mother of his children. You don t think those words of praise and affirmation didn t make this woman s ears perk up! Those words of affirmation from her husband were like a refreshing spring rain to a thirsty flower. Those words of affirmation breathed brand new life into this wife and mother.

5 2. Men, we need only look to JESUS as our example of how to treat a woman right. Did you ever notice in the New Testament how women, especially were drawn to Jesus? Not for any lewd or lustful reasons, but because JESUS AFFIRMED THEIR VALUE AND WORTH. JESUS never got with a group of guys and sat around bashing women. JESUS never cracked hurtful jokes about a woman s weight or her big hips or how she fixed her hair. JESUS never made fun of a woman for her sudden mood swings or emotional outbursts. JESUS never called a woman the B word. JESUS never treated a woman as an OBJECT or simply as a piece of meat. JESUS never gave even the slightest hint of male superiority over a woman. READ EVERY PARABLE. READ EVERY TEACHING. READ EVERY SINGLE WORD JESUS SPOKE ON EARTH that is recorded in the Bible and you will never find one single time where Jesus treated a woman with anything less than RESPECT HONOR and DIGNITY. 3. You see, JESUS understood that one of the greatest needs a WOMAN has is the NEED FOR AFFIRMATION.

6 4. Husbands, do you give your WIFE, the mother of your children, the AFFIRMATION she needs? To affirm someone simply means, To validate them as a person. To assign great value and worth To give them their due respect and honor. Husbands, do you know studies have shown that one of the biggest reasons why wives cheat on their husbands is not because they find another man more attractive, but because they find another man who gives them more affirmation than they get from their husband. 5. Men, do you praise your wife, the mother of your children?.do you compliment her? Do you build her up? Do you speak words that breathe life upon her? If you want your wife to be a 10 you can t talk to her like she s a 1 or a 2!!! When was the last time you told your wife how pretty she is? When was the last time you told your wife you want to grow old with her? When was the last time you complimented her on her hair or on the dress she was wearing? When was the last time you praised her for being a good mother to your children.

7 6. Husbands, you can buy your wife material things until the cows come home but if you really want to give her a lasting treasure, give her the gift of your AFFIRMATION. ************* Verbally validate her worth and value to you as a wife and mother. Every Mother Needs Appreciation And Every Mother Needs Affirmation But also. III. Every Mother Needs ADMIRATION vs. 31, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 32 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 1. What does a mother get in return for all her labors?.a mother doesn t get a paycheck for all she does, after all, who could pay her what she s worth?. A mother doesn t get any kind of health care or dental plan.. A mother doesn t get mileage re-imbursement for all those trips to ball practice and music lessons...a mother doesn t get an all-expenses-paid vacation..a retirement plan or a pension.

8 2. The most powerful, most influential woman on the face of the earth doesn t get any of the things the world offers as compensation for hard work. 3. Setting aside ONE DAY each year to show ADMIRATION for the Most Noble and Honorable of All Women isn t too expect is it? But of course, our admiration for our Mothers shouldn t be limited to just one day a year. ILLUSTRATION Several years ago THE NEW YORK TIMES did an article on The Twelve Greatest Women in America. Ilion Jones, the writer of the article said, The twelve greatest women in America are women who have never been heard of outside their own homes. He concluded his lengthy article by saying, I ask you, Who was greater, Thomas Edison or his mother? When he was just a young lad his teacher sent him home from school with a note saying: Your son is dumb, we can t do anything for him. Mrs. Edison wrote a note back to her son s teacher which read: You do not understand my boy. I will teach him myself. And she did, and the rest is history. 4. Every GODLY MOTHER deserves ADMIRATION. **************************

9 CONCLUSION C O N C L U S I O N In my opinion, one of the greatest women authors of our time, was the late Erma Bombeck. Shortly after she found out she was dying from cancer, she wrote this memorable piece I would like to share with you ladies in closing. It is simply entitled: If I Had My Life To Live Over! If I had my life to live over again I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching TV - and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

10 When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love yous"...more "I'm sorrys"... But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it...live it...and never give it back. ----Erma Bombeck Mothers, today we offer you our APPRECIATION, our AFFIRMATION and our ADMIRATION for all you have done and all you are doing. Thank God for our godly Mothers!