WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A MOTHER
Selected
verses
I want us to look at the characteristics
of a mom-type found
in the Bible, since its Mother’s Day.
But before we do that I want to share
something I came across as
I was preparing for today’s sermon by 5 & 6 yr. olds.
Why did God make mothers?
She's the only one who knows where the scotch
tape is.
How did God make mothers?
Magic, plus super powers, and a lot of
stirring.
What kind of little girl was your Mom?
I don't know because I wasn't there, but my
guess would be… pretty bossy.
Why did your Mom marry your dad?
My grandma says that Mom didn't have her
thinking cap on.
If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
I would like for her to get rid of those
invisible eyes on her back.
I also came across this incident in church. This is what moms have to face possibly every Sunday! “The pastor opened the worship Service with prayer "Without you we are but dust..."He would have continued, but at that moment one very obedient little girl (who was listening carefully) leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly in her jarring little girl voice, "Mommy, “WHAT is butt dust?"....Church was pretty much over at that point.”
The things that moms have to put up with
on a day to day basis!
The Bible speaks often of mothers as nurturers and care givers; because this is how God designed moms and women in general. Jesus even used the characteristics of a mother to describe His caring love for His disobedient people, when He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'" Luke 13:34-35
John MacArthur said this about the importance of a mother. “To be a mother is by no means second class. Men may have the authority in the home, but the women have the influence. The mother, more than the father, is the one who moulds and shapes those little lives from day one.”
We know this is
true especially in the life of Timothy. “But you must continue in the
things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have
learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus.” 2 Tim 3:14-15
How
did Timothy know this?
The answer can be
found in the 1st chapter of this second letter! “To Timothy, my beloved
child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I
thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I
remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears,
I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere
faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice
and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.“ 2 Tim 1:2-5
Here is the influence of two generation women who loved God. Timothy had a godly mother, and godly grandmother, who knew the importance of God’s precious word and power of His saving grace. Moms are such a blessing and a blessed people group of women. Don’t get me wrong as we open God’s word…..every one of us are a blessed people whether single, married or barren. Today I want to give a special honor to the mothers! According to the bible she is a person who wears many hats. But let me clarify by saying this first! The Bible never states that every woman should be a mother. But every one of us has, and had a mother.
One writer said “Mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. Motherhood is not a chore or unpleasant task. Just as a mother bears a child during pregnancy, and just as a mother feeds and cares for a child during infancy, so mothers also play an ongoing role in the lives of their children, whether they are adolescents, teenagers, young adults, or even adults with children of their own. While the role of motherhood must change and develop, the love, care, nurture, and encouragement a mother gives should never cease”
Take for example several things are commanded of Christian mothers in God’s Word:
Availability – morning, noon, and night (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
Involvement – interacting, discussing, thinking, and processing life together (Ephesians 6:4)
Teaching
– the Scriptures and a proper biblical worldview (Psalm 78:5-6; Deuteronomy
4:10; Ephesians 6:4)
Training –
helping a child to develop skills and discover his/her strengths (Proverbs
22:6).
Discipline
– teaching the fear of the Lord, drawing the line consistently, lovingly,
firmly (Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14;
29:15-17)
Nurturing-
by providing an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail,
acceptance, affection, unconditional love. (Titus 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians
4:29-32; 5:1-2; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:8-9)
Modeling Integrity – living what you say, being
a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living.
(Deuteronomy 4:9, 15, 23; Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; Psalm 37:18, 37).
I came across a study that a university
did with 600 students.
And they were asked to write on a piece of paper the most beautiful word in the
English language. 422 wrote the word MOTHER and 112 wrote the word
HOME.
A GODLY OTHER IS DEVOTED TO GOD AND HERE FAMILY.
A prime example of this can be found in the life of Hannah. 1 Samuel chapter 1&2. She is a wonderful testimony of a person who no matter what the circumstances might be; she was always devoted to God and His sovereign plan for her life. Hannah was so devoted to God! She made a promise that would seem crazy or unfathomable for a mother to do this. 1 Sam 1:22, 26-28. A mom, who is devoted to God, is a mom who is devoted to her husband, her children, and her duties as a mother of the home.
A
mom is always there no matter what
happens
for her family.
She will also demonstrate this to her
daughters by preparing them for their own families. “…They are to teach what is
good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be
self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:3-5
Mothers are to be an example of godliness to other young women who are coming into womanhood. Moms are to be TITUS 2 WOMEN! It’s a high calling that is honoured in the home, especially to the husband. A mom soaks all her time and energy into the family because a stable home is a good home! And that’s hard work. It’s doing the hard things, saying the hard things, and most of all choosing what is most important over everything else.
A GODLY MOTHER IS
ALWAYS SELFLESS NEVER SELFISH.
She seeks after the interest of others above herself; just as Jesus did when he came to this earth to die for sinful man and woman. She will always go without in order to help someone else ........especially her children (her family). Esther had this kind of character for her family (the nation of Israel) “Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" Esther 4:15-16. This is the kind of sacrifice she was willing to make and what many moms do for their families every day! It’s a love that cannot separate, because it’s selfless. “A young mother who was making her way across the hills of South Wales, carrying her tiny baby in her arms, when she was overtaken by a blinding blizzard. She never reached her destination and when the blizzard had subsided her body was found by searchers beneath a bank of snow. But they discovered that before her death, she had taken off all her outer clothing and wrapped it about her baby. When they unwrapped the child, to their great surprise and joy, they found he was alive and well. She had mounded her body over his and given her life for her child, proving the depths of her mother love….”
A GODLY MOTHER IS
ALWAYS COUNTED AS BLESSED.
Women receive a blessing that we as men can never understand. They have been given the right carry, and care for what the Bible calls “the gift of life.” The Psalmist says “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. “ Ps 127:3. The Hebrew writer said that Sarah was so blessed for having her son Isaac. You couldn’t even count the number of people who would come from the line of Abraham through her son. “innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” Heb 11:11-12.
Another woman that was blessed was Mary, Elizabeth said "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Luke 1:42. But I love Mary’s response when Elizabeth said, “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” Luke 1:43-48. Do you realize ladies that God gives you the greatest responsibilities of all? And that is to love and nurture His wonderful creation back to Him through the mercies of the gospel.
A GODLY MOTHER IS KNOWN BY MANY FOR HER CHARACTER.
Proverbs 31:10 we read “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” This final chapter of Proverbs contains two poems — the Wise King (31:2-9) and the Excellent Wife (31:10-31) — both of which are attributed to King Lemuel, whom ancient Jewish tradition identified as King Solomon, but who is otherwise unknown. If Lemuel is, in fact, Solomon, that means the mother who taught her son these wise sayings about excellent character was Bathsheba — a woman known more for scandal than virtue. Perhaps Bathsheba taught Solomon about his ancestor Ruth (Matthew 1:5-6), who had a spotless reputation, and then Solomon could have penned Proverbs 31:10-31 with Ruth in mind. After all, the passage parallels Ruth’s life in many ways. Proverbs 31:10-31 is a glorious standard and role for women to live a life of purity and praise that is honouring to God first and fore-most
In Proverbs 12:4 we read, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband..” Ruth 3:11 we read what Boaz said to Ruth, “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.” This why she is known by her family. She is greatly respected by her children. (v28a). And she is praised by her husband (v28b). “he also praises her.” In (v23) it says, “Her husband in known in the gates.” What this verse is saying? Her husband is so fulfilled with her conduct towards himself and His household. Her husband in known in the community by the testimony (the honourable conduct) of his wife!
According to Proverbs 31….
A mom is gifted with her
hands and willingly works using
them. (v13)
A mom collects the best for her family. (v14)
A mom labours hard for her family. (v15)
A mom provides food for her family. (v15)
A mom is resourceful. (v16 - v17)
A mom knows to budget wisely and she knows what to invest in that is
going to benefit her family. (v18)
A mom helps others. (v20)
A mom anticipates the seasons, and prepares for them. (v21)
A mom makes clothing and sells things from her handy work. (v22-v24)
And in the end through all that hard work, and physical sweat, she receives the greatest earthly reward! “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." (v29-v39). It’s setting godly standards in the home so that her children can have a firm foundation as they prepare to have their own families in the future. An honourable mother obeys God’s word even when society tells her otherwise, even if her own children deny Biblical truth. Following biblical principles are foundational to a Christian home. A praying and loving home is the foundation for a Christian home.
It amazes me every day the importance the mother plays in the life of the family. But yet the culture says “anyone can do it!” I would strongly disagree with the culture. God has designed and given woman something men don’t have and it’s purposed to display the glory of God in motherhood.
A Mother who is Loyal to her family
A Mother who labour’s with a joyful heart
A Mother who is full of wisdom and gentleness
A Mother who is kind to all
A Mother who is an example of godly
character
A Mother who is respected and greatly appreciated by
her family
A Mother who fears the Lord with
reverence and awe
Proverbs
31:30-31 says “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is
vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of
her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
As Charles Spurgeon said “I cannot tell you how much I owe
to the solemn words of my good mother.”
What is a good mother, not perfect, but a good mother?
M- Motivating her children to do what is
right!
O- Offering
herself and her time for her children!
T - Teaching her children to obey God's Word!
H - Helping her children be what God wants them
to be!
E - Encouraging her children no matter what
happens!
R - Responding to the needs of her children
always with love!
I’M SO THANKFUL THAT THE LORD GAVE ME A WIFE AND A MOTHER:
That is
passionately in love with Him.
That is passionately
in love with a wretched sinner like Michael.
That is selfless
and considerate of others.
That is gentle and
respectful towards our children and others.
That is dedicated
and devoted to her family.
That submits with
joyfulness in her heart unto to God.
That takes her disappointment,
and burdens, to foot of the God’s heavenly throne.
That cares about
dressing her heart inside and out.
That loves to obey
the biblical role for the home.
That she exemplifies a great model of servant
hood and grace to my children.
That she is a gift
and a blessing to my family.
I have two
questions as we close!
My first question is for the moms and future moms. Are you being a godly example?
My second question is for rest of the family. Are you enabling your mom to be that a godly example?
Comments