THE ACTIONS OF A REAL MOTHER
1 Kings 3:16-28
My brothers and my sisters, we all have stories of how our mothers had rescued us. It was many of our Moms that got us through science projects, math quizzes, and even the bully in the neighborhood. And many time we showed our gratitude by giving her for Mother’s Day, pot holders, hand made cards and breakfast in bed although it was a bowl of cereal. But as gracious as she was she would accept these gifts with a smile and a hug because to her, it is not the gift, but the thought behind it.
I’m reminded of something that I read in a Daily Bread some time ago, called The Love behind the gift, and I quote:
The love behind a gift is more important than the gift itself. The person who has learned this will not be frustrated because his gift is small, like the husband who wrote the following words to his wife on Mother’s Day:
M is for the mink coat you want, dear,
O is for the opal ring you crave,
T is for the tiny car you’d love, my sweet,
H is for the hat that makes you rave,
E is for the earrings you’d admire so much, my love,
R is for the rug you tread late at night;
Put them all together, they spell bankrupt,
So I’m giving you this handkerchief instead.
THE DAILY BREAD
In keeping in context with this often preached chapter we must look back to verse 3 where Solomon is shown as one that loved the Lord and has walked in the statues of David, his father, by burning sacrifices and incense to the Lord. It was Solomon who upon going to Gibeon, who sacrificed a thousand burnt offering upon the altar. And it was there were the Lord appeared to him in a dream by night and asked Solomon “What shall I give thee.” After Solomon acknowledged how the Lord found favor in his father David, by giving him great mercy as he walked before Him in truth. He responded in verse 9 by saying to Him, “Give, therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad.” Verse 10 said that Solomon’s words pleased the Lord and in verse 12 the Lord gave to Solomon a wise and understanding heart, and not only did he get what he asked for, but in verse 13 we see the Lord giving him what he did not ask for and that was riches and honor so that there will be no other king like him all his days. And God added that if he walked in His ways and keep His statues and commandments as thy father David did, then He would make his days long.
In our text we will see what the Lord promised Solomon coming to pass. Right out of the box, verse 16 starts off with a complicated case that Solomon will have to judge. Now you may ask, what could possibly make this story complicated? Especially to those of you who are familiar with this story. Well, what makes this story complicated, and I submit to you that we must realize that Solomon the king is just a child, as found in verse 7 when he said that “I am but a little child:” But Solomon is not my central point for this morning, although he is ever visible in the text, he is not the primary subject of this text today. But this text makes mention of two women who came to the king with a problem. There are two things that should not be over looked about these women. First being that they were harlots or as found in the NIV they were prostitutes. The second is that both were mothers. Now although they were harlots, that is not the forwarding point in this subject, so let’s clear our minds of that thought. Because although they were harlots they were also mothers. Now I’m not overlooking the fact of their lives as harlots, but we should realize that when it is time for a woman to be what they are, in this case a mother, she will be just that regardless of her reputation.
So come with me as we take a look at The Actions of a Real Mother.
First of all in verse 26...
1. A REAL MOTHER LOVES HER CHILD ENOUGH TO KEEP HIM/HER SAFE (V.26)
Then spoke the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her [heart yearned over] her son, and said, Oh my lord, give her the living child,”
We should note the attributes of a real mother. She was willing to give up her child in order for him to live. I’m sure that it bothered this mother to have to give her child to another woman, but she would rather give her child away in order to see him from time to time. My heart goes out to good women that have to raise children alone. I see the sacrifices that she has to make in order for her children to have decent clothes, home and food. She have to ignore the venomous talk coming from her church and community. Her quality time with her children is split with the long hours she spends working to make ends meet. I tell you I pray for women that pulls that load all by herself. And as I look at this text I see this mother, this Real Mother willing to give up her child to another, just to see him every now and then. She would rather know that the child is alright, rather than to know that her selfishness cause her child to die. Such is the heart of a real mother. Now just like in fatherhood any one can be called mother. And just because you carry the title, it do not make you a mother. That title come to life when the mother or father spend many sleepless nights nursing a sick child or denying themselves of simple pleasures, in order for their children to have what they need. So in view of this mother in the text, she was willing to have many lonely days and nights without her child, knowing that just because he is not in her home, it does not make him any less her son. So, she was willing to part with him in order to save his life.
Secondly, also found in verse 26...
2. A REAL MOTHER WOULD DO ANYTHING TO PRESERVE HER CHILD’S LIFE (V.26)
“Then spoke the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her [heart yearned over] her son, and said, Oh my lord, give her the living child, and [by no means] slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.”
Observe in this point the actions of this real mother. As we found in the previous text that she would do anything including giving her child away as long as her child is protected from harms way. But also we should note the actions of the other woman. She said “Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.” This is the sound of a woman that have no emotional ties to this child. Even as the mother had ask that the king give her the child rather than to slay it. This woman in her actions neither wants the child nor does she want the real mother to have it either. Now this is not to say that she would have taken the same stand if the child was hers, because there is something about a real mother regardless of her character, she would protect a child with her life. You see real motherhood have no barriers. There are no situation too dangerous, no trouble too deep, and no sacrifice too costly for her to do for her children. And in this text we can see this. We find this mother actually begging for her child’s life even though someone else would benefit.
Finally, verse 27 let’s us see that...
3. A REAL MOTHER STAND OUT AMONG THE REST (V.27)
“Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and [by no means] slay it; she is the mother of it.”
Take a look in this instance, this teenaged king recognizing the attributes of a real mother. He didn’t have to think about it any further. We should note how without a pause or dialog between the verses he concluded who the real mother was. And he is but a teenager. I observe Alonzo’s friend Rob when he comes to our home. He acknowledge me as Dude and give me a hand shake. But when he greets First Lady, he greets her with a “Hi, Ma.” Now don’t be hard on Rob because he calls me “Dude.” He calls me that out of respect not as a peer but for the time I spend with him and Alonzo. But when it comes to First Lady, he calls her “Ma,” because she treats him just like he is her’s when he is in our home. To cut to the chase Rob a teenager recognizes the motherly instincts in Sis. Hart. There are some of you that the children in your neighborhood call you Ma, because you show your motherly instincts. Likewise, in the text Solomon recognizes the real mother of this child. She did not have to bring witnesses into the chambers of the king to testify for her. She let her actions speak for her. She was willing to give the child away in order to save his life, while the other women called for the child to be split, knowing that it would kill the baby.
CONCLUSION
Well I better take my seat. But before I go, again I say Happy Mother’s Day to you all. But I have my own acronym for mother.
M - is for the meals you prepared with love.
O - is for the order you demand in an out of control situation.
T - is for the time you spend nurturing us.
H - is for the hand of love, that soothes our pain.
E - is for every hour you lost sleep nursing us back into good health.
And
R - is for the reasonable love you display when we act unlovable.
So, If you appreciate what your mother had done for you, you need to openly say THANK YOU.
Thank you, for bringing into the world,
Thank you, for the every meal you prepared,
Thank you, for going hungry so we could eat,
Thank you, for being there when I needed you,
Thank you, for not giving up on me,
Mama, I just want to say thank you.
