The Influence of a Mother - Mother’s Day
2 Timothy 1:1-7
May 13, 2007
In 2 Timothy 1:3 and following we read these words - (read verses 3-7).
Paul - the teacher
The pastor
The evangelist
The mentor to other people is writing to one of his closest friends - Timothy. Paul writes to Timothy to encourage him in his faith because Timothy is alone and dealing with a rough church in the town of Ephesus. Where before Timothy could allow Paul to take the lead in situations like this or at least have his support, now he is alone.
The Scripture tells us some things about Timothy. This man Paul is writing to.
He’s sensitive -2 Timothy 1:4
Has a good conscience -1 Timothy 1:19
He’s faithful to the Lord -1 Corinthians 7:17
Paul trusted him to take over for him to carry on his work -Acts 19:22, 20:4
1 Thessalonians 3
1 Corinthians 4:16, 17/16:10, 11
Philippians 2:19-24
He takes a genuine interest in people
-Philippians 2:20
Paul writes, "I have no one else like him."
-Philippians 2:20
Paul calls him, "My Son" -1 Corinthians 4:17
-1 Timothy 1:2
-2 Timothy 1:2
Though these character qualities don’t get listed on resumes, it is clear that Timothy is a solid, genuine, authentic man of integrity, character and faith.
Mother’s and Father’s would have no apprehension letting their daughters date him.
Timothy was a star.
A class act.
And naturally we ask, how did he get that way?
In Acts 16, we are told all we know about Timothy’s family. That text tells us that Timothy’s mom was a Jew and that his Father was a Gentile. To us this means nothing, back then it meant a lot. Jews didn’t marry Gentiles. Gentiles didn’t marry Jews.
The text also tells us something else. Timothy’s mom, Eunice was a believer in Jesus. She was a woman of faith. It says nothing about the faith of Timothy’s father. But because he was a Gentile most scholars believe that he was not a man of faith.
Take note, Christian women here today who have a husband disinterested in God, Timothy’s mom was in your shoes. And the same holds true for you Christian men with a disinterested wife; Timothy was impacted through the faith of a single parent.
Our God worked and can work through any family situation. There is no prescribed way that he works. He can redeem and touch lives in any scenario.
In our text for today, Paul describes Timothy’s faith in verse 5 as being sincere. "I have been reminded of your sincere faith." Other translations use the word genuine.
Timothy’s faith wasn’t learned from books - it wasn’t just facts.
Timothy’s faith wasn’t acquired by memorization - he wasn’t just smart.
Timothy’s faith wasn’t something he did out of habit, out of routine.
No - Timothy’s faith was sincere and genuine.
It was who he was.
His faith wasn’t a show.
A demonstration
An act he performed to make himself feel good.
No- it was who he was on Sunday - Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday.
It was how he lived at home
On the road.
At the market
In the Temple
Around his friends and those he didn’t know.
He was consistent. And naturally I ask, how did this happen?
How does a child born into a family with mixed and contrasting beliefs and practices regarding religion come to be a person so critical to the work of God in the world?
Paul tells us not completely but he points out and indicates some factors that led to Timothy becoming the man he was.
Verse 5 again.
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you."
Paul indicates that God used a mom and a grandma in a significant way to influence but not determine a child’s faith.
Timothy’s sincere faith came not by accident-grew initially not through the work of a church.
Timothy’s sincere and genuine faith came as the direct result and through the direct influence of his mother Eunice and his Grandmother Lois.
Note the 3 generations.
Grandma Lois to her daughter Eunice to her son Timothy.
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also."
Paul knows the impact and influence of a mother. Though he is often accused us being hard and mean "spirited" toward women and their role in Christian ministry. Take note Paul is no male chauvinist. He knows. He understands that this man who has worked beside him for the cause of Jesus Christ was first pointed in this direction by his mom Eunice and by his grandma Lois.
" I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandma Lois and in your mother Eunice."
Mothers here today take note. Dads pay attention to-
The faith you long for your children and your grandchildren to have and grow into must first live in you.
Timothy’s faith - his sincere and genuine faith first lived.
Had its origins in his mom and grandma.
They demonstrated.
Incarnated.
Lived a life of faith and Timothy saw it.
Parents - it is not the church’s role and it is not the church’s responsibility to raise up in your child the faith. The church gets your child at best 2 hours a week. Maybe 4 for those in Jr. and Sr. High.
We get them 4 hours at best out of the 168 hours of the week. They hear from me and their teachers a mere fraction of their week but they see you and are influenced by you the vast majority of the time.
Again I say it isn’t the church’s role nor its responsibility to raise your child in the faith. No, it does have the role of coming alongside you in your efforts to be the ones who primarily
Shape
Mold
Steer them in their pilgrimage.
So consequently moms and dads desiring to influence and impact you kids and grandkids in the ways of Jesus, what are you doing to grow your faith?
What efforts are you taking and making to be the person you long for your kids to become?
Do your kids see you reading the Bible?
Do your grandchildren wait for you to pray when they visit?
What songs do they hear you listening to and singing?
Children become what they see. Timothy’s sincere faith first lived in his mom and grandma.
This week a mom showed up at the Food Basket Trailers with her 6-year-old daughter and a younger child. She asked Jan if they could drop of some food. And Jan said - absolutely. So they unloaded their car. It turns out the little girl just turned 6. For her birthday party she asked not that her friends bring presents but instead food. And now they were delivering it to us.
Now is this natural for a 6-year-old to want to do this?
Is it natural for a typical 6-year-old to say no presents?
Where did she learn this?
How was she aware that people don’t have food?
I’m guessing her mom.
Mom’s/Dad’s, Grandma’s/Grandpa’s, that which you long to see grow and mature in your children and grandkids must first be present in you.
In 2 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul tells us something else that caused Timothy to become the person he became as an adult.
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul somehow found out that Timothy when he was a mere infant began to learn the scriptures. His mom and grandma and perhaps some others, made it their mission,
Made a point to
Took the time to
Chose to not do or be involved in certain matters so that they could teach young Timothy, infant - toddler - young boy Timothy the scriptures. Why? Because scripture makes one wise, Paul tells us.
Psalm 119:9, 11, tells us when we hide scripture within us. When we digest it, come to know it, our way is kept pure. Our sinful tendencies weaken.
Timothy’s parents started young when he was an infant. The principle? It is never too early to start. And if you think it is too late. If your kids are older, start now.
Read the Bible.
Tell the stories.
Learn the verses.
Rent the DVDs.
Listen to the radio programs.
Give your child roots that will anchor them for the years ahead.
At the Newhalem National Park Visitor Center there is a display of a certain pine tree. Next to the example of the tree is a description of that tree. During the first 5 years of that tree’s life, the tree grows 1 foot above the ground. 1 foot.
But during those first 5 years of the tree’s life, it grows roots 4 feet deep. Roots that will be able to hold that tree in place. Roots that will be able to find deep waters in dry times. Roots that will deep that tree alive.
Childhood and the growing up years is tough. Children get blown off course easily. They are easily deceived. Give them roots. Teach them the truth, the scriptures when they are young.
Timothy became the man he was due to the Godly influence of his mom and grandma, who knew this reality.
The faith Timothy had, first lived in his mom and grandma.
His faith grew its roots when he was a mere infant.
Let me mention a third thing Timothy’s mom did. She let him go. She released him to God’s greater glory and purpose.
Here was a mom who carefully taught and modeled the faith.
Here was a mom who exposed her child to the teaching and life of faith.
Here was a mom who with the care of a painter or sculpture chiseled out and added color to cultivate a young man of God. And yet this mom knew that there were other people and other experiences that would take what she had taught him to a deeper level. Eunice, Timothy’s mom let him go.
Timothy joined Paul in his second missionary journey. Timothy learned numerous intricacies and pastoral methods from Paul. The two of them traveled far. They encountered desperate situations and God glorifying occasions.
And no where do we read of Eunice saying, "come back." "Come home." "I didn’t raise you for this." No, here was a mom who first lived the faith she wanted her son to have.
Taught the faith to him from an early age.
And then let him go.
Here was a mom who trusted in God’s love, provision, calling and care more than in her own abilities. Timothy was God’s first and hers second. She let him go.
One last thing, Eunice and Lois were rewarded/blessed later. The result, the outcome of their work, their lives of fine character was rewarded not immediately but later on.
Sure there were good moments.
Sure there was times with big smiles when Timothy was growing up.
But the real fruit of their work came years down the road.
Years later.
So moms don’t ever question your God-given role to care, nurture and bring up your child in the ways of the Lord.
When those times of doubt seem to prevail, remind yourself the fruit comes later on.
Mom’s, we love and appreciate you.
Who you are and what you seek blesses our lives.
As a pastor, I recognize and thank you for each woman who is part of this church family. Your hands, heart and love for God help keep our church on its mission.
We thank you today for your lives.
Let’s pray,
Heavenly Father, we thank you for our moms this day. Heavenly Father, we give you praise with grateful hearts for the mom, the ladies, the grandmas, the aunts, the neighbor lady who have so influenced us. As we remember our years whether many or short we can identify countless women who have encouraged, loved, nurtured, helped, directed, cried, attended to us.
Lord we thank you for the tenderness of women. Their quiet yet tenacious spirits. Their warm and welcoming lives. You, O God, have blessed us/touched us/impacted us through our moms and we say thanks.
For those here today who have recently lost their mom to death. For those here today who didn’t have the best mom. For those here today who don’t feel like they are a good mom. For those here today who feel pain because they never were a mom. For those moms here who have lost a child to death. O Lord we entrust these moms and their particular needs to you. The Almighty God who acts with compassion, mercy and kindness towards all. Amen
