The Ministry of Motherhood
2 Timothy 1:5
Englewood Baptist Church
Sunday morning, May 11, 2008
Our purpose today is two-fold. First and foremost, to honor the Lord Jesus with everything we say and do. Second, to honor our mothers. It’s Mother’s Day and I want to begin today by recommending a book, Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson. You can purchase a copy today at the Connection Centers. If you have girls, you’ll have to wait till next year, as Dobson is now writing Bringing Up Girls. Let me begin today by reading just a paragraph or two from this excellent book. Dobson says…
I have the highest respect and admiration for those who are blessed to be called mothers. There are few assignments in human experience that require the array of skills and wisdom needed by a mom in fulfilling her everyday duties. She must be a resident psychologist, physician, theologian, educator, nurse, chef, taxi driver, fire marshal, and occasional police officer. And if she succeeds in each of these responsibilities, she gets to do it all again tomorrow.
To understand the world in which a young mother lives, our male readers might want to join one of them on a midmorning visit to the pediatrician’s office. After sitting for forty-five minutes with a cranky, feverish toddler on her lap, Mom and Baby are finally ushered into the examining room. The doctor checks out the sick child and then tells the woman with a straight face, “Be sure you keep him quiet for four or five days. Don’t let him scratch the rash. Make certain he keeps the medicine down and you’ll need to watch his stool.”
“Yeah, sure, Doc! Any other suggestions?”
“Just one. This disease is highly contagious. Keep your other four kids away from him. I’ll see you in a week.”
The amazing thing about mothers is that most of them would get this job done, and they would do it with love and grace.
I am one that stands amazed at the way God designed mothers. My wife is an incredible mom. I am in awe at her ability to nurture our children. Sometimes, I will bring our children to Mothers Day Out and I get out of the car and instantly, I am way out of my comfort zone. I would be less nervous preaching to 10,000 people than I am dropping my own children off at my own church sometimes.
•Illustration about balancing my children.
I am amazed at moms! But you know what? According to the Bible, there is a lot more to being a good mom than simply making a tasty Peanut Butter and Jelly without the crust. There is more to it than applying a spiderman bandaid, or washing hair without getting water in the eyes. These are physical demands on mothers, but biblically, there are spiritual demands as well. And without question, the spiritual needs of children are even greater than the physical. You are called to pass on more than a good recipe book, or skill in loading a dishwasher. You are a called to pass on the things of God.
Today, I have asked you to open up to 2 Timothy because I want you to see the power of a godly mother in a young person’s life. Timothy was the spiritual son of Paul. As far as we know, the apostle Paul never married, nor did he have children, but he had spiritual children. Timothy was one of his boys. And he was lucky to have such an incredible spiritual father in Paul.
But long before Paul arrived on the scene, while Paul was studying Phariseeical law and persecuting Christians, Timothy was growing up in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and man. And the reason that he was growing into a godly man was because he had two women—godly, righteous, firm, determined—women who were tilling the soil in his heart. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois were training that boy to be used mightily by God.
I want you to look at your Bible and listen to the first 5 verses of this letter…
Paul saw in Timothy a legacy. It began in a godly grandmother. Do not underestimate, Grandma, the power of your life and perspective. It is a known fact that as people grow older, they tend to move slower and stoop over. Right. You’re not getting taller. You’re getting shorter. Why is that? I am sure there are medical reasons that involve your spine, but perhaps there are spiritual reasons as well. One author has a theory:
A sage once remarked that the elderly slow down and stoop over so that they can see things as children once again, so that they can hold the hands of children who toddle along on inexperienced feet. That bug on the sidewalk, the snail under the cabbage leaf, the robin pulling the worm from the rain-moistened earth—these are the things small children and their grandparents notice. Eric Wiggen, The Gift of Grandparenting
God has given to you, Grandmother, a unique perspective that hurried mothers don’t always have. Proverbs 17:6 says, “Children’s children are a crown to the aged….” Timothy was blessed, not only with a godly mother, but also with a godly grandmother and when a child has those two things, he has more riches than Solomon in all his splendor.
Now what about the role of Eunice, Timothy’s mother who raised him and poured her life into him. What did she accomplish in the boy? I want to point out three things that Eunice did for Timothy that all godly mothers should do with their children. Every mother should follow her example.
3 Things Eunice did for Timothy
1.She passed on a love for the Scriptures. (2 Tim. 3:14-17)
Turn the page to 2 Tim.3. Let me show you how I know this. Look what Paul says to Timothy in 3:14-17. From the time Timothy was born, God’s word was discussed and taught in his home. Eunice made sure that Timothy understood the power of the word of God.
Mothers, no single thing will have a greater impact on your child than the truth of Scripture. You can read all the parenting books about fun foods for your child, thrilling birthday parties, and top-notch arts and crafts projects. Those things are important. But if you want to hand your child a life-changing practice, it will be his or her ability to read and understand God’s word.
God has written the recipe for spiritual success. Here it is:
The truth of the Word + faith in Christ + the Holy Spirit’s power = a dynamic spiritual life.
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul asks rhetorically, “How shall they [unbelievers] hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14), and later explains that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (v. 17). The Word presented by our mouths is God’s plan for reaching people with the gospel. The Word must be spoken and embraced in your home.
In the book of Acts, there is a woman named Lydia who is hearing the word spoken. Paul is speaking the Sacred Scriptures. And this is what Luke says…
“a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).
Notice, God opened this woman’s heart when, and only when, the Word was being spoken, and she came to a saving faith.
Think about it this way, Moms. If one of your children fell out of a boat into dangerous waters, which of you, would not extend a rope to rescue your child? All of you would. Well, the Bible says that your son or daughter is born into a world that is filled with treacherous currents. There is a downward pull in this world that will suck them down to hell. But, God has given you a tool to rescue your children from death. That tool is not a life jacket, nor is it a rubber raft. You have the inspired Word of God and when it is spoken, it has power.
Timothy had the privilege of hearing the Word in the most marvelous manner. He heard it first from his family—more specifically, from his grandmother and his mother. And he heard it from infancy. .
In Deuteronomy 6, the people of God are told this:
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up…
What is God saying? He says, “Don’t expect the priests to teach your child the Scriptures. You teach them. It’s your assignment. The idea is, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, find ways to teach your children the truths of your bible.”
I heard a riddle recently. It goes like this: How do you teach a parrot to talk? The answer: You have to have a larger vocabulary than the bird.
Moms, you must learn the Word if you are going to teach the Word of God. Read it, study it, and then whether you are traveling along the road, or eating breakfast, or singing a good night song, incorporate Scripture into your life. And guess what will happen? You will pass it on.
Eunice loved the Word of God and it changed her son’s life. He went on to be one of the star pastors in the New Testament. It happened because he loved the bible. And he loved the bible because his mother loved the Bible, and she loved it because her mother loved it. Pass it on.
2.She passed on a sincere faith. (2 Tim. 1:5)
Look back at 1:5…
Because of genetics, you will pass on some traits to your children. Your child might have your big brown eyes, or your funny-shaped nose, or your curly red hair. These things are hereditary. However, faith is not hereditary. Just because you follow Christ, this doesn’t mean your children will.
A few weeks ago, I shared about a tough day I had. It was one of those days when fear was crippling me and I felt burdened for many things that were beyond my control. So, I escaped from my office, I went to a quiet place to pray, and I surrendered a handful of fears that were weighing me down. One of those had to do with my children. I am afraid for my children. Why am I afraid? Because I can’t control the outcome of their lives. I can’t bear to think of one of my sons or my daughter spending eternity in hell. I worry about them being alone in our own backyard, much less alone for eternity apart from God.
And that day in prayer, like every parent in this room, I had to surrender my children to God. I said, “God, if I can give my children just one thing, help me to instill a genuine faith in Christ.”
Now, I think the key word in this verse is “sincere.” Paul saw in those two women a sincere faith that had been passed on. One of the easiest ways to destroy your children is to model a two-faced lifestyle. You must war against the spirit of hypocrisy that will worm its way into your life.
The word hypocrite means someone who pretends. One of the favorite pastimes of children to pretend. Sometimes my daughter will walk into the room with some bizarre outfit on and I’ll say, “Hi Ava.” And she’ll look at me funny and say, “Don’t call me Ava, I’m Arial, or I’m Jasmine, or I’m Belle.” What is she doing? She is pretending that she is somebody that she is not. Children know how to do this, and so do adults.
As your children grow up, they will know whether you are sincere or whether you are a pretender. And if you are a fake, your children probably not come to faith. Why should they? It’s all just pretend.
Jesus could not stomach pretenders. He dies parents to be authentic. A few months ago, I was dog-tired and I was in the mood one night for a good laugh. So I told Lynley, “I’m gonna run down to blockbuster and rent a comedy.” Well, I got there and I couldn’t find one movie that I was excited to see so I made a colossal mistake. I’m embarrassed to say that I did this. I asked a teenage boy at the front desk, “Hey, I don’t know any of these movies. Are any of them funny? And he said, “That one. That’s funny.” I should have known better. I took the movie home. I showed it to Lynley and she said, “You’re not going to watch that, are you?” And I got real defensive. I said, “Oh, come on. Don’t be so legalistic. It can’t be that bad.” It was that bad. The first 30 seconds of this comedy was gross innuendo.”
I stopped the movie and Lynley said to me, “Did anyone see you renting this?” I said, “Just the three people at the front desk.” And I sat there thinking to myself, “Oh relax, Ben. This is a big town. Those kids don’t know who you are. Just forget about it.” But on the other shoulder was the Holy Spirit saying, “Repent and make this right.” So I hopped in the car, and I walked into the video store, I plopped that movie down on the counter and I said, “Brother, I am really sorry. Can I exchange this for another?” And he said, “What’s wrong with it?” And I said, “I just don’t think it’s the kind of movie I should be watching.”
And so I traded that movie, and I walked out with Aladdin. I never got to watch a movie that night, but I went to bed feeling sincere about my faith. And I pray that I didn’t hurt that kid that saw me making a bad choice. He was watching me.
Your children are watching your faith like a hawk. They want to know if you are authentic or counterfeit. They are asking the question, “Can I really have faith in an invisible God?” How do I know that God exists? What has he done? And if that child cannot see in you a radically changed life, then that child will grow up wondering what difference does Jesus make? Has this so-called God really changed my mother’s life, or is this a religious game that she learned from her mother?
Hypocrisy will kill your kids. You must pass on a sincere faith.
Eunice was obviously a woman that was sincere and sensitive toward God. She did not put on a show. Moms, don’t be just a churchgoer, be a Christ-follower, every day. And when you fail, make it right before God and your children.
3.She passed on a desire to serve others. (Acts 16:1-3)
Look at this passage in Acts…
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Acts 16:1-3
I want you to notice that Timothy eagerly followed Paul into ministry. He knew that Paul had been stoned the last time he was in Lystra. He knew that he was leaving his mama and may never see her on this side of heaven again. But, Timothy had been trained from childhood that his life was not his own—that God had made him with a purpose—and he was deeply committed to ministry. Now, why did Timothy risk his life for a mission trip with Paul? I have a theory. It was because he had watched his mother serve others for decades. It’s what he had been trained to do.
I cannot tell you, mothers, how important it is for your children to see you reaching out and caring for others. Teach your children how to give themselves away. Share a meal with a hurting family and let your child help you prepare it. Share your money with others and tell your kids about it. Share your dinner table with people who need friendship and encouragement. Share your time and devote energy to the work of the local church. Share your life with people and guess what will happen? Your child will grow up with a desire to give himself to God.
And I want you to notice something else, mothers. In Acts 16, Timothy left his mother and followed the plan of God. Eunice knew that she must let her son go. Acts 16:4 does not say, “And Eunice ran to the side of Timothy to talk him out of this dangerous mission trip. She encouraged him to stay home and start a family and have children quickly so that she could smock.” No, the Bible does not say that. The Bible says that Timothy went.
You have to let your kids go. The truth is they are not your kids. The Bible calls you a pilgrim, just passing through this earth, but it also describes you a steward. The word steward means manager. When you go to a restaurant and you meet the manager, you don’t ask him, “He., what did you pay for this place?” He didn’t buy it. It belongs to someone else. He is being paid to manage someone else’s investment. That’s the way the bible describes everything in your life. Your money, your time, your assets, even your children—these things you get to manage for a short time. So what does that mean? It means that you can’t keep them.
Last year, Gary Carter baptized his little girl. And when he baptized her, he said something that really made me think. He said, “I baptize you, my sister in Christ…” And it hit me. In heaven, there are no mommies and daddies—just brothers and sisters with one Father. And your job is to lead your children, as best as you can, to the Heavenly Father.
Now there is one more thing I want to draw your attention to. I want you to notice that Timothy did have a father. In Acts 16, it says that his father was a Greek, and we have no indication that he ever became a believer in God. He may have been a nice man. He may have spent hours playing toys with his children, but it seems clear that he had Zero spiritual influence over his children.
Timothy was a mighty man of God because he had a mighty woman of God in his life…his mother. Single mother, be encouraged. God can save a boy’s soul through the power of a godly mother. He can overcome any obstacle. Nothing is impossible with God.
Listen to this poem.
A Small Handprint on the Wall
One day as I was picking
the toys up off the floor,
I noticed a small hand print
on the wall beside the door.
I knew that it was something
that I’d seen most every day,
but this time when I saw it there,
I wanted it to stay.
Then tears welled up inside my eyes,
I knew it wouldn’t last,
for every mother knows
her children grow up way too fast.
Just then I put my chores aside
and held my children tight.
I sang to them sweet lullabies
and rocked into the night.
Sometimes we take for granted,
all those things that seem so small.
Like one of God’s great treasures....
A small hand print on the wall.
Source unknown
