Mother’s Day 2011
Text: Proverbs 31:10 – 31
By: Ken McKinley
Well today is Mother’s Day, the day when families pay special tribute to their moms in various ways. We take them out to dinner, or buy them special gifts… but the sad thing is that often times Mother’s Day is really just a time when families try to atone for an entire year of neglect and disrespect, and for a lack of appreciation. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is.
Now most people agree, whether they are Christians or not, that we are living in a post-Christian era; that doesn’t mean that the Church is dead, or that Christianity is dead, what it means is that the influence that Biblical Christianity once had on our nation and our culture has diminished to a point where it wouldn’t be recognized by Christians 100 – 200 years ago. And that includes morality, education, social action, and maybe, most importantly, parenting.
Basically what’s happened is that secular humanistic reasoning has taken the place of Biblical truth when it comes to setting the parameters for the home and family. By contrast; a Christian should be one who sees the home, and marriage, and parenting as framed within the parameters of God’s infallible and authoritative Word (The Bible). And the truth of God’s Word should not only shape our beliefs and practices in all areas of life, but they are absolutes that guide us through life. And so our opinions and beliefs are only legitimately Christian, to the degree that they line up with God’s Word. The problem is that today, our minds have been darkened by secularism and sin, and a lot of folks can’t tell if something is Biblical or secular at all.
We expect that from the world, but we’re actually seeing the same thing within the Church as well. The trend that we’re seeing in the Church is that church folks are acknowledging the sufficiency of God and the Bible, but they fail to see a need to subject their personal opinions, reasoning, and emotions to the guidelines of Scripture in all areas of life, including what happens in the home. We read something like Romans 12:2 which says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” And we think that only applies to our moral behavior, but not to things like marriage, or raising kids. Instead; we leave those things up to pop psychologists and talk show hosts. But, ALL of our relationships should be directed by the truth of Scripture, whether its education, finances, political involvement, our jobs, our marriages, or parenting.
Having said all that, please turn with me to Proverbs 31:10 – 31 (READ).
Now before I get into this passage; two points of random knowledge. Verses 10 – 31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew. In-other-words, in the literal Hebrew language, each verse begins with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet, in order. Isn’t God cool? Secondly; the word or phrase that’s translated as “virtuous” in the NKJV, or “Of noble character” in the NIV is the Hebrew word “chayil” which literally means “strength and valor, and in all ways excellent.” Throughout the Bible this word is translated as able or capable 8 times, it’s translated as strength 10 times and as valiant over 40 times. And basically it refers to moral strength, integrity and efficiency.
Now as we look through these verses, we get a good understanding of what the writer meant by “virtuous.” I personally see at least 5 qualities there… there might be more, but I see five.
1. If you look at verses 11, 12 and 23, you’ll see that she is trustworthy and devoted. She has her husband’s confidence, and she enhances his reputation.
2. She is a woman of diligence and wisdom. We see that in verses 13 – 19. She’s not afraid to work, she’s a wise shopper, and she plans ahead.
3. She is a giving person. Verse 20 says that she extends her hand to the poor. In other words, she has planned ahead well enough to be able to not only take care of the family’s needs, but also the needs of the poor in her society.
4. She is dependable. We see that in verses 15, 21, 27. When adversity comes, be it bad weather, or something else… you know she’s already got a plan to deal with whatever it might be.
5. And lastly; she is a woman who loves the Lord. We see that by reading all the verses of our text. She is someone who is guided and directed by God’s Word and God’s wisdom.
Now ladies, you might read through that and say to yourselves, “This isn’t describing a woman, its describing Super Woman!” And that’s actually a pretty good assessment. It’s describing a woman who is living in a supernatural way with a supernatural God. And it has to be that way because there are few things that are more important to society than godly mothers. The Bible is clear in its teachings, both explicit and implicit, that the family is the foundation of society. And while fathers are responsible for the way the family goes, mothers are the glue that holds the family together.
And so; since mom’s are so important to the family and society, I want to really quickly look at some of the problems they face, so that the rest of us can really show our appreciation this Mother’s Day and every day of the year.
First of all, guys… we need to look at motherhood and femininity with respect, (femininity, not feminism). The Bible warns us over and over again about the anti-Christian forces that are constantly at work to get us to adopt the values and attitudes of the world. But again; Romans 12 tells us that we are not to be conformed to the worlds patter. We aren’t supposed to be shoved into the mold that the world has for us. Let me just be blunt and tell you what I mean by that… Motherhood is more important than having a career! Not saying women can’t do both… I’m just saying that it’s important that they understand which one is more important!
Secondly; 2nd Timothy 3:1 – 5 says, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come; for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness by denying its power. From such people turn away!”
Now you notice what Paul was saying there? He told Timothy that the perilous times will come in the last days because people will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money. Boasting pride and blasphemy are all sins of pride that comes from loving oneself. Disobedience to parents and un-thankfulness also come from a sense of over exaggerated self-worth. It goes on… but this is the world we live in. And so; what do you think this does to the woman, who by the very nature of her creation, is geared to needing love, and affection, and reassurance? What does it do when the husband loves himself more than his wife, or when he loves money more than his wife?
You see; Satan’s first attack was against the wife, and it immediately affected the home. He still attacks us today, including moms and wives. But then you couple that with the fact that people, sometimes husbands, are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, they are proud… kids are sometimes disobedient, people are unthankful, unloving… and these humanistic, unbiblical ideas and beliefs and behavioral patterns affect the family, and the home, and especially the mother, because she is the keeper of the home.
Now those of us who are husbands and fathers… we need to take note of this, because even though our wives are to be the keepers of the home… we’re supposed to be the protectors of the home. In-other-words, we should not allow these sorts of things infiltrate our homes, and our lives and the lives of our families. We can’t do a whole lot about it out in the world, but we can make sure that it isn’t infiltrating our homes!
Turn with me really quickly to Ephesians 5:23-29 (Read).
So that passage clearly says that husbands are the head of the house, but also it says that we are to love our wives, just like Jesus loves the Church. In-other-words, we are to love our wives sacrificially… And let me just tell you, if we fail to love our wives like this, what we’re doing is disobeying a commandment given to us from God’s Word, and we are distorting the picture that marriage provides of Christ and the Church to the world. You’ve heard the saying, “As goes the home, so goes the Church, and as goes the Church, so goes the world…” Well this passage is where that idea comes from. Christian marriage is a picture of Christ and His Church to the unbelieving world. And secondly; if we fail to love our wives like this, we sin against our wives and our children, because our kids pick up on our attitudes and actions. One thing that gets me more riled up than just about anything else is to see a kid disrespect his or her mother. That causes my blood to boil. Because a lot of times, they pick that up from their own father. And I’ll tell you right now, that is not tolerated in our house. And it shouldn’t be in any house.
Ok; let’s turn back to Proverbs 31…
As you can see from our text, the demands on mothers are awesome! They include grocery shopping, preparing meals (sometimes for picky eaters), washing and ironing, house cleaning, caring for the many needs of the family, and on and on… and again; we look at that list and we go, they lady that’s doing all of these things is probably a basket case.
So in the time left, I want to quickly talk about how moms can handle all of this without going ballistic and losing their minds. We already touched on one important part, and that is the necessity of a loving husband and obedient kids. Guys, to love your wife sacrificially means that you help out. It is not beneath us to do the laundry. It’s not beneath us to occasionally do the dishes (you notice how I said ‘occasionally’? That shows you that even pastors sometimes have this pull of the world on us where we try to skirt the issue, or twist things to suit us). It’s not beneath us to DO THE DISHES, either occasionally or, if need be, often. So that’s one way we can help our wives be this virtuous woman. By helping out around the house!
Secondly; and this one is on the wives and moms… and that is they need to have their priorities straight. In Luke chapter 10 we read the story of Mary, Martha and Jesus. Jesus had come to their house, and Mary found the time to sit at Jesus’ feet, to be near Him and learn from Him, while Martha got involved in the busy work. She found plenty of things to do, so that she didn’t have to get alone and be with Jesus (Now she would’ve never admitted to that, but that’s what’s implied in that passage). Then she even complained to the Lord about Mary’s unwillingness to join her in her sin. Now I hope everyone realizes that this is the same Mary that goes to the tomb and is the first person to see the resurrected Lord. She was then commissioned to be the very first evangelist. Jesus told her to go and tell the others. And what we learn from that is that mom’s need to make Mary’s priority their own priority. It doesn’t mean that they ignore the other duties of motherhood. It means that they prioritize and have their priorities straight. On the flip side; mothers who end up making Martha’s priorities their own, end up like Martha. They find themselves full of resentment, self-pity, and tension.
Jesus Himself took time to pray and be alone with His heavenly Father.
Mom’s do you find yourselves so busy that you don’t take time to sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to His Word, and take your burdens and cares to Him? The Bible makes it pretty clear that no wife or husband, or mom, or dad can be the kind of spouse or parent that God has called them to be without the Lords help. In-fact; Jesus said, “Without Me, you can do nothing!”
Now let’s look at the last two verses of Proverbs 31 and then we’ll close (Read vss 30 & 31).
The woman who finds her value in her looks will either have so much plastic surgery and Botox done that she’ll end up looking like something out of a horror show, or she will devalue her worth to the point of self-loathing, (Because age and gravity eventually sets in on us all). But the woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom!
The woman who fears the LORD doesn’t have to toot her own horn, and she doesn’t have to brag or boast about what she’s accomplished. Her OWN works will praise her. People will see it and know it. Her children will rise up and call her blessed and her husband will praise her.
So let me just encourage all you moms out there this morning. God doesn’t call you to be perfect; He calls you to walk in His perfection. It’s not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit – declares the LORD. So take time to set at the feet of Jesus, in-other-words, take time to get into the Word of God. Read the Bible, study the Bible, learn the Bible, memorize the Bible… you do that, and before long, you’ll find that you’re living the Bible. Compare what God’s Word says with what the world says, and if they differ, reject the worlds point of view. And lastly; keep your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, lay aside every weight of sin that so easily besets us, and look unto the Author and Finisher of your faith.
LET’S PRAY
