INTRODUCTION
ILLUSTRATION I read a story about a six-year-old boy who was separated from his mother in a supermarket. So he frantically called her mother, “Martha! Martha! Martha!” That was his mother’s name and she came running to him quickly. “But, honey,” she admonished, “you shouldn’t call me ‘Martha’, I’m ‘Mother’ to you.” “Yes, I know,” he answered, “but this store is full of mothers.”
Yes this world is full of mothers but not everyone deserve to be called mother. In fact, some of us today may be in that similar dilemma. However, we should not let that stop us from honoring the mothers in our midst. Let us open our bibles to Proverbs 31:1-31. Read along the points.
The Book of Proverbs has much to say about WOMEN:
It talked about wicked women (Proverbs 1–9)
It talked about nagging wives (21:9 and 25:24)
However, the book closes with a glorious tribute to the godly, dedicated woman who brings honor to God and joy to her family.
Read Proverbs 31:30-31.
It speaks of praising and honoring the woman who fears the Lord. God desires that we honor woman for the role they fulfill in our lives – as wives and mothers. But He set the qualification as the one who fears the Lord.
For the Lord, it is the spiritual and moral qualities of a woman that deserves praises and honor. Actually, Mother’s Day was established for that reason, honoring the mothers for their virtuous lives as mothers and wives.
Our passage this morning listed these qualities that made the woman a virtuous person. The list is ideal and for sure we cannot find a woman who possesses all those qualities.
Read Proverbs 31:10.
But for sure, we’ll find a woman who possesses at least one or two of the qualities and for those qualities we should honor them today.
So don’t be disappointed if you find yourself short of the qualities listed in Proverbs 31. That is your goal as you move on in life but whatever you have achieved and practiced through the years, you deserve our respect and praises.
What are the qualities that deserve our respect and praises? Mothers and Wives we honor you today for:
1. YOUR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION (vv. 1-9)
Read Proverbs 31:1-9.
Note that the sayings of King Lemuel were actually an inspired utterance his mother taught him (v. 1)
The King’s mother actually taught him lessons like:
a.To not use his authority as a means to worldliness (vv. 2-3)
b.To keep his head clear from the stupid effects of alcohol (vv. 4-7)
c.To use his power to help the powerless (vv. 8-9)
The most important responsibility of mothers and fathers have is the moral and spiritual training of their children. In this case, the mother fulfilled her task. We have examples of this quality.
Today we honor the mothers who have made the moral and spiritual instruction of their children as top priority in their responsibility. You have greater influence on your children because they have special attachment to you as mothers. In some cases, you spent more time with them especially as the stay at home mother.
I am not saying that the Father is free from this responsibility but Mothers you have significant opportunity in this regard. You teach your kids about numbers, science, and history. Why not teach them the lesson on life, faith, and citizenship.
2. YOUR MARITAL FIDELITY (vv. 11-12, 23)
Read Proverbs 31:11-12, 23.
The virtuous woman has the full confidence of her husband, the husband trusted his wife. He entrusts his decisions, plans, and relationships. The reason for this is because the wife brings him good and not harms all the days of her life. The result is the husband is respected at the city gate.
ILLUSTRATION “Behind every man’s success is a supportive and noble wife.”
Here is a relationship where love and trust are evident in both the husband and wife. The woman we honor today acknowledges that fidelity in marriage is her responsibility too. Oftentimes we say that man is a natural womanizer. But in our culture today, this is also becoming true among women. On the other hand, the mother we honor today is loyal to her marriage too.
She demonstrates marital fidelity. A happy home does not just happen; it is the result of hard work, fidelity, love, and prayer. When husbands and wives trust the Lord and each other, there will be happiness and blessing. The marriage vows are promises that must be taken seriously. To break these vows is to sin against God and each other.
We honor the mothers not only to their faithful duties as mothers but also to their marital fidelity. Fidelity that strengthens marriage but also set the foundation to our children.
3. YOUR INDUSTRIOUS SPIRIT (vv. 13-19, 24)
Read Proverbs 31:13-19, 24.
The Book of Proverbs has nothing good to say about laziness, whether it involves a man or a woman. In our passage, the virtuous man is a picture of industrious spirit. Note that even if her primary responsibilities are homemaking, she finds time to assist her husband in family business or her own livelihood initiative. She does it eagerly (v. 13).
As a result of industrialization, women are encouraged and challenged to work. Nowadays, economics is the reason why most women work. How we wish that women should be able to stay at home and fulfill their duties to their children and husband. We need them at home.
Her friend said, "What are you worried about? Sounds to me like you have it made." Her friend said, "What if she tries to escape?" Being a stay at home mom is a full time job. However, we recognized that at times we need their support in providing for the financial needs of the family.
Not to mention, the need for them to express their God-given talents and abilities to create and produce. So they help and we thank them. As a result, they are able to practice generosity in so many ways (v. 20) – to their families and people in the community.
For all the working mothers and wives, God is pleased in your contribution for the family and for that reason we honor you today.
4. YOUR COMMITMENT TO DOMESTIC TASKS (v. 21-22, 27-28)
Read Proverbs 31:21-22, 27-28.
While there are sometimes emergencies and situations that require women to work outside the home, it must be remembered that even then her first responsibility is to her family. For this reason, it is important that the women should be organized in the use of time and resources to be able to meet the domestic needs at home. Our children need time and attention.
Since a lot of mothers and wives are working, and yet expected to fulfill domestic chores, like cooking, cleaning the house, laundry, and child-rearing, the husband should enable their wives by assisting them. Some wives and mothers are faithful in these chores despite of their professional jobs, for that matter we salute you and honor you today.
5. YOUR PERSONAL WISDOM & DISCERNMENT (vv. 25-26)
Read Proverbs 31:25-26.
Wisdom and discernment do not come natural to anyone. It is the result of training, discipline, and practice. The virtuous woman possesses these qualities which mean that they were trained and educated in this field. So they can teach their children appropriately.
We need mothers who can teach our children these virtues in a more significant and effective ways. We honor those mothers who have taken the time to harness their intellectual assets to be more effective in teaching and guiding their children.
CONCLUSION
Let us honor our mothers and wives today. Show them that we really love them. Let me show you how to express your love for all the mothers, grandmothers, and wives who live among us.
PRACTICAL ACTIONS:
1. Thank your Mom always - start today.
2. Give them proper respect - don’t yell at them, don’t frown at them, and learn from them.
3. Appreciate their sacrifices – help them, serve them, and give them time to relax.
4. Be loving, gentle, and help them at home.
5. Support their job and encourage them.
Let me end by reading Proverbs 31:30-31 once again.
Some of you have these virtues developed in your life or have been desiring these virtues. Let me remind you that the key to this goal is to have that fear of the Lord in your heart. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have given women equal importance and opportunity in this world.
He is ready to enable you to maximize your potential. He wants to live with your and walk with you along the way. I hope that you will welcome Him into your life. Make that commitment to recognize Him as your Lord and Savior. You can do that today, if you have not done it before, to ask God to help you and guide you in your role as mother or wife to your family.
