Today we honor our mothers in two ways:
(1) SOME ARE HERE TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THEIR MOTHER who has gone to be with the Lord.
Some of you are wearing a white rose or carnation to show that she has gone to be with the Lord.
(2) SOME ARE BLESSED HERE TO HONOR YOUR MOTHER WHO ARE STILL AMONG US.
You are wearing a red rose or coronations to show that you are still bless to have her among us.
This is a special day indeed for this nation (on the Second Sunday of May) that we honor all of our mothers in this great nation of ours.
Why shouldn’t we set aside a special day to honor these good mothers.
Illus: A study each year shows a typical stay-at-home mother juggles a 94-hour work week as a housekeeper, cook, teacher, laundry machine operator, van driver, facilities manager, janitor, computer operator, chief executive officer and psychologist.
• We are told if she were paid for all this, she would earn $115,000 a year.
• A mother who works outside the home also works 58 hours at home would earn an additional $86,000 for the work she does there on top of what she makes in her regular work.
While it might be helpful to calculate how much a mother should make it is impossible to put a dollar value on the price of a mother.
The godly mother in the book of Proverbs 31 God’s Word refers to her as a VIRTOUS WOMAN.
The word “virtuous” means moral strength and influence and refers to the “strength of an army.”
Proverbs 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”
Illus: The most expensive Ruby gemstone ever sold which was sold for $30 million dollars in 2015 at an auction in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mom if you ever feel like you are not worth much as a MOTHER God’s word say you are worth…For her price is far above rubies.”
What makes a gem priceless is because it is rare.
Illus: It’s what Boaz said about Ruth in Ruth 3:11: “For all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”
And the word “worth” speaks of price.
Illus: A teacher gave her class of second graders a one-hour lesson on the properties of magnets. She demonstrated how a magnet can pick up things.
The next day she gave her students a written test.
• The first question was: “My name begins with an “M.” I have six letters, and I pick up things. What am I?”
• When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was surprised to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered with the word, “Mother.”
Moms do more than pick things up, but they sure do a lot of that.
Illus: Campbell Morgan, a profound British preacher whose four sons all became pastors, influenced millions with his sermons, teachings and writings.
One day, when his young son Howard finished preaching, a reporter asked him, “Since you have five Pastors in your family who is the greatest preacher?”
Expecting the son to give the honor to his father, Howard surprised the reporter by saying, “My Mother!”
The main point is this: “A good woman is not easy to find; but when found, she is of unimaginable rare in worth.”
So why shouldn’t we set aside one day a year to honor these great mothers.
The church has given each mother a gift today, but as your pastor I would like to give to our mothers a personal gift and share with you from God’s precious Word a GIFT.
In this sermon today I would like to share somethings from God’s Word that will enable mothers to:
I. Make good decisions.
There are only two kinds of decisions:
• Good decision
• Bad decision
Illus: Someone said the way you learn to make good decisions is by making bad decisions. This is true for some they learn from their bad decisions.
But it is also true for some have learned to make bad decisions and they continue to make bad decisions.
What determines we are smart in making good decision is how we go about making good decisions?
Before I get into THREE guaranteed ways of making good decisions, I want to share with you from the Human side of making good decisions.
That is, from the human side of making good decisions we need to consider our age.
That is, when you are in, you’re:
• 20’s through 40” there are good long-range decisions that can be made SAFELY.
• 50’s and 60’s there are decisions we should not make that we could have made in 20’s through our 40’s.
• 70’s and 80’s there are decisions we should not make long range plans because we are not going to be around to enjoy the fruit of making certain long-range decisions.
Illus: For example, a man in his 70’s was very sick. His pastor went to pray for him and during the time the pastor was there this sick man said he was going to buy some land up on the lake in the next 10 to 20 years? Well, the fact is, he died the next year.
Even a young person has to consider they can make decisions, and they may not be here to enjoy the fruit of making that decision.
Because life expectancy:
• 81 for women
• 77 for men
(humor) Someone said the reason women are allowed here on earth longer is because it takes women longer to get ready to meet the Lord than men.
Age is a factor in making good decisions the HUMAN SIDE is essential.
? This is why if you are 60 through 80 the bank wants to know how old you are before they make you a loan.
? This is why if you are going to adopt a child, they want to know how old you are before they allow you to adopt a child.
? This is why before you are granted a marriage license or driver’s license they want proof of your age.
In making smart decisions a person needs to consider their age.
It is essential that mothers make good decisions because her decisions affect every member of her family.
Illus: For example, a mother may wake up on Sunday morning and she decides that she is not going to attend church. But when she made that decision, she also made the decision that her children would not be going also.
Let me share with you THREE places we should turn to for the best advice we can turn to with our problems.
You can get the best ADVICE…
I. CALLING UPON GOD IN PRAYER.
In making good decisions many mothers turn to…
(1) The advice of a friend.
This can be good and bad.
Just because they are your friend does not mean they are qualified to give good advice.
Some friends will give advice to take a dangerous decision they want take for themselves.
• Such as:
• Quit your job
• Get a divorce
• Spend money you do not have
Now some folks can ask God for His advice, and He will not respond.
Why?
Because God know they are going to do what they want to do in spite of what He wants them to do.
They really did not want his advice when they were asking; they were just hoping His advice would coincide with what they were going to do!
You see, the reason turning to God for good advice is the best advice we can receive is because he is OMNISCIENT. That is, there is not ANYTHING HE DOES NOT KNOW.
Illus: As a pastoral student I took counseling in college and often people come to me for advice, and I give them best advice I know to give them.
But I am limited in my counseling because I am not like God who is OMNISCIENT. He KNOWS EVERYTHING!!! O
He knows our PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. You cannot find a better counselor than going to God in prayer for advice.
So, he is capable of giving good advice.
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Those who are smart get their good advice through PRAYER
We can ask the advice of a FRIEND, but we have to be careful about asking for advice from them, it may be free advice but very costly later.
Also, because they are a good friend they might be more incline to tell you what you want to hear, instead of what you need to hear.
However, many turn to their friends in making good decisions.
(2) Some if they need of financial advice they may turn to Dave Ramsey for financial advice.’’
Dave is a good Christian and gives good financial advice BASED on good common sense.
(3) Some may turn to a counselor and pay them seventy-five to a hundred dollars an hour for good advice.
That may be good and bad also.
Illus: Makes me think of Ann Landers who the most was read columnist giving out advice to married couples who were having marital problems.
And then one day it was announced she and her husband was getting a divorce.
Evidently the advice she had given to others was not good enough for her with her marital problems.
(4) Some may turn for advice from a Palm Reader.
Which is the worst place anyone can go for advice?
But everyone needs good advice every once in a while, and sometimes it can be challenging to decide who to ask for it.
TURN TO GOD IN PRAYER!
Now I can hear the devil whispering in some your ears saying, YOU TRIED THAT BEFORE AND NOTHING HAPPERNED?
This is true, mothers can call upon God in prayer and not a thing will happen. ALL THEY DID WAS WASTE A BUNCH OF TIME CALLING ON GOD!!!
Listen, for prayer to be effective two things must take place.
(1) God tell us clearly in James 5:16 “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
God makes it clear that the RIGHTOUS MAN (OR WOMAN) PRAYERS AVAILETH MUCH.
If your prayer as a Christian is not being answered the problem has to be one of TWO things:
(1) God is lying when He said He would answer our prayer. WHICH WE KNOW CANNOT BE TRUE.
(2) You are not meeting the Bible requirements for prayer LIVING A GODLY LIFE.
Illus: For example, you are kidding yourself to think you can get on your old prayer bones and use your mouth to call upon God and use that same mouth all week that you have used to lie, gossip, curse, and expect God to answer your prayer.
If you are not living a RIGHTEOUS LIFE, you need to get on those prayer bones and ask God to forgive you for living a sinful life and then call upon God and He will hear the words that come out of your mouth.
The Word of God says “IF I REGARD INIQUITY THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME.”
So, my advice quit wasting time praying if you are not living a righteous life. Because God said HE will not hear your prayer because THE EFFECTUAL PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILATH MUCH.
IN MAKING GOOD DECISIONS CALL UPON GOD IN PRAYER.
Also, in making good decisions…
II. TURN TO THE WORD OF GOD.
No matter where we get our advice from if it does not line up with the Word of God it is BAD AVICE.
God’s advice will never contradict what the Word of God states.
For example, if you get a job that requires you to work on the Lord’s Day, you need to find you another job.
God’s Word teaches we are to work six and rest one.
Preacher, who do you think you are telling me I cannot work on the Lord’s Day.
I am not telling you that, God’s Word telling you that.
God would never give advice of taking a job that would keep you from worshipping on the Lord’s Day…NEVER!
A truly smart person comes before the Lord with an open heart and once they ask for His advice they act on what He says.
God’s Word says IF YOU LOVE HIM, YOU WILL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
But you can never go wrong when you make a decision to do something out of love for the Lord.
Illus: In Mark 14 the woman that poured the precious ointment on the Lord and she was criticize for this decision, but the Lord told them "Leave her alone... she did what she could!"
Probably when she died those words were placed on her tombstone, “LEAVE HER ALONG…SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD!”
Listen; allow me to give you some GOOD ADVICE. If God cannot help you with your problems…NO ONE CAN!!!
WE NEED SOME GOOD OLD FASHION PRAYING MOTHERS AND TURN TO THE SCRIPTURES FOR ADVICE HOW TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS.
Because remember the decisions a mother makes affect the entire family.
We have a Bible full of godly characters that faced all kinds of problems, but they made the decision every time.
• Not isolate themselves
• Not head for the medicine cabinet
• Not have a pity party
• Not go to people for advice that cannot solve their own problems
But to call upon God!!! Who is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent?
The best place we can go for good advice is PRAYER and THE WORD OF GOD.
III. FOLLOW THE LORD’S EXAMPLE.
I Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
If Jesus did it, it must be right.
Illus: A very popular book called IN HIS STEPS is a wonderful book for Christians to read by Charles M. Sheldon.
This book has been ranked as the tenth-most-read book in the world.
In His Steps tells the story of a Midwestern church who are challenged by a tramp during a Sunday service to live up to their declaration of faith.
The tramp then dies in their midst.
So moved are the minister and his parishioners that they pledge to live their lives for one year asking themselves, “What would Jesus do?”
Their example how they suffered, faced ridicule and emerged victorious inspires other churches throughout the country to do the same.
It is a great book because as we all seek for good advice what to do in certain situation we simply ask, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
We should always follow in His steps.
HOW DID HE LIVE HIS LIFE?
Look at Acts 10:38 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
Illus: - In Birmingham, Alabama, many years ago, lived a Presbyterian pastor, James Bryan.
Throughout the city he was known as “Brother Bryan.”
There were many preachers stronger in pulpit oratory, BUT NONE PREACHED BETTER SERMONS THAN HE DID WITH HIS LIFE.
Like Jesus, he went about doing good.
It was a common thing for him to come home on a cold day without his overcoat. He had given it to some poor man who had none.
One spring day he was driving a horse and buggy through the countryside. He saw a farmer standing dejectedly in the field. It was time for his spring plowing, but his only horse died. Brother Bryan unhitched his horse and gave it to the man. Then he walked home.
It was fitting that when his biography was written it was called A Sermon in Shoes.
Educated and uneducated can know what to do in situations in life by asking WHAT WOULD JESUS DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.
• How would he scold a child?
• How would he drive on the highways?
• How would he treat people?
• How would he treat the poor and needy?
• How would He do things as a father or mother?
• How would He be as member of the church?
So many of life problems could be solved by simply asking WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
The devil will never ask us to do a kind deed!!!
We will never go wrong if we follow the Lord’s example of every day going about doing good.
We have HIS EXAMPLE to follow.
Galatians 5:13-14 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Facing life difficulties, we ask WHAT WOULD JESUS DO, but also, another question we should ask ourselves HOW WOULD WE WANT TO BE TREATED IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.
What are the two great commandments that Jesus gave?
(1) To love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind.
(2) And to love your neighbor as yourself.
Illus. - Someone wrote:
? A lot of people are like a wheelbarrow—not good unless pushed.
? Some are like canoes—they have to be paddled.
? Some are like kites—if you don’t keep them on a string they fly away.
? Some are like footballs—you can’t tell which way they’ll bounce next.
? Some are like balloons—full of wind and ready to blow up.
? Some are like trailers—they have to be pulled.
? Some are like a good watch—open face, pure gold, quietly busy and full of good works.
What type of person are you?
Conclusion:
Illus. - Nicolo Paganini (1782-1840) the great Italian violinist willed his fine instrument to his home city of Genoa. His bequest carried one condition. The violin was never to be played; it would simply be placed on display.
But that’s not good for a finely crafted stringed instrument. It needs to be used and handled regularly if its beauty and value are to be retained.
As a result of Paganini’s request, his marvelous violin has become nothing more than a decaying form. It has wasted away as a museum piece.
What about us?
Moms, do not let your precious life that affects your whole family just WASTE AWAY?
Are we just wasting away, not being used by God in some form? May it never be!
I Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”
Since we’ve been bought and paid for, we owe it to God to honor Him with our lives in Christian service.
Now we know how to make good decisions based on the Word of God…SO LET US DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM!!! we want to make GOOD DECISION...
How?
I. THROUGH PRAYER
II. THROUGH FOLLOWING THE SCRIPTURE
III. OLLOW THE LORD’S EXAMPLE
