THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE
PROVERBS 22:6
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
There is an old saying that says “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” I’m not sure if there is a lot of truth in that old saying, but this morning I want us to explore a great spiritual truth about mothers.
“The hand that rocks the cradle can change the world.”
HOW MIGHT MOTHER’S CHANGE THE NEXT GENERATION?
By the way they live their lives in front of their children.
1. IN THEIR FAITH.
In God’s perfect will, certainly the father is called to be the spiritual leader of the home. Yet that does not negate the mother’s ability and responsibility in raising their children to come to know Christ and to live a life filled with the Spirit of God.
2 Tim 1:5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
* Paul is writing to his younger disciple and pastor of the church at Ephesus. His encouragement is for Timothy to stand strong in faith.
Paul mentions how Timothy’s spiritual roots run deep.
* Paul mentions his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. These both were Jewish believers under the Old Covenant and eagerly received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord when they first heard the gospel from Paul during his 1st missionary journey.
By the time Paul made it back to Ephesus on his 2nd journey, they had led Timothy to faith in Jesus Christ also. And, during that time between the journeys, Timothy had grown strong in the faith with his reputation being spoken about in Lystra and Iconium.
Just how did these ladies impact young Timothy?
2 Tim 3:14-15 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Because his mother and grandmother read the Scriptures to him throughout his childhood and taught him to study God’s Word and apply it to his life.
** One thing I notice about Timothy’s spiritual development is that there is no mention of his father and grandfather.
** Moms, this tells me that if you will rock the cradle with one hand and read the Word of God while holding the Bible in your other hand, you can lead your children to faith in Jesus Christ and spiritually change your family for many generations.
2. IN THEIR LIFE.
Certainly, God has called all believers to live a Godly life before others. In Titus, Paul gives instructions to older men and women, to younger people, and to servants. Here is what Paul advises of the women.
Titus 2:3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good
Older Women- The average life-span in 1st century Judea (excluding infant mortality) was roughly 40-60 years. So, age 25 years old was basically middle age. So, “older women” would include any woman over 30 but could also refer to any aged married woman.
What does Paul instruct here?
(1) To be reverent. feeling or demonstrating deep and solemn respect for God. They are to live a lifestyle of excellent moral behavior so that they do not dishonor God by living a sinful lifestyle.
(2) To not be a gossip. Gossipers are busybodies that waste their time on earth instead of doing something constructive. And gossiping is akin to murder, because you are destroying (or killing) someone’s reputation and character. I loathe gossip. It is a spiritual cancer that destroys other people and reveals a carnal nature in the one spreading it
(3) To not be a drunkard. Substance abuse destroys not only the person getting stoned, but affects the whole family... especially the children. Children of drunkards and drug abusers are up to 79% more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs themselves. Also, substance abuse destroys your Christian witness in society.
(4) To Teach what is good. Our job as parents is found in Prov 22:6.
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
We are to set a good example and teach our children how to live a Godly life.
3. IN THEIR MARRIAGE.
One of the most important things a mother can do is to teach their daughters how they should have a proper relationship with their husband and children. And, to teach their sons what kind of woman they should look for in a wife.
* Last week we were talking about the subject of marriage at work. And the subject of Lana and me came up. Someone mentioned that I obviously married Lana because she was so pretty and petite. I responded that her looks may have initially attracted me to her, but I didn’t marry her for that. I mentioned 2 reasons.
(1) The way she looked at me as though I was a knight on strong horse that she could give herself to completely.
(2) She reminded me of my Mom. My Mom was submissive to my Father and they had a happy, successful marriage. And I knew that I could never live with a controlling dominating woman.
How does Paul say a wife and mother should be?
Titus 2:4-5 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
What did Paul instruct them to do?
(1) Teach/encourage young women to love their husband.
How is love for the husband expressed? There are many ways to show your feelings for your husband, but there is 1 particular need that husbands have..... to be respected.
* Eph 5 commands the wife to submit herself to her husband. This does not mean to be dominated by, but to honor and respect him. Do not talk down to him and do not talk bad about him.
** Side note- Men are commanded to cherish their wife as Christ cherished the church because that meets her emotional needs.
* Your responsibility is demonstrate to others how a spiritual Christian woman treats her husband.
(2) Love their children.
This love obviously involves nurturing. A complete giving of yourself to make your children better. Therefore, it also involves disciplining your children.
* My mom disciplined us with a hedge switch. Lana disciplined our kids with a wooden soup stirring spoon. Matthew has shared that Lana loved him so much that one day she broke a spoon on his behind.
(3) Take care of the home. (Not talking about housework)
* be sensible- don’t overspend the household budget. I remember Lana wearing 2nd hand clothes while buying our kids new clothes.
* be pure- don’t embarrass your husband and family by wearing inappropriate clothing or carrying on inappropriate relationships.
* be Kind- kindness is more beautiful than a pretty face. Be the kind of woman that loves others and makes all around them feel better.
Paul then gives a reason that older women, wives and mothers should do all of these things.
Titus 2:5b so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Our spiritual responsibility and privilege is to share Christ with all of the world and it must begin in our own homes.
Moms have the unique opportunity to lead their children to faith in God, to train them to live a life pleasing to God, and change the world one life at a time.
I fully believe that the Hand that Rocks the Cradle can change the world.
