SUCCESS - HOW DO WE REALLY DEFINE IT TODAY? THE WORLD HAS ESTABLISHED VARIOUS METHODS FOR US SO THAT WE CAN "CHART" OR KEEP TRACK OF OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
SOME OF THOSE METHODS THE WORLD GIVES US TO USE TO CHART OUR PROGRESS ARE THE JOB’S INCOME, PRESTIGE OF THE POSITION, RETIREMENT PLAN, HEALTH BENEFITS AND THE ROOM IT PROVIDES FOR ADVANCEMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A JOB THAT THE WORLD HAS LEFT OUT OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS. ODD, CONSIDERING IT IS THE MOST REWARDING AND PRESTIGIOUS JOB OF ALL.
HOW COULD THEY OVERLOOK SUCH A JOB? THE REASON THE WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE JOB I’M TALKING ABOUT DOESN’T PAY A SINGLE PENNY IN WAGES, NOR IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF GETTING A PROMOTION, EARNING A RAISE OR A CHANCE AT WINNING EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
I AM TALKING ABOUT BEING A GODLY MOTHER! NOT A WORLDLY MOTHER! NOT A MARTHA STEWART KIND OF MOTHER! NOT A LIVE IN PARTNER WHO BARES OFFSPRING FOR THEIR LOVER.
THE MOTHER I’M TALKING ABOUT IS ONE WHO FEARS AND OBEYS GOD! A MOTHER WHO LOVES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, SEEKS AFTER HIM DAILY, PROFESSES JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR AND THEN MODELS ALL OF THESE THINGS FOR HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A HOME INSTEAD OF A HOUSE.
THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS IS A MODEL OF SUCH A GODLY MOTHER. IF IT IS YOUR DESIRE TO BE A MOTHER OF INFLUENCE THAT LEADS YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR CHILDREN IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD, THEN CONSIDER THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROVERB MOTHER!
THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC IS PURITY. VERSE 10, SAYS THAT THIS WOMAN IS VIRTUOUS. VIRTUOUS IS DEFINED AS ONE WHO IS MORALLY EXCELLENT.
A PROVERB MOTHER IS MORALLY EXCELLENT AND PURE. WHILE NOT PERFECT, SHE KEEPS HERSELF ABOVE REPROACH. SHE HAS HIGH MORAL STANDARDS AND LIVES BY BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES. SHE "PRACTICES WHAT SHE PREACHES." THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC IS PURITY.
THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING TRUSTWORTHY. VERSE 11, SAYS THAT A GODLY MOTHER DOES HER BEST TO MAINTAIN THE FAITH AND TRUST OF HER FAMILY.
THIS CHARACTERISTIC LEAVES NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER OF HER COMMITMENT TO HER HUSBAND AND FAMILY. THIS IS A MOM WHO GUARDS THE PRIVACY OF HER FAMILY.
THIS IS A MOM WHOSE ACTIONS AND WORDS MATCH AT ALL TIMES. THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROVERBS MOTHER IS HER TRUSTWORTHINESS.
THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING COMMITTED. VERSE 12, SAYS THAT SHE LOOKS OUT FOR HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN. SHE DOES NOT ACT OUT OF HER OWN SELFISH AMBITION, BUT DOES THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HER FAMILY.
EVEN IF CIRCUMSTANCES FORCE HER TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME FOR FINANCIAL REASONS, THIS MOM REALIZES THAT HER FIRST PRIORITY IS WAITING FOR HER AT HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY! THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING COMMITTED.
THE FOURTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING DILIGENT. VERSES 13-16, TELLS US THAT A GODLY MOTHER SEES WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR HER FAMILY AND DOES IT!
THIS INVOLVES JUST ABOUT EVERY FACET OF BEING A GODLY MOTHER. WHETHER SHE IS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM OR WORKING A FULL-TIME JOB, SHE ENJOYS HER WORK.
IT GIVES HER PLEASURE TO PROVIDE FOR HER FAMILY. IT DOESN’T MATTER TO HER IF IT IS EARNING AN INCOME OR PREPARING MEALS FOR HER FAMILY AND KEEPING A CLEAN HOME. SHE SEES IT ALL AS AN INVESTMENT TOWARDS HER FAMILY’S FUTURE.
I LIKE VERSE 14 THE MOST BECAUSE IT SAYS A GODLY MOTHER IS LIKE THE SHIP OF A MERCHANT. IN OTHER WORDS, SHE LOVES TO GO SHOPPING FOR HER FAMILY! THE FOURTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING DILIGENT.
THE FIFTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING POSITIVE. A GODLY MOTHER IS AN OPTIMIST! VERSES 17-19 SAYS THIS MOM WORKS ENERGETICALLY AND WITH VIGOR BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT WHAT SHE IS DOING IS REALLY FOR HER FAMILY.
VERSE 18 SAYS HER LAMP DOES NOT GO OUT MEANING THAT SHE IS ALWAYS PLANNING AHEAD. THIS KIND OF MOM DOESN’T HESITATE TO BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL IF IT WILL BE PROFITABLE OR BENEFICIAL FOR HER FAMILY. THE FIFTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING POSITIVE.
THE SIXTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING COMPASSIONATE. VERSES 19-21 SAYS A GODLY MOTHER PROVIDES NOT ONLY FOR HER FAMILY BUT FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE.
SHE IS SELFLESS AND GENEROUS AND HER COMPASSION FOR OTHERS IS EVIDENT. SHE IS THE TYPE THAT WILL EVEN SELL SOME OF HER OWN POSSESSIONS AND GIVE THE PROCEEDS TO THE POOR AND NEEDY. THE SIXTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING COMPASSIONATE.
THE SEVENTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING DIGNIFIED. VERSES 22-27 MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS THE MOTHER’S CHARACTER THAT EARNS HER RESPECT FROM OTHERS.
SHE IS NOT IDLE, LAZY OR DEPENDENT UPON OTHERS TO PROVIDE FOR HER FAMILY. SHE CONDUCTS HERSELF IN PUBLIC TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT IT BRINGS HER FAMILY HONOR INSTEAD OF EMBARRASSMENT.
SHE IS WISE AND GRACIOUS IN HER SPEECH BECAUSE SHE USES GOOD, PRACTICAL COMMON SENSE. HER KIND AND FAITHFUL INSTRUCTION IF FOUND TO BE VERY RELIABLE. THE SEVENTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING DIGNIFIED.
THE LAST AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GODLY MOTHER IS THAT SHE IS HONORED! VERSES 28-31 SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!
THE BEST MEASURE OF YOUR SUCCESS AS A MOTHER IS HOW YOUR CHILDREN AND HUSBAND RESPECT YOU AND TALK ABOUT YOU TO OTHER PEOPLE.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND ATTRACTIVENESS ARE NOT THE DETERMINING FACTORS OF WHAT MAKES A GODLY WOMAN BEAUTIFUL. THIS KIND OF MOTHER SURPASSES ALL OTHER WOMEN BECAUSE OF THE WAY HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN RISE UP AND PRAISE HER.
SHE RECEIVES THIS PRAISE BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER HER TO BE OF SO MUCH VALUE TO THEM THAT THEY WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY LOVE HER. THE LAST CHARACTERISTIC OF A GODLY MOTHER IS HER HONOR!
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROVERB MOTHER! HARD WORK, WISE INVESTMENTS, GOOD USE OF TIME, PLANNING AHEAD, CARE FOR OTHERS, RESPECT FOR ONE’S SPOUSE, ABILITY TO SHARE GODLY VALUES WITH OTHERS, WISE COUNSEL, AND GODLY FEAR.
AS PROVERBS HAS STATED REPEATEDLY, THESE ARE QUALITIES THAT LEAD TO HONOR, PRAISE, SUCCESS, PERSONAL DIGNITY AND WORTH, AND ENJOYMENT OF LIFE.
THIS MOTHER’S DAY, IF YOU HAVEN’T STARTED, THEN BEGIN BUILDING UPON ALL THESE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROVERBS 31 MOTHER.
IF YOU’VE ALREADY STARTED THEN CONTINUE BUILDING UPON ALL THESE CHARACTERISTICS SO THAT YOU CAN BE HONORED AND CHERISHED BY NOT ONLY YOUR FAMILY, BUT ALL WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY!
