MOTHERS...GOD’S PRECIOUS GIFT
Mothers are a precious gift from God. The book of Wisdom (Proverbs) says there is a woman whose “children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.” (Prov. 31:29) Who is this woman? Her name is, “MOTHER,” and she is a precious gift from God, as the next verse reveals: “Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain – but the woman who reverences Yahweh, she shall be praised.” (Prov. 31:30). What are the qualities of a mother who is truly a GIFT from God? There are four of them Id like to mention this morning, each one beginning with the letter of the word, “G-I-F-T”:
G - GRACIOUSNESS
A “precious gift” mother is one who is more concerned with the needs of others than she is for her own needs. She puts her family first, she puts those in need second and herself last. She is gracious and self-giving, not only in the words she speaks, but also in the deeds she does.
Prov. 31:14+15, 27, 21 +20 says: “She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants....She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness....She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet....She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.”
She is gracious to her household, she is gracious to her family, she is gracious to the needy, she is a woman of GRACE – a precious gift from God!
I – INTELLIGENCE
A “precious gift” mother is not just gracious, she is also intelligent, wise, industrious; she not only manages her family well, but also, her finances.
Prov. 31:13+14, 16-19, 24-25 “She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar….She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, Her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle….She makes linen garments and sells them, She supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.”
This description sounds more 21st century than 8th century BC . This is a description of a strong, intelligent woman, who balances her family and business responsibilities well; she is an accomplished seamstress, chef, vineyard keeper and fashion designer. She is a woman of INTELLIGENCE – a precious gift from God!
F – FAITHFULNESS
A “precious gift” mother is gracious, intelligent and faithful. She is faithful to her husband, her family and her God.
Prov. 31:10-12, 25, 17-30 “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life….Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come….She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness….Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Faithfulness is one of the most important qualities to God. The greatest words anyone could hear from God’s lips are, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt. 25:21). It is not our ability that counts with God…but our availability. Do we use the gifts and abilities we have to faithfully serve God and others? A godly mother is a woman of faithfulness – a precious gift from God!
T – TENDERNESS
A “precious gift” mother is tender-hearted, overflowing with love and kindness. She thinks tenderly, speaks tenderly, acts tenderly. Her tenderness is described in the NT this way: “Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude. Love is not easily provoked, it thinks no evil, it does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth….love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…love never fails!” (1 Cor. 13:4-8a). Prov. 31:26 simply says, “she opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Kindness or tenderness is such a way of life for her, that it has become a law. She is a women of TENDERNESS – a precious gift from God!
How should we respond to a precious gift that is given? With thankfulness. First, thank God for giving the precious gift of mothers (especially those mothers who have gone on to be with Him!); second, thank your MOTHER for being a woman of graciousness, intelligence, faithfulness and tenderness. If she has failed in any of these areas, forgive her, if she has excelled, honor her.
Prov. 31:28+31 “Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also praises her. So give her the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Now, I would be remiss if I concluded without mentioning that there is ONE gift God has given which is even more precious than our mothers – the Father’s gift of His one and only Son!
2 Cor. 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”
Inexpressible!!
Rom. 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Eph. 2:8+9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Once again, how should we receive a gift? Should we go out and work as hard as we can to pay for it? No. We should simply receive it by faith with thanksgiving.
John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
You can’t pay for the gift of God’s Son, all you can do is receive Him by faith, and then thank God every day for the salvation, forgiveness and eternal life that are yours in Him!
2 Cor. 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”
Inexpressible!
~Pastor Jim Westervelt
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