“The Godly Mother’s Contribution”
Prov. 24:3-4; 2 Tim. 1:3-7
By
Dr. Steven G. Cook
I. Introduction
Origin of Mother’s Day –
In a small Methodist church in Grafton, WV, a Sunday school teacher named Anna Reeves Jarvis, decided to honor mothers. Her daughter actually is credited with getting the town of Grafton to celebrate the first Mother’s Day in 1907. In 1909 the city of Philadelphia decided to pick up on the idea and celebrate a day honoring mothers. Finally, on May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as the official celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States.
A. Prov. 24:3-4 - “Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
B. In our text this morning, we find 3 Vital Characteristics of building
of home:
1. Wisdom 2. Understanding 3. Knowledge
C. Abraham Lincoln once said, “No man is poor who had a godly
mother.”
D. Motherhood today is not viewed as it once was - Today there are many in our society that believe that motherhood is something that prevents women from fulfilling their “total potential”; some argue that motherhood suppresses women’s rights; Motherhood is often disrespected in the United States to a large degree.
E. Today, there is much talk about “soccer moms” and “working moms” and “den moms” - but the world no longer is interested in “godly moms”.
F. Our text mentions 3 Vital Characteristics of Godly Motherhood.
G. One man said that the greatest translation he ever saw was his mother’s translation which she lived during his lifetime.
H. Timothy had such a translation to read in his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois.
I. Read 2 Timothy 1:3-7
II. Timothy’s Godly Mother & Grandmother (2 Tim. 1:3-7)
A. Let me first of all state emphatically - Though this sermon deals
with the topic of “Motherhood”, there is something that we all can
learn from the Word of God.
B. Paul reflects upon the importance of Timothy’s mother and grand-
mother and their influence upon his life.
C. Illustration - “Only God Can Count the Apples in Each Seed”
D. Raising children is a difficult thing -
1. The Law of Heredity states that all undesirable traits come
from the other parent!
2. If you don’t want your children to know what you are saying,
pretend that you are talking to them.
3. There was never a child so lovely but his mother was not glad
to see him asleep (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
4. If your wife doesn’t treat you as she should, BE THANKFUL!
III. 5 Contributions Timothy’s Mother Made in the Home
A. Revealed Tenderness - (vs. 4)
1. Timothy was a man given to shedding tears.
2. No doubt Timothy learned this tenderness from his mother.
3. In our society, the father is often negligent in showing emotions to their children.
4. Illustration - Cosie’s tenderness for others.
5. Today, there is a movement from HELL that is teaching our mothers to be hard, tough, and invincible!
6. God have mercy on our society that is moving away from the Biblical teachings and moving toward such paganism and barbarianism.
7. What has become of our society when there is no tenderness?
8. Today, the role models of our children are anything by godly.
9. One man said, “The world’s idea of a man is a person who is built like Tarzan; looks like Jane; and acts like Cheeta!”
10. Timothy had a godly mother who taught him tenderness!
B. Practical Faith - (vs. 5)
1. The word “unfeigned” literally means “sincere; without hy-
pocrisy; genuine”.
2. Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him that Faith
was more than just “Lip-Service” or something one talks
about at Sunday School!
3. Children often have parents who pour facts & words into their
heads, but they see a different life being lived by mom & dad.
4. Deut. 6:20-25 - Israel was told by God to APPLY Truth!
5. Mothers who teach their children about “Practical Faith” do so by being living epistles - living examples of Faith!
6. WHY??? (vs. 6) YOUR child might just become a Timothy or an apostle Paul or some other great man or woman of God!
7. ALL Christians have a spiritual gift that must be nurtured and developed by the teaching of God’s Word.
C. Spiritual Confidence (vs. 7a)
1. It is by godly mothers that many great men and women of God
have had the confidence to step out in Faith in service.
2. Paul states that God has not given us the “spirit of fear”, yet
we all know that often we experience such fear.
3. No doubt these fears are from Satan himself, who would desire
that we fail to serve God.
4. Godly Mothers help instill such confidence in the Lord.
5. All Believers are given the greatest of all powers living in our hearts - The Holy Spirit of God.
6. Illustration - “Sandra Day O’Connor” - 1st Supreme Court Justice was reared by Harry & Ada Mae Day - Too poor to send her to school, so mother taught her and got her newspaper to read - finally they could afford to send her to boarding school and she continued to develop into a great lawyer.
D. Godly Love (vs. 7b)
1. Where does one learn to love?? Godly Mothers & God’s Word.
2. It is not the nature of human beings to love others the way that God would have us to love others.
3. A mother is the greatest “human example” of sacrifice and love that can be witnessed.
4. READ Isa. 49:15 - Although a “Mother’s Love” is considered by God to be great - It is still not “Perfect”.
5. Only the LOVE of GOD is PERFECT!!!
6. The greatest example of God’s Love is the Cross of Calvary!
7. Read Rom. 8:35-39
E. Godly Discipline (vs. 7c)
1. Paul says that we are given to a “Sound Mind” which literally
means that we are “Balanced; Given to Control; Disciplined.”
2. It is a sad thing to see an immature Christian acting like a lost
person in public!
3. Godliness is taught - That’s why God gave us a BIBLE to read.
4. Mothers that are godly teach their children to obey; teach what the Word of God has to say about living; teach their children how important it is to APPLY the Principles of God’s Word to their every day lives.
5. No wonder Paul mentions the Godly Grandmother & Mother of Timothy in vs. 5 - How Important It Is For Children to SEE with their own eyes the Godliness of Others in Action!
IV. Conclusion
A. God Help Us ALL to Be BETTER EXAMPLES for Others.
B. Christ Has Dealt with Us in Similar Fashion -
1. He Has Revealed Tenderness to Us
2. He Has Demonstrated Sincere or “Unfeigned Faith”
3. He Has Illustrated Confidence in Power of Spirit
4. He Has Shown Us the Greatest LOVE of ALL
5. He Has Demonstrated Self-less Discipline as He Seeks the Good of Others.
C. Jesus said, “I came not to be ministered unto, but to Minister
(serve), and to give Myself a ransom for all.”
D. How Do YOU Feel About Serving Others??? How Do YOU
Measure Up to the Word of God in Relation to YOUR Chil-
dren? To Others?
E. Even if YOU are NOT a parent, surely there is someone that YOU
can be of help to!
