Is It Well, Mother?
2 Kings 4:26-37
26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ’Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ " And she answered, "It is well."
Introduction
Have you seen the bumper sticker with the saying
"If Mommas not Happy No Bodies Happy? Our daughters and I used to laugh at that slogan. But it is very true in our home; and I dare to say it is true in your home. I believe the man is the head of the house, but Momma is the head of the home.
In verse 26 of the text the text the Prophet Elijah ask a lady; ". . . Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ " And she answered, "It is well.""
What does "Is it well" mean? The "word well" is SHALOM In the Hebrew language. So Elijah wanted to know; was all together, and at peace with her and her family members.?
To those of you who are mothers today I want to ask the questions to you that the Prophet asked years ago.
1. Mother Is It Well with . . You.
Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ " And she answered, "It is well."
A. Is It Well With You . . Physically.
Job 1:12 And the Lord replied to Satan, "You may do anything you like with his wealth, but don’t harm him physically." TLB
B. Is It Well With You . . Mentally.
1 Cor 2:16 But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ. TLB
C. Is It Well With You . . Spiritually.
1 Tim 4:8 Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. TLB
The Spiritual Life of . . Bible Study.
The Spiritual Life of . . Prayer.
The Spiritual Life of . . Witnessing.
Illustration
There lived at one time in England a remarkable women. She had nineteen children. Their infant life was regulated by method. Their sleep was meted out by rule. Each child on its fifth birthday began to have regular lessons. The mother was herself the teacher of all the children, younger and older. She had marvelous ability, wonderful patience, and her success in the training and education of her children has won for her an unquestionable place among great mothers-- Susan Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, we might add, Mother of Methodism.
2. Mother Is It Well with . . Your Husband.
"Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ " And she answered, "It is well.""
A. Is It Well With Him . . Physically.
Job 1:12 And the Lord replied to Satan, "You may do anything you like with his wealth, but don’t harm him physically." TLB
Illustration Punctuation
An English professor wrote the words "Woman without her man is a savage" on the blackboard and directed his students to punctuate it correctly.
The men wrote: "Woman, without her man, is a savage."The women wrote: "Woman! Without her, man is a savage." Bits & Pieces, March 2, 1995, p. 2
Illustration You Look Pretty Good Too
Soon after our last child left home for college, my husband was resting next to me on the couch with his head in my lap. I carefully removed his glasses, And I said sweetly "You know, honey without your glasses you look like the same handsome young man I married."
Honey," he replied with a grin, "without my glasses, you still look pretty good too!"
Valerie L. Runyan, in December, 1992, Reader’s Digest
B. Is It Well With Him . . Mentally.
1 Cor 2:16 How could he? For certainly he has never been one to know the Lord’s thoughts, or to discuss them with him, or to move the hands of God by prayer. But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ. TLB
Illustration Understanding Each Other
A man is a person who, if a woman says, "Never mind, I’ll do it myself," lets her.
A woman is a person who, if she says to a man, "Never mind, I’ll do it myself," and he lets her, gets mad.
A man is a person who, if a woman says to him, "Never mind, I’ll do it myself," and he lets her and she gets mad, says, "Now what are you mad about?
A woman is a person who, if she says to a man, "Never mind, I’ll do it myself," and he lets her, and she gets mad, and he says, "Now what are you mad about?" says, "If you don’t know I’m not going to tell you." Source unknown
C. Is It Well With Him . . Spiritually.
1 Tim 4:8 Bodily exercise is all right, but
spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. TLB
The Spiritual Life of . . Bible Study.
The Spiritual Life of . . Prayer.
The Spiritual Life of . . Witnessing.
3. Mother Is It Well with . . Your Child.
Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ " And she answered, "It is well."
A. Is It Well With the Child . . Physically.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ is in you, the body is
dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. NKJV
B. Is It Well With the Child . . Mentally.
1 Cor 2:16 But, strange as it seems, we
Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ. TLB
C. Is It Well With the Child . . Spiritually.
1 Tim 4:8 Bodily exercise is all right, but
spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. TLB
The Spiritual Life of . . Bible Study.
The Spiritual Life of . . Prayer.
The Spiritual Life of . . Witnessing.
Illustration Mama’s Boy \Cares of Hewett, Illust. Unlimited, p. 376.
A mother was concerned about her only son going off to college. She wrote the following letter to the college president:
"Dear Sir: My son has been accepted for admission to your college and soon he will be leaving me. I am writing to ask that you give your personal attention to the selection of his roommate. I want to be sure that his roommate is not the kind of person who uses foul language, or tells off-color jokes, smokes, drinks, or chases after girls.
I hope you will understand why I am appealing to you directly. You see, this is the first time my son will be away from home, except for his three years in the Marine Corps."
Illustration HUMOR
A Sunday School teacher asked her pupils, "Now, children, do you all say your prayers at night?"
A little boy answered: "My MUMMY says my prayers." "I see," said the teacher, "and what does your Mummy SAY?"
"Well she says lots of things, but as she leaves the room she says:
THANK YOU LORD, HE’S FINALLY IN BED!"
Susannah Wesley’s Rules For Raising Children:
1. Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together
with God to save his soul.
2. Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak.
3. Give him nothing he cries for and only what is
good for him if he asks for it politely.
4. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely
confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful
act to go unnoticed.
5. Commend and reward good behavior.
6. Strictly observe all promises you have make to
your child. Source unknown
The rest of the story
27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me." 28 So she said, "Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ’Do not deceive me’?" 29 Then he said to Gehazi, "Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child." 30 And the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, "The child has not awakened." 32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.
34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.
35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite woman." So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, "Pick up your son." 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out. NKJV
