The Branch Of Motherhood (Mother's Day, May 14, 2017).

THE BRANCH OF MOTHERHOOD

Text: John 15:1-8

How can we relate Mother’s Day to today’s text, John 15:1 – 8? We can relate Motherhood to today’s text by thinking of Motherhood as a branch on the Vine that Jesus is talking about.

A vine in the words of Jesus serves as a metaphor, a life line to all that grows from it. To be detached from the vine is to die. our fellowship with our Lord. That is what Jesus meant when He said “I am the Vine and you are the branches and apart from Me, you can do nothing”. If we are a child of God, then we are connected with Jesus Christ who is the life-giving vine. This morning, we will take a look at the Branch of Motherhood. If a mother is detached from the fellowship of God, then how can she be fruitful toward God?

The pages of history are filled with those whose lives were fruitful. Consider this small inventory of children whose mothers made a difference. Among the names of some who changed history is Saint Augustine, a church father whose mother prayed for him without ceasing; John Wesley, whose mother Susannah Wesley is known as the mother of Methodism; Karl Barth, a great theologian who by his account was inspired by his mother; General George Patton whose mother, according to Paul Harvey helped him tremendously in his childhood with his reading, writing, and horse –back riding [equestrian skills], and countless others. Insert your own name and consider what your mother did for you! Motherhood is a stewardship that leaves its mark.

MOTHERHOOD IS A STEWARDSHIP

How is it that motherhood is a stewardship? Does it seem odd to call the role of motherhood a stewardship? A steward is a caretaker. 1) Stewardship of motherhood: A steward takes care of things that belong to someone else. 2) Like a shepherd: A good example of stewardship is shepherds taking care of the sheep of their flock. Motherhood is a stewardship. 3) Shaping history: Napoleon once said, “Let France have good mothers and she will have good sons”. [So what happened to Napoleon and his mother’s influence on him, or lack thereof?] Napoleon also said, “The future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother”. [Again, what happened to Napoleon?] (Dr. George Sweeting. Special Sermons For Special Days. Chicago: Moody Press, 1977, p. 63). Consider how the Bible describes the stewardship of parenthood: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV). Proverbs 22:6 help us to see that a child’s discipline effects his or her destiny.

How do Christian mothers view their role of motherhood differently? 1) God’s influence: Christian mothers strive to involve God and His influence all that they do. Christian mothers live their lives striving to be as Christ-like as they can be. 2) Modeling faith: Christian mothers live out their faith in their roles of mothers as they seek to help their children establish two very important things. 3) Staying attached: A branch cannot live if it is detached from the vine (John 15:5). Christian mothers want to teach their children to have roots to keep them grounded in their Christian upbringing so that when they are older they will use their wings responsibly.

How important are roots and wings? To answer that question consider a study that someone once did exploring the difference between those who were raised in Christian homes and those who were not. Look at these two lives and consider how well and how poor the roles of the mothers must have been for these two people and their descendents.

The first person in this study was Jonathon Edwards. He was a minister who had a great deal to do with the Great Awakening. He married a devout Christian young lady. From their union came 729 descendants. “Of these, 300 were ministers, 65 were college professors, 13 were university presidents, 60 were authors of good books, 3 were United States congressmen, and one was vice president of the United States. Most made a significant contribution to society”. (Brian L. Harbour. From Cover To Cover. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1982, p. 118).

The second person in this study was Max Jukes, an unbeliever who lived close to Edwards. “He married an unbeliever and from that union came 1,026 descendants. Of these, 300 died early in life, 100 went to prison for an average of 13 years apiece, 200 were prostitutes, and 100 were alcoholics. The descendants of this man cost the state more than a million dollars to care for them” (Harbour, p. 118).

When we compare these two people and their descendents we cannot help but to ask how did their mothers look at their roles? What kind of stewards were they? What is the difference in the kinds of roots and wings that they established?