M.O.T.H.E.R

Introduction

-Ever heard of a jack of all trades? Yeah, they must have been thinking of moms when they came up with that saying.

-Lemuel info: Foreign king (that’s it).

He listened to his mother’s advice about the kind of woman he should search for.

I. M - Manager (v. 13-14, 16-19, 24-28)

Oh the picture we get of a hardworking woman. Someone who understands the value of work and is willing to roll up the sleeves and contribute. Someone who understands the needs of her husband and kids, who ascertains the tides of the economy, and dives into the nitty-gritty. Her labor is not in vain.

Her hands do work that few others can do. Whether it is a labor of love or investment, she works without complaint, knowing that she is providing for the needs of her family.

Oh the beauty of her household. A well-labored house might be messy, it might look unkempt, weeds may be growing in the flower beds, the grass might be longer than it should, different parts of the house need fixed and updated, but the household is more than a wooden frame with a roof. Success is not a perfectly clean home but family that is loved and growing (v. 25-28).

Wives, moms, grandmoms, we see that you don’t eat the bread of idleness. You fulfill God’s design by being diligent in managing your household in all the ways you do it. In the mundane tasks of life your husband sees your labor, your kids see your work, all see your character and are encouraged by your effort. We may not say it enough, but thank you is always in our hearts.

Today, we praise and bless you for all you do in managing life. God has blessed you with perseverance beyond compare and the skills to navigate the difficult balance of providing and caring. We thank you for the managers that you are.

II. O - Optimistic (v. 18, 21, 25).

Optimism is different than positivity (which says everything is good even when they are not). Some say, “I’m not a pessimist, I’m a realist.” “Optimism is not the denial of reality” -Simon Sinek. Being a realist simply means you are observing the facts, taking the situation for what it is. Optimism and Pessimism are perspectives, a mindset of the situation. An optimist tends to look for the positive things in a situation, whereas, the pessimist sees the negative first. Both can be realists, the difference lies in perspective.

We see in our text that women of virtue tend to be optimistic. (v. 25) Notice, she smiles at the future. It takes strength and dignity to endure life, she wears them like clothes and is able to persevere and even see the good in difficult circumstances. Proverbs 31:21 “She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.” The woman of virtue is not afraid of what tomorrow might bring, she observes it and prepares. She knows she has enough. (v. 18) she perceives her merchandise is profitable. Even in an economy that can be uncertain, she does her due diligence and her electricity is still on through the night. She loses nothing and gains everything.

Our days may be filled with stress from the job site, too many school events, not enough time for homework, honey-do lists that keep piling up; and the encouragement of an optimistic woman helps us get through the struggles. She acts as the support beam for the family and holds it all together. No matter how dark and drear things may seem, she always finds a way to smile at the future.

III. T - Trustworthy (v. 11-12, 23)

Growing up, my dad taught me many life lessons. One of the things he talked about often was the kind of woman I should look for. There were plenty of good qualities to be on the lookout for. A statement that really stuck with me was, “Don’t marry a project.” You don’t want to marry someone who is a loose cannon, someone who you’re scared will say something horrible behind your back, someone that you feel you have to be restrained around. His lesson was really, “Marry someone you can trust completely.”

Someone who doesn’t talk behind your back but will support you the whole way. Someone who will make life better, not more challenging. Someone who can fight on the front lines with you instead of feeling like she is on the opposite team. A trustworthy woman is one who keeps her word, who is supportive, encouraging, selfless, and capable.

We are thankful for the trustworthy women in our lives. It is these relationships that give us the confidence to go and achieve greatness (v. 23). We trust the women in our lives and promise to earn the same trust in return by our own faithfulness, sincerity, and honesty. Philippians 2:1–5 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,” God has proved Himself trustworthy and I pray we all strive to grow in these areas as well.

IV. H - Hospitable (v. 15, 20-22)

Life is often unpredictable. The easy thing to do is set your eyes on a single mission and accomplish it, no matter what inconveniences pop up. The hard thing is to treat inconveniences as opportunities. The flexibility of a person to look at the needs of others and give is one that can be learned, but the attitude of joy and gratitude that goes with it takes humility and grace. This is the woman of hospitality.

One who not only is willing to give to those in need, but looks for an opportunity to give, and not only looks for the opportunity but prepares for it. The unforeseen does not strike fear and create stress for she prepares herself to give and help. Patience, love, and selflessness are qualities our moms and wives possess. Sometimes it’s learned through trials, other times they are born with it. It matters not where they learned hospitality, we desire to thank them for it.

We search for ways to say thank you that are more than just words. We desire to display our gratitude through service and gifts of our own. Our moms and wives sacrifice so much that we want to give back. Knowing that Jesus is the ultimate example, giving His life for ours, so we give our lives (in death and life) to serve and lift up the women who give of themselves.

V. E - Excellent (v. 10)

Excellent meaning competent, brave, strong, upper class, power. A person whose worth is more than monetary value. Her presence, character, and contributions cause her to be priceless. Nothing could replace the kind of person she is. One who is trustworthy, an outstanding manager, a loving, hospitable, helpful person who is the backbone of the relationship. A person you can depend on.

A virtuous, worthy woman is someone who changed our lives for the better and we would be remiss to undervalue her. Moms, wives, grandmothers, life would not be the same without you. Your Godly character, your faithfulness to Christ and the family, your patient example, give you a worth far more than rubies. God created you with an excellence that is paramount.

We remember back at creation when God went through each day and made something good. He made the light and said it was good, the sky and sea and it was good, the land, the sun, moon, and stars, plants, and animals; it was all good. When God made man from the dust of the earth He said, “It is not good… for man to be alone.” Creation was only complete when woman was made and given to the man so they could live life together. Excellent indeed.

We take a moment today to recognize God’s wisdom and blessing through wives, moms, and grandmoms. His design is excellent and we are thankful for the value you add to our lives.

VI. R - Reverent (v. 29-31)

Reverence or fear is having the utmost respect or awe for something, or in this case, for someone. There is a beauty that goes deeper than skin, there is a nobility that is more virtuous than good, there is a work that produces more than a career, there is a praise that is more holy than men’s. It all begins with a reverence for God. The woman who is led by faith, chasing the God of Creation, serving the Son of the Most of the High, walking by the Spirit, growing in grace and humility, and developing in Christlikeness is a woman whose virtue is worth far more than every precious metal known to man.

We are not asking for perfection nor is God. He craves the believer who sacrifices their hobbies, their pleasure, their lives for Him. We sing the song, “I surrender all” and when that is more than just a song, when that is our reality, God leads us, blesses us, and praises us in more ways than we can imagine. Our virtuous wives lead by example.

Never discredit the impact of a Godly woman. True beauty lies in a holy disposition. It is that character that instills a good manager of the household, that ensures trust, who develops hospitality, who proves excellent, and is one who can lead the lost to Christ. 1 Peter 3:1–4 “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

Conclusion

We want to take a moment to praise God for the Managers, the Optimists, the Trustworthy, the Hospitable, the Excellent, and the Reverent among us. Or, as we lovingly refer to them, M.O.T.H.E.R. Happy Mother’s Day and continue to grow in the Godly virtues that we already see.