am051307-Mother's Day - The Real Job
MOTHERHOOD IS A
‘REAL JOB’!
A recent survey among teens has found that their greatest concern is not global warming, it is not the war in Iraq nor drugs, racism or the economy; it is the breakdown of the home.
Most of you this morning would be familiar with the Ten Commandments and the fifth one that states…
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. (staying in the land was based on obedience to God’s law)
God repeats this command in the New Testament stating that we are to honor our mother and the promise is to those who do will have longevity of life as a principle.
The Hebrew word for ‘honor’ means one who as attained the right to be honored. It was an offense in the Hebrew culture to honor someone who lacked character. It is an offense to a child to be made to honor a parent who has no character. One must obey parents because of their authority over them but honor is granted based on character of the parent.
This is a national tragedy today because we often honor people for their skills and achievements but often they have no integrity or character. Our culture learns to honor skills and achievements rather than integrity and character.
Mothers, your children are commanded to honor you but your responsibility is to live godly so that you are worthy of their honor! How do you establish a life by which they willing and purposely honor you?
Moms, during the formative years of your children you are the major architect of the next generation and future generations. You and your husband are the ones who are to carry out God’s design and supervise your child’s life under His guidance. God has entrusted to you the wet cement to form the child’s life to please Him.
Mom, your child’s early formative years (birth to 12) are designed by God so that you have the greater impact on your child.
I want to share 3 principles to assist you in your ‘real job’.
Principle 1: To know and minister God’s plan for your child. As a parent here is your mission statement concerning your child.
To lay the foundation for your child to become a mature disciple in Christ Jesus so that his restored relationship with the Trinity and his fellowman are for God’s pleasure.
Proverbs 1:7-8
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
Principle 2: To teach your child he is accountable to you, those in authority in society, and ultimately to God.
- Accountable to you
Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) (honor because you have seen the value of your mother’s life), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
- Accountable to have a right relationship with God and his fellowman – to please God.
Matthew 22:37-39
37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
- he is separated from God because he has inherited Adam’s nature to sin and does sin. Rom 3:23 (for all have sinned…)
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- choices and actions have consequences Ephesians 6:1-3; Romans 14:12; Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15,17
Proverbs 29:15-17
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. 16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall. 17 Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul.
Principle 3: To teach your teen what is ‘real’ life.
- God has declared and delivered in written form absolute truth. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- God’s truth will cause tension between you and your teen. It is God’s design to establish boundaries.
You don’t fix your child’s wrongs (traffic tickets, home and school difficulties), you never let your child get off! Wrongs that are fixed will destroy a child’s understanding of sin and consequences.
Matthew 10:34-39
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross (Christ’s right and authority over your life) and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
God’s purpose is not for your teen to experience the ‘American dream’ (great job; wealth; hassle free); but to experience ‘real life’ (through trials, pressures, difficulties, loss of job, etc) dependent on God to forge your teen into a mature disciple that has only one goal – bring pleasure to God!
The Challenge:
Mom, this is what God had in mind when He commanded your child to honor you today. It is based on your integrity and character in assisting them to develop a pattern of life in which they have the foundation to become a mature disciple in Christ Jesus.
Mom, by influencing and training your child to become a mature disciple of Christ, you impact future generations through your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren.
Mom, as a mature disciple of Christ, God has given you all the wisdom and energy to properly raise your child to be a mature disciple in Christ Jesus.
Mom, your real job brings God pleasure and has eternal rewards.
Children, teens, adult children; it is my prayer that you today will have the privilege to honor your mother.