Godly Mothers

Godly Mothers

Introduction:

* Today we observe Mother’s Day, a day we have set aside to honor our mothers.

* In 1912, An American writer, Julia Ward Howe, the author of, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", began a movement to set aside a day that the churches honor mothers.

* Julia Howe, was also the first president of the New England Woman Sufferage Association. * Julia Howe is the person that began the custom of wearing a carnation in honor of your mother on Mother’s Day.

* The tradition is, that if your mother is living, you wear a red carnation, and if you mother has already passed away, you wear a white carnation in honor of you mother.

* President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution in Congress on May 9, 1914, recommending that the federal government observe Mother's day. The next year, the president was authorized to proclaim Mother’s Day an annual holiday.

* The Bible mentions many Godly mothers in it pages.

1). Sarah, the mother of Isaac. 2). Rebekah, he mother of Jacob and Esau 3). Jochebed, the mother of Moses. 4). Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. 5). Hannah, the mother of Samuel. 6). Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. 7). Mary, the mother of Jesus. 8). Eunice the mother of Timothy.

I. Godly mothers always put God first. 1 Kings 17:5-24 (KJV)

* Susanna Wesley, Mother of the great Methodist preacher, John Wesley, raised 10 children. * Susanna, a Godly mother, put her time with God first, even with all those children.

* Susanna believed very strongly in daily prayer and if she could not find a private place in the house to pray, she put her apron over her head as a sign to the children to be extra quiet, mom was praying.

5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

A. God called this mother to a life of obscurity to do a job for him.

8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. B. It seemed like what God had called her to do was just too much to ask of her.

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

C. The prophet told her to not be afraid to trust God and go ahead and do what God had called her to do. God would provide. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

D. There came a trial that caused her to doubt God’s love and enabling grace, but she trusted Him anyway.

17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 24 And the woman said to Elijah, E. By her trial this mother, learned that the World of the Lord is truth, and can be trusted.

Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

II. Godly Mothers are priceless. Proverbs 31:10-31 (KJV)

* J. Vernon Mcgee says this passage should be titled “How to choose a wife.”

A. There are no riches that can be compared to a Godly mother.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

* “Virtuous” here means a woman of character, a woman of strength.

B. A Godly mother can be trusted.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

C. A Godly mother is not afraid to work hard.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

* I do not recall any time when I was growing up as a boy that I got up in the morning and found my mother in bed. When I was a boy, by the time I got out of bed, she was up, and breakfast was usually ready and on the table. D. A Godly mother is wise with money. She is not a spendthrift. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

D. A Godly mother will discipline her children. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

E. A Godly mother has compassion on the needy.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

F. A Godly mother puts the needs of her family before her own.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

G. A Godly mother stands behind her husband.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

H. A Godly mother sometimes works outside the home.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

I. A Godly mother is strong in Character, and honorable in her behavior.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

J. A Godly mother teachers her children wisdom and kindness.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

K. A Godly mother is not given to idleness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

L. A Godly mother will be praised by her husband and children.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

M. A Godly mother will fear the Lord.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

* When a young man goes out to choose a wife he is going to mess up if all he looks for in a woman is her beauty. * Many times a young man is fooled by the good looks of a woman with no character.

Proverbs 11:22 (KJV)

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

N. A Godly mother’s works will praise her in the public eye. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Conclusion:

* Are you a Godly mother? If you haven’t been a Godly mother in the past you can start now!

* Do you have a Godly mother? Fulfill the Word of God this morning and honor you mother today on mother’s day, and every other day of the year as well.