Mother's Day '21

Did you watch the Kentucky Derby last Saturday? There was a horse running that race born to a momma that was unable to produce milk for him initially. Less than a year after he was foaled, he was sold for the minimum $1,000 (meaning he only received a single bid) at the Ocala Breeder’s Sale. He eventually ended up with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. 7 Derby wins.

If a horse can do it, how much better can you? Never let your past determine your worth.

The declining influence of the church on our society has caused a serious decline in the quality of the family unit. One of the marks of our post-Christian world is a disintegration of the nuclear family. Our culture suffers from a lack of quality parenting.

When human reasoning tries to take the place of Biblical truth for setting the boundaries for the home and family, failure is imminent. By contrast; a Christian sees the home, and marriage, and parenting as framed within the context of Scripture. And the truth of God’s Word should not only shape our beliefs and practices in all areas of life, but it is the absolute which guide us through life. And so our opinions and beliefs can only be legitimately Christian, to the degree that they line up with God’s Word. The problem is that today, our minds have been darkened by secularism and sin, and a lot of folks can’t tell if something is Biblical or secular at all.

We expect this from the world, but we’re actually seeing the same thing within the Church as well. The trend is the Church acknowledges the sufficiency of God and the Bible, but fails to see a need to subject our personal opinions, reasoning, and emotions to the guidelines of Scripture in all areas of life, including what happens in the home. We read something like Romans 12:2 which says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” And we think that only applies to our moral behavior, but not to things like marriage, or raising kids. Instead; we leave those things up to pop psychologists and talk show hosts. Church, ALL of our relationships should be directed by the truth of Scripture, whether in education, finances, political involvement, our jobs, our marriages, or parenting.

Having said all that, please turn with me to Proverbs 31:10 – 31

Now before I get into this passage, catch this: The word or phrase that’s translated as “virtuous” in the NKJV, or “Of noble character” in the NIV is the Hebrew word “chayil” which literally means “strength and valor, and in all ways excellent.” Throughout the Bible this word is translated as able or capable 8 times, it’s translated as strength 10 times and as valiant over 40 times. And basically it refers to moral strength, integrity and efficiency.

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,

And willingly works with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

She brings her food from afar.

15 She also rises while it is yet night,

And provides food for her household,

And a portion for her maidservants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,

And her lamp does not go out by night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hand holds the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor,

Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,

For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes tapestry for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Now as we look through these verses, we get a good understanding of what the writer meant by “virtuous.” There are at least 5 qualities there… there might be more, but I see five.

1. If you look at verses 11, 12 and 23, you’ll see that she is trustworthy and devoted. She has her husband’s confidence, and she enhances his reputation.

2. She is a woman of diligence and wisdom. We see that in verses 13 – 19. She’s not afraid to work, she’s a wise shopper, and she plans ahead.

3. She is a giving/generous person. Verse 20 says that she extends her hand to the poor. In other words, she has planned ahead well enough to be able to not only take care of the family’s needs, but also the needs of the poor in her society.

4. She is dependable. We see that in verses 15, 21, 27. When adversity comes, be it bad weather, or something else… you know she’s already got a plan to deal with whatever it might be.

5. And lastly; she is a woman who loves the Lord. We see that by reading all the verses of our text. She is someone who is guided and directed by God’s Word and God’s wisdom.

Now ladies, you might read through that and say to yourselves, “This isn’t describing a woman, its describing Super Woman!” And that’s actually a pretty good assessment. It’s describing a woman who is living in a supernatural way with a supernatural God. And it has to be that way because there are few things that are more important to society than godly mothers. The Bible is clear in its teachings, both explicit and implicit, that the family is the foundation of society. And while fathers are responsible for the way the family goes, mothers are the glue that holds the family together.

And you may be sitting there thinking “I identify with that horses’ momma more than I do the one you just described”. You may be recounting your failures in raising your children. Or you may be reliving your mother’s failures. Let me speak one more bit of truth into your life this morning. Let’s go to Ephesians 1 together.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

He chose us

He sees us as holy and blameless before Him

He was pleased to adopt us

He made us ACCEPTED

In Christ, we have been redeemed, forgiven

He aims the riches of His grace at us

In Christ, we have an inheritance

He gave us the promised Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our inheritance until we take possession of it!

Did that describe a failure or success? Nothing in the wording of Ephesians 1 points to failure. It does describe how God sees us, and none of it includes failure! You are His masterpiece! Maybe you cant see it yet, but if you’ll re-focus on the truth of His Word instead of what this wretched culture says about you, you can!