Honor Your Mother
Pastor Jason Soto
Mother's Day • Sermon • Submitted
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CPT: A wife of noble character is precious and to be praised.
Purpose: To encourage the mother’s in our congregation on the value of motherhood.
CPS: A godly mother is valuable and worthy of honor.
A godly mother is hard-working for her family.
A godly mother is smart with resources for her family.
A godly mother teaches her family wisdom.
A godly mother blesses her family through her fear of the Lord.
Introduction
Happy Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful mothers in our congregation. Happy Mother’s Day to my wife, the wonderful mother of our two boys. This month is not only Mother’s Day, but its the month of our 25th wedding anniversary. The Lord has blessed me and our family with my wife Jeannette.
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom. My parents watch every week from New York. And this is a special Mother’s Day in the Soto household. My sister just became a first-time mom to twins! So this is her first Mother’s Day to twins, a boy and a girl.
Mothers play an important part of the faith formation of children.
A recent study from the Barna group found that, according to this poll, mothers more than fathers are commonly seen today as the confidants, providers of support, and drivers of faith formation. Fathers, we need to do a better job!
In this study: Mothers were seen as the primary activity and conversation partner for teens. Teens tend to go to mom for tough conversations and personal support. Mothers were often seen as the main spiritual coaches for teens.
Mothers play an important role in our homes and in our church. What does the Bible say about mothers? What does the Bible say about the value of a godly mother? We will be in Proverbs 31, starting in verse 10.
Scripture Reading
10 Who can find a wife of noble character? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and portions for her female servants.
16 She evaluates a field and buys it; she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
17 She draws on her strength and reveals that her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her profits are good, and her lamp never goes out at night.
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all in her household are doubly clothed.
22 She makes her own bed coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes and sells linen garments; she delivers belts to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women have done noble deeds, but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor, and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Pray
This text in Proverbs 31 revolves around this picture of a wife of noble character as valuable and worthy of honor.
10 Who can find a wife of noble character? She is far more precious than jewels.
NKJV: A virtuous wife; NASB: An excellent wife; NLT: A virtuous and capable wife; AMP: A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman
This is an incredible woman. Is this wife a mother?
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her:
The description in Proverbs 31 is one of a godly mother. A godly mother is valuable and worthy of honor. What does this text teach about being a valuable and honorable godly mother?
There are four things we see in this text about being a godly mother.
A godly mother is hard-working for her family.
A godly mother is hard-working for her family.
State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point
The description in Proverbs 31 of a godly mother is one who works hard for her family. There are three aspects of her hard work. Her work is done willingly, it is not always seen, and is attentive to her family’s needs.
Her work is done willingly: Prov. 31:13
13 She selects wool and flax and works with willing hands.
The Bible often refers to our heart motivation. Shearing wool and picking flax was a labor-intensive task done to do things like make clothing. It was a process in this time with your hands. He describes the hard work of the mother as someone who is willing. The word here could also be translated as “delight.” A godly woman has a joy in her work.
Her work is not always seen: Prov. 31:14-15
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and portions for her female servants.
Think of a merchant ship coming in with all kinds of goods. It took all kinds of man hours to get the food onto that ship, and then more work from the crew to get the shipment there on time. But you don’t see that work. It just appears on your shore. In the same way, he describes a godly mother getting up when no one sees, in the dark, to take care of her household. For a godly mother, lots of her work that blesses the family is unseen.
Her work is attentive to her family’s needs: Prov. 31:27
27 She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
A godly woman is watchful over her family. The work of a mother is never over. It takes work to be watchful, to observe, to know what is happening with your family.
If you took a mother’s role and made it a job description, you would have a long list of different specialties. One site broke up a mother’s role into twelve different job positions, and I think there may be more. But for the twelve roles, they described the role of mother as personal chef, head cheerleader, housekeeper, taxi driver, janitor, personal shopper, tutor, nurse, keeper of secrets, hair stylist, storyteller, and mediator.
Those are just some of the duties many mothers carry in their family. We are so thankful for the willingness and attentiveness of hard-working mothers.
A godly mother is hard-working for her family.
Second,
A godly mother is smart with resources for her family.
A godly mother is smart with resources for her family.
State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point
This is an interesting point in this text, and it revolves around the resources, both financial and otherwise, that are in a family home. Look at how it describes this godly woman in her home.
She is shrewd with her resources: Prov. 31:16; 24
16 She evaluates a field and buys it; she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
also
24 She makes and sells linen garments; she delivers belts to the merchants.
This godly mother is financially savvy. She has a good business sense, investing in a field and making a vineyard, and selling garments to merchants. She is attentive to opportunities, and invests wisely. Overall, a godly mother has wise judgment with her resources.
She is merciful with her resources: Prov. 31:20
20 Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy.
With resources comes responsibility, and a godly mother is merciful with what she has. She is attentive to her family, having a business sense with resources, but is also merciful with what she has, being an example to her family of being merciful to others.
She saves her resources for her family: Prov. 31:21
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all in her household are doubly clothed.
In some Bibles you may see the word “scarlet” for doubly clothed, but the context is that this godly mother has prepared her family with quality clothing for the cold winter. The idea is that a godly mother saves and prepares her resources for a difficult time to protect her family.
Many of us face difficulties with the limited resources we have. A godly mother will take the little she has and find a way to provide for her family.
I heard of a story of one woman who’s little daughter was upset because her book bag was broken, and she was being made fun of in school. The mother was completely broke, but had a gift in sewing. She took some of her old clothes, cut them up, and surprised her daughter with a new bag in the morning.
One author stated it this way,
“Resourcefulness is the key ingredient to overcome obstacles and difficulties.”
God give us all a limited amount of resources. Godliness includes using the resources God has given us wisely.
A godly mother is hard-working for her family.
A godly mother is smart with resources for her family.
Transition
A godly mother teaches her family wisdom.
A godly mother teaches her family wisdom.
State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point
The book of Proverbs speaks quite a bit about a mother’s teaching. You can see a mother’s teaching in at least three ways.
Her teaching comes through optimism and love: Prov. 31:25-26
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
The term “she can laugh at the time to come” is translated in other translations as she has delight about the future. There is an optimistic joy about what is to come, and she teaches her children through her optimism. Her optimism is her strength and her joy. A godly mother knows that in the end, God is in control. She guides her family with love and kindness. Wisdom comes through loving and kind words.
Her teaching guides and corrects: Prov. 6:20-22
20 My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.
21 Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.
Don’t think the Bible says that a woman doesn’t teach. It is critical that a mother teaches her children. Our children learn by watching and learning from their parents. A child will watch your love for them, your resourcefulness, and they will listen to your teaching (even when you think they don’t). A godly mother teaches her children through her love, and that is a teaching that guides your children in the future.
Her teaching extends generations: Prov. 31:1
1 The words of King Lemuel, a pronouncement that his mother taught him:
I include this because I love that the author of this chapter, Proverbs 31, says that he learned these lessons from his mother. It is in fact his mother that has taught him about a godly mother. Her teaching extends down to her children, and gives guidance as to what to look for in a mother for his children.
There is a saying that a lot of people have heard,
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he will eat forever.
Godly motherhood is careful to mold and direct children the way they should go in following Christ. We teach with our words and we teach with our actions. Show them a life that follows Christ, and they will learn from that for a lifetime.
A godly mother is hard-working for her family.
A godly mother is smart with resources for her family.
A godly mother teaches her family wisdom.
Transition
A godly mother blesses her family through her fear of the Lord.
A godly mother blesses her family through her fear of the Lord.
State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point
The Bible shows us the true measure of a mother.
Her honor comes through her godliness: Prov. 31:30
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
It’s so interesting how the world puts such an emphasis on our personality or our outer appearance. The world will make its judgment on you by how charming you are, how witty you are, or how beautiful you are. It will urge you to worry about all of these external features, how you sound or look to other people.
But I love the point made here. Charm can be deceptive. You might say the right things, be really charming, but I can’t see what is happening on the inside? Or you might be really beautiful, but beauty fades away. You can’t hold on to outer looks forever. But you know what you keep forever? You keep who you are before God.
Who you are before God is what truly matters. It’s what you hold on to, and its what you pass down to your children. Look at this verse in 2 Timothy.
Her godliness is an example for her children: 2 Tim. 1:15
5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
When Paul remembered his young protege Timothy, he remembered his grandmother and his mother. The faith of Timothy’s grandmother and mother were so strong, he could see their influence in Timothy’s life. That’s what we want for our children, and it comes through the blessing of a godly parent, a godly mother.
A godly mother realizes that her true beauty and charm is not found in who she is to other people, but it is the faith that she has in God through Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ is not only for you. It is for your family, for your children. Your children need a mother and a father with a sincere faith in Christ. A godly mother blesses her family through her fear of the Lord, through her faith in Christ.
There is a popular song by Elevation Worship called “Talking to Jesus.” In this song, he talks about how his grandmother would be on her knees praying at night. He would go in and see her praying, and she would tell him that he should do that. Then his mother would drag him to church, and he wouldn’t want to go. But his mother said that one day he would thank her. Now, because of the example of his grandmother and his mother, he prays to Jesus.
And on this Mother’s Day, as a mother or a father here, what is the thing that you want to pass on to your children? Is it the anxieties in your life? Do you want to pass on worries about money or other things? Do you want to pass on your politics or your ideas? Or do you want to pass on a faith in Christ?
That only works if it is a sincere faith in Christ. A faith in the perfect work of Christ on the cross, his work in your heart, your children will see that work in your life. They will learn from your faith in Jesus.
Conclusion
A godly mother is hard-working for her family.
A godly mother is smart with resources for her family.
A godly mother teaches her family wisdom.
A godly mother blesses her family through her fear of the Lord.
Conclude
Doxology
24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you;
25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.
You are dismissed. Have a great week in the Lord!
