Mother's Day is a special day...No one would be here without a mom! But today can also be a difficult day for some due to loss or not having a great mom. For others it is bittersweet. It is appropriate, good and biblical to honor mother's.
Mother's play a crucial role in the family...in their children's lives. On average mother's spend 2+ more hours with their children than do their fathers...including 78-80% working moms. Moms help with schoolwork, consoling, giving advice, teaching and shaping their children. More so than in the past moms are involved more with discipline. This is sad but true.
Proverbs 13:24 (ESV) "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him."
Statistically women are becoming moms later in life. They are also having fewer children and statistically less enjoyable. I believe that is changing.
No one shapes a child like a mother. Paul credited Timothy's mother and grandmother with his upbringing.
Titus 2:4-5 (ESV) "and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." A good mom's calling is to her children and family.
It should be a mom's goal to display the qualities of a good wife/mother to their sons to marry a woman like her, and for their daughters the type of wife/mother they should be.
Not all moms are good. They are imperfect, sinners some good and some bad.
An example of a godly mom in the OT might be the Shunamite Woman
I. What makes a good mom?
2 Kings 4:8-13 (ESV) "One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, 'Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us he can go in there.' One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, 'Call this Shunammite.' When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, 'Say now to her, 'See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?' She answered, 'I dwell among my own people.'"
A. She cares about the things of God by aiding Elisha she was aiding in the work of God. Her heart was aligned with God. She went out of her way with nothing expected in return. You cannot love your children until you have experienced the love of God. Not until you have the Holy Spirit in you and receive that fruit of the spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness can you show the same to your children. If you have never trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior doing so would be the greatest gift that you could give your family...to be right with God.
B. Pray for her children Your mother prayed for you! In 1 Samuel 1 Hannah cried out to God for a child. She was praying in the Temple, weeping and silently mouthing her prayer and Eli thought she was drunk.
C. Teaching her children
2 Timothy 1:5, 3:14-15 (ESV) "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure dwells in you as well." "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the scared writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Timothy grew up from a little boy being taught the scriptures by his mom and grandmother.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
D. A godly mother cares for her children physically as well as spiritual.
2 Kings 4: 14-20 (ESV) "And he said, 'What then is to be done for her?' Gehazi answered, 'Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.' He said, 'Call her.' And when he called her, she stood in the doorway. And he said, 'At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.' And she said, 'No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.' But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her. When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. And he said to his father, 'Oh, my head, my head!' The father said to his servant, 'Carry him to his mother.' And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died."
The Shunamite woman cared for and nurtured her son. A godly mom, cares through the hurt, comforts, holds, applies band aids, is there for breakups, sickness and even death. It is the ministry of mamas.
E. She is hard working
2 Kings 4:21-30 (ESV) "And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. Then she called to her husband and said, 'Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.' And he said, 'Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.' She said, 'All is well,' Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, 'Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.' So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, 'Look, there is the Shunammite. Run at once to meet her and say to her, 'Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child.?' And she answered, 'All is well.' And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, 'Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.' Then she said, 'Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?' He said to Gehazi, 'Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.' Then the mother of the child said, 'As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.' So he arose and followed her."
The Shunammite woman is willing to go to the ends of the earth for her child. Mothers don't give up on the wayward or rebellious child. She does not quit. She sacrifices for her family. She cares for her family. She did not complain. A good mother will do what she can for her children.
F. A godly mom is grateful
2 Kings 4:31-37 (ESV) "Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, 'The child has not awakened.' When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Then he summoned Gehazi and said, 'Call this Shunammite.' So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, 'Pick up your son.' She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out."
The Shunammite woman was grateful for what God had done in her life.
1 Thes. 5:18 (ESV) "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Col. 3:15 (ESV) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body."
II How to honor your mother?
Exodus 20:12 (ESV) "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." This is the 5th commandment and the 1st commandment with a promise.
A. Give her grace. Mom wont be perfect.
Matt.7:2 (ESV) "For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
B. Praise her/Appreciate her
Everyone appreciates a pat on the back. Moms shouldn't have to ask to be appreciated/praised.
Proverbs 31:28-31 (ESV) "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."
Eat the food she prepares for you, pick up after yourself, listen to her , care for her.
C. Obey her
Ephesians 6:1-3 (ESV) "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right, 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.'"
D. Pray for her
E. Time and Attention
A phone call, lunch dinner, a visit
F. Don't badmouth her
G. Don't be a doofus
Proverbs 10:1 (ESV) "The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother."
Don't do the things that will break her heart. Honor your mother by honoring God.
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