Mother's Heart

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. Creed each one in the precious name of Jesus. We welcome each one to our service here. It already has been mentioned, alluded to, of the day that is special today. And there's few titles that bring as much fond memories or emotional feelings as that of the title of a mother. [00:00:42] In one sense, of course, we all owe our lives to our mother. It's quite obvious of that. And yet, there are those who, unfortunately, have given birth and yet have not been real mothers. And that is something that I'm sure that not everyone can think back with fond memories due to that. [00:01:14] But I think probably or I imagine that most of us today have the privilege of caring with us and influence, direction, love given to us by our mothers. And I'm not sure that I can exactly explain or comprehend or realize the extent to which that affects me today. [00:01:48] I've chosen today to speak on mothers. My desire for this sermon is that it could, first of all, bring an encouragement to mothers, and not only to those who have children on their laps, but I think all ladies in a sense can show motherhood in various aspects of life. You have a tremendous task, an enormous task, a great work that is before you. [00:02:24] Mothering can be highly stressful and very tiring, physically tiring. It can be draining, and I think therefore you need encouragement. The task is large. And there are many difficult times, times when you need a helping hand, an encouraging hand, and sometimes those can come in various different forms. They can come in the form of an elderly lady giving helpful tips or encouragement. [00:03:00] It can be someone who has just dedicated some time to physically help. I think of one also, and that is that us as husbands can be a tremendous encouragement to our wives As we fulfill our role as a leader, as we lead out and encourage, they need reinforcement, they need support and verbal expression of our appreciation. [00:03:34] Also helping can be an encouragement. But I think that the most, I believe that the most important is that of your relationship with Jesus Christ. I feel that is the most important in that husbands, friends, family will let you down. There will be times when they won't sense or won't be able to feel your need. [00:04:07] But the Lord Jesus Christ is there and can meet that need when human friends or family let us down or fail to sense that need. I would like to read a few words in Deuteronomy, the sixth chapter. As Moses gave some instructions here to parents, I see that part of this we could apply to mothers. And as we go throughout this message today, there are obviously things that I will be mentioning to mothers, and yet they're also included over here. [00:04:51] And the responsibility is shared, and yet maybe today we'll be focusing a little bit more on the ladies' side. Deuteronomy 6, I'd like to read beginning in verse 4. Hear, O Israel, the Lord is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, [00:05:26] And when thou liest down and when thou risest up, and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes, and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates. To me here, the instructions to teaching our children is first of all, as it says in verse 6, that these words are in our heart. And that's very crucial because we cannot live and teach what we don't have. [00:06:04] And we can't at all pass anything on what we don't have. We need to see the importance of filling and equipping our own heart so that we can be the parents that God wants us to be, that we should be. And we need to allow that strength and that peace that the Holy Scriptures, that the Word of God can do to our hearts. We need to allow that to fill us so that we can be prepared for what lies ahead for the day. [00:06:39] It's essential. We can't do without it. And we need to see it as an investment. Sometimes it's easy to push things off and I just don't have time. But as we see an investment, we see something that brings returns and is valuable to us. We need to become irritable and impatient. Words can be said, actions, we lose motivation when we're running on empty. [00:07:20] And so there's a phrase, you know, when mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. And we need to make it a priority. It does affect the home. And as we see the value of filling, of meeting our need in our hearts will give us strength for all parents. I think it's a blessing. I think it's something that you ought to think about and that is to allow your children to see you read and pray. [00:07:57] You know, sometimes we talk about the bad images that seem to stick in our minds, but I have an image of my mother praying that doesn't leave, and I think that that can be a security, it can be an influence that's powerful. I'd like to turn to Exodus 20, verse 12. [00:08:31] Well, maybe you don't have to read or turn to it, but it is the Ten Commandments. I'd like to think about the Fifth Commandment. And any of the children, do you know what the Fifth Commandment is? Honor thy father and thy mother. Now I had to ask myself, why would God ask us children to honor something that is not honorable? And that's because I feel that the role of a mother is very honorable. [00:09:05] It's respectable. It's praiseworthy. It ought to be admired. And it's sad to think that our society has cheapened the role of a mother. It sees it as second rate, something that he don't do unless he have to. So look down on the idea of a stay-at-home mom is just not respected. [00:09:36] and I think we need to be careful that that influence doesn't make inroads in our hearts and I imagine that especially you as mothers with children sometimes you may shake your head and wonder what in the world are you doing you know you can spend hours in food preparation and in a matter of 15-20 minutes it's all gobbled up right in front of your eyes [00:10:07] or you can spend all day doing laundry and that evening just before you go to bed you walk past and that thing is full again or maybe you have a young son that you just got ready to go to town and a few minutes pass And there he is in the mud hole, you know, and just sometimes the phone can ring, the baby can be fussy, and you feel like tearing your hair out sometimes maybe. [00:10:41] But it may feel like you're on a treadmill and just going nowhere. and then in your mind you can see this crisply dressed lady and she drives to work in her beautiful car, classy car and she sits in her nice office and has a plaque in front maybe secretary, maybe manager or CEO even and you get this feeling you're missing out [00:11:15] And I think we need to honestly just acknowledge that that's not from God. That's the influence that our world, our society would like to push us into that mold. But I'd just like to say that it's honorable. Motherhood is honorable. You know, the pressure is there maybe to make your mark, to make some income. [00:11:47] But too often I don't think that we look in the real sense. You know, God has given you abilities, and you may well have the ability to run a business and run it well. There are many who can. But I want to ask the question, what will that business be like, or what will that business do in another hundred years from now? You know, sometimes as we look at the career side, we don't see the downside. [00:12:19] We don't see the familiarity between genders at the workplace or workforce romances. We don't see or we don't think about the children that are raised in daycare, robbed of family time, robbed of life lessons by their mother, by their father, Responsibilities that can be shared And you know as they grow up they sense this as a way of life And teach their children the same [00:12:50] You know the career mindset I see it as scratching for a penny When God would want to give you a hundred dollar bill I see it as an honorable role to be a mother God has placed in your hands Precious souls that are at a very impressionable state It's an opportunity to teach Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little It's an opportunity to love, to show by example [00:13:24] And to establish a relationship that can be preserved for many, many years It can be times of making memories It's trusted in our hands that the power of influence Of how we can't make our children make the right decisions But we can assist them in pointing the right way And that can live on long after you've died [00:13:55] I think of some of the devout women in the Bible Hannah, Eunice, Mary You can probably add some more How did they make their mark? They raised children They raised children for the Lord And their names are preserved forever in God's word We still read of them thousands of years later [00:14:29] and your influence may leave that as well. I think of another honor as well. Here on earth sometimes we hear the words, but I wonder if we won't hear them in heaven as well. If it wouldn't have been for my mother, where would I be? Right along with this phrase here. You know, I can't think of anything that would be more rewarding than to hear that. [00:15:07] And as I see the prestigious, the honorable role of a mother, I guess I just have to admit, I can't understand how any mother would want to leave that. For an income. To make some money. To work at a job. I'll just be forthright. I believe that when there's children at home, you demote yourself when you leave home to work at a job. [00:15:47] Time is far too short with what God has given you to spend time at that. I'd like to turn to Proverbs 31, and I hope by reading this that you sisters or mothers are not intimidated by this picture. but inspired by the picture that is painted here in the Proverbs 31 woman, the virtuous woman. [00:16:26] I hope we can all learn things and I'm glad to hear the pages rustle on this side too because I think at least three of those verses are directly towards us men, directed at us. You know, and especially here, the verse 10, where it begins, it just reiterates the emphasis of the value of a virtuous woman, the honor of motherhood. And by the way, it's quite obvious here, this is a mother, a wife. [00:17:01] It's interesting to me to note how often household and reference made to the home is used. I'd like to read beginning in verse 10 to the end of the chapter Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands She is like the merchant ship [00:17:33] She bringeth her food from afar She rises also while it is yet night and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field and buyeth it, and with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good, her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, her hands to the distaff. She stretcheth out her hands to the poor, yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. [00:18:07] she is not afraid of the snow for her household for her household are clothed with scarlet she maketh herself coverings of tapestry her clothing is silk and purple her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the elders of the land she maketh fine linen and selleth it and delivereth girdles unto the merchant strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. [00:18:42] She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. favor is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates it begins bringing the emphasis again of the value of motherhood [00:19:16] and I know for us men it's sometimes easy to take for granted the value, the treasure in our wives the gift that we have of God There are many, many things that one could talk about and speak about in this, and there's not time at all. I have just, there's a few things that seem to kind of come out of the woodwork here that I'd like to share. It seems like this mother here had a relationship with the family. [00:19:49] We see it in, with her husband, first of all. The heart of her husband does safely trust in her. It's quite obvious that the relationship was at a place that he completely trusted her. No need of spoil. And that tells me that there is something that was happening there. There was a companionship. There was an effort made to have a relationship there that was trustworthy. [00:20:23] And you know, when a relationship suffers, there's quickly mistrust, questions, and things that arise. And we need to cultivate. Communication, I think, is very vital. And I'd just be first to acknowledge that that's a weakness on my part, and probably more to do with us men have a weakness in communication. and it's something that we ought to work at and cultivate and Paul's admonition in Titus 2.4 is that young women are to love their husbands, to love their children. [00:21:06] I think it's very important that children see that their mom and their dad love each other. I think it brings a security. It brings a stability to their hearts and to their lives that I don't think we all can understand. I think it's important that they see that mom and dad stand together. They stand together in tough times. They stand together in discipline. They stand together in many other ways as well. [00:21:42] I think it's critical that we that they know that in the decisions that are made that mom and dad are together. I think it's important. I see that it seems to me that this Proverbs 31 lady would have a relationship with her children as well. that there is someone that they can confide in that is a friend. Yes, I think a mother is more than just one who gives birth. [00:22:16] There's another quality that seems to, is not mentioned, but seems to come out, and that is the quality of nurture. She's concerned, yes, she's concerned about what they eat, what they wear, but I think nurture goes deeper than that. it's more to do with sensing needs of the household, of her husband, of her children, the needs of their hearts and his concern and that takes commitment, that takes sacrifice, but I see here one who is willing to sacrifice [00:22:55] Here in verse 15 it says, she rises while it is yet night, giving us the indication that sacrifice is something that is willingly done. And it may be sleep, it may be many other things, it may be your own projects to meet the needs of her family, but she has the feel of their hearts. and in good times, in bad times, in laughter, in tears. I think that's something that is important to cultivate, a caring, a sensitive quality. [00:23:35] There's one more that I'd like to quickly bring out and that is the one that is most important I feel in this whole chapter That's the quality of godliness. We read in a few different verses of where that comes out, the quality of godliness. And you know Paul talks in 2 Timothy, he talks about silly women laden with sins and in 1 Timothy and Titus he talks about women going or wandering from house to house, [00:24:12] Tattling in busybodies, gossiping, and speaking things that they ought not. And even in 2 Chronicles 22, verse 3, it is recorded that King Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. So there again, you can be a mother. There are mothers that are not real mothers, that are not spending time, that are not dedicated to God like they ought to be. [00:24:53] of all the things that are mentioned here. The qualities, the virtues, the diligence, the industry, the effort. I think this is the greatest quality and that is of godliness. One that is outstanding, it holds the most value and the reason that it does is because it adds a dimension to all the rest. It's actually the fear of God is what these others, how should I say that, all these other qualities are a result of the fear of God. [00:25:32] And it's, I feel, the beginning, the foundation. God has given you an honorable and enormous task, yet He gives you the strength, He gives you the provision. if you have the fear of the Lord in your heart I think he will I know he will enable much more could be said in this last part we see the real sense of value favor is deceitful beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall