FOR MOTHERS EVERYWHERE . .

Mothers Day Sermon , May 10 , 2009
By:
Pastor Mike Stahl

Brothers and Sisters , let me begin by making a "confession" . At first I really didn’t know how to begin this Mothers Day sermon . I mean , I had thought about it , and prayed and meditated about it , and when all  is "said and done " , it can be a controversial topic , especially for those who have lost their Mother’s , OR , have never had a good relationship with them , OR , who don’t even know who their Mother is , OR ,  where they are - OR , not knowing if they’re still alive .  And for those of you to whom those situations apply , please KNOW , that you DO have a Mother !! And whether she is still alive , or has been called home by The Lord , a Mother’s love NEVER ceases !! Regardless of what she may  ( or may not ) have said or done to you , or no matter what you choose to believe . And even if you have NO parents alive here on earth , you DO have a LOVING FAMILY !! One that INCLUDES ‘brothers and sisters’ too numerous to count ! You know how I KNOW that ? Because God says so via Paul in The Bible !! We ALL have the magnitude of God’s love . Paul tells us in Ephesians 3: 14-15 ; "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named " ( emphasis mine ) .  What Paul is saying here is that the FAMILY of God includes ALL who have believed in Him in the past , all who believe in the present , and ALL who WILL believe in the FUTURE ! We are ALL a FAMILY because we have the SAME FATHER . . . GOD !! He is the source of all creation , the rightful owner of everything . God PROMISES His love and power to HIS family , the church ( believers ) ( 3:16-21 ) .

We all ,  also have a duty to not only love and respect our mother (and , of course , father ) ; but to care for her also (again , as well as our Dad ) , if they are not able to care for themselves , or , ensure that they ARE and WILL BE taken care of .  In John 19:27 , Jesus , SPECIFICALLY, mentions His mother ; " Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. " Here , we see Jesus asking His close friend John , the writer of the Gospel , to care for His mother , Mary ,whose husband , Joseph , must have been dead by this time . So , why didn’t Jesus assign this task to His brothers ? Well , as the oldest son , Jesus entrusted His mother to a person who stayed with Him at the cross - and that person was JOHN !

You know , Abraham Lincoln once said, "Behind every great man, is a great mother." The once powerful leader of France, Napoleon, said, "Let France have great mothers, and France will have great sons." Rudyard Kipling said, "If I were hanged on the highest hill, I know whose love would follow me still." D. L. Moody, one of the greatest evangelists who ever lived said, "All that I have ever accomplished, I owe to my mother!"

At a memorial service for her mother, on May 10, 1908, Anna Jarvis gave a carnation, her mother’s favorite flower, to everyone in attendance. Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers caught on; and, on May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day! As for myself , I don’t know of anyone to whom I owe anymore than to my mother. Yet, of everything that I am grateful for, the most precious thing to me, is that I have a GODLY MOTHER! You see, let’s be honest, in our day, today, godly mothers are hard to find. There are mothers, and there are good mothers. There are not only good mothers, but there are great mothers. Yet, there is all the difference in the world between a good mother, a great mother, and a Godly Mother !

Proverbs 31:10-31 speaks entirely of Godly mothers . Now , although Solomon wrote most of Proverbs , the entire chapter of 31 was written by Lemuel . 31:1 states ; " The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. "(emphasis mine ) . Now , little is known about Lemuel except that he was a king who received wise teachings from his mother . His name means " devoted to God . " It’s believed that Lemuel and Agur were both from the kingdom of Massa in northern Arabia .

So ,  let’s begin by looking at verses 10-12 ; " 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. "

In these first verses of the text, Lemuel points out that a godly mother has a worth, second to none, and is unequaled. He explains what makes her worth so great by showing that:

She is a lady of virtue . 1.)  Of everything else that could be said of this lady, she above all else, is a lady of virtue. Notice, the word "virtuous" that is used. VIRTUOUS (lit.): "worthy, or valiant" 2.) This word speaks of the idea of a wounded soldier who is deserving of the reward that he will receive. 3.) This word "virtuous" is the same Hebrew word used by God to Moses, in Exodus 18, to describe the character of the judges that He appointed. 4.) Thus, the woman being referred to here, is not an ordinary one, but she is in a class all her own. 5.) You see, just as the judges had to be qualified for their work, she is qualified for her work. 6.) Because she loves the Lord, she lives for the Lord. She is a lady of godliness, of valor, and or virtue. The mother described here in verse 10, is one who may not wear a badge, or blow a horn; yet, her life speaks volumes of itself. She is godly, she is valiant, and She Is A Lady Of Virtue !

Not only do we see that this godly mother is a lady of virtue, but she is a lady of value. Notice, he says that, "her price is far above rubies." In the days of our text, rubies, or pearls, were considered a priceless commodity. They might be compared to gold in our day. Thus, he shows that this godly mother is worth far more than even the rarest commodity. There’s no price tag on her, for she is a lady of value. As a result of her tremendous value, her husbands trusts her wholeheartedly. Notice verses 11, and 12. The husband, of this godly mother, realizes how valuable she is. Thus, he is able to trust her chastity, in verse 11; and, he is able to trust her conduct, in verse 12. She, without question, is a lady of value.
I think of an article I read a few years ago .  It described, and defined the most creative job in the world. It said, "The most creative job in the world involves fashion, decorating, recreation, education, transportation, psychology, romance, cuisine, literature, art, economics, pediatrics, geriatrics, religion, entertainment, energy, and management. Anyone who can handle all those jobs has to be somebody special. She is. She’s a mother !" Abraham Lincoln expressed it well, when he said, "No one is poor who has a godly mother !" The godly mother described here is a rare breed. As a result, she will benefit, and bless others, "all the days of her life." She Is A Lady of Virtue, and She Is A Lady of Value. This godly mother has A Worth That Is Unequaled !

Now , let’s go to verses 13 , 15, and 19 .

Verse 13 ; " She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. " Lemuel explains that the unmatched work of a godly mother is a desired work. For, he tells us that she "willingly worketh with her hands." Notice the word "willingly" that he uses. WILLINGLY(lit.): "with pleasure, or desire" The word gives the picture of one who volunteers to perform a duty. Thus, we see that this woman is one who is so motivated, that she does this work out of a desire of her own heart. You need not pump, nor prime her to get it done, she does it with pleasure, and desire. She does it willingly.  It’s not a matter of influence, but a matter of impulsion. It’s not a matter of pride, but a matter of passion. It’s not a matter of compulsion, but a matter of conviction ! She loves God, and the family that God has entrusted to her; and, thus, she seeks to provide for them, and please them. It’s not a work one must get to do, It Is A Desired Work !
Verse 15 says , " She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. " Not only do we see that her unmatched work is a desired work, but it’s also a devoted work. The desired work displays her Submission, while the devoted work displays her Sacrifice. Verse 15 informs us that she is not one to stay up all night, and sleep all day. But, she "riseth while it is yet night," and gives up her own rest to make sure that others needs are met. She seeks not her own, but always seeks out the needs of others. She not only desires the work, but she is devoted to the work.

Susan Lang, in her book, Women With Children, says that the average mother spends 3.5 more hours a week doing housework than a woman without children. Plus, she spends 11 hours a week on child related activities. This adds up to an additional 754 hours of work every year, the equivalent of three months of 12-hour, 5-day work weeks. The mother described here, in verse 15, is the one who, though she may work herself, she labors to get supper on time, and stays up late to take care of things for tomorrow. She is not only a woman of submission, but of sacrifice. Her work Is A Devoted Work !
Verse 19 ; " She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. "  Not only is her work a desired work, and a devoted work, but it is a dedicated work. While her desired work shows her Submission, and her devoted work shows her Sacrifice; her dedicated work shows her Steadfastness. Notice, again the words, "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff."  The words "layeth, and hold" are words used to describe persistence, perseverance, and dedication.  The words "spindle, and distaff" are words that are used to describe the symbols of her honor. Thus, she desires the work, and devoted to the work; but, she is dedicated to the work, and will not stop until the job is completed.

In verses 26 and 27 we move to one of the most beautiful, and wonderful traits of this godly mother. For, she not only has a worth that is unequaled, and a work that is unmatched; but, she has a wisdom that is unfeigned. It is pure, sincere, and true wisdom .

Verse 26 ; " She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness . " Lemuel informs us that her mouth is filled with wisdom, and there is wisdom in what she speaks. She may not speak much, but when she does, you can bet, that there’s wisdom in it. Ruth Bell Graham well described this wisdom, when she wrote: "With such prayers importunate, That my finite wisdom would assail, Infinite Wisdom, God, how fortunate, That Infinite Wisdom would prevail!"  When she speaks it seems as if heaven itself has spoken, and the wisdom of the Almighty has shone through. She speaks words of truth, words of help, and words of wisdom.

I’m reminded of a story I heard about a man whose four sons were all preachers. A friend of the family came into their den, when all the family was there, and they asked one of the sons, named Howard, "Who is the greatest preacher in your family?" Howard had a great admiration for his father, the greatest Bible expositor who ever lived. He looked straight at his father, and without hesitation, replied, "The greatest preacher in our family is Mother !" I don’t know about you, but there’s been times when I’ve asked my mother a question, and her answer wasn’t the answer I was looking for. Yet, as I look back, she may have not told me what I wanted to hear; but, her words were what I needed to hear. I, firsthand, saw that There Is Wisdom In What She Speaks! Perhaps that is where I get my truism when I state that I " don’t tell people what they want to hear , but what they need to hear ! "

Verse 27; " She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. " Not only does she display wisdom in what she speaks, but also in what she shuns. Notice, again, the last part of verse 27, she "eateth not the bread of idleness." Thus, here is the picture of one who hates to sit and do nothing. She has preached, and she has practiced, that ‘An Idle Mind Is The Devil’s Playground!’ So, she fills up her time, so that none of it will be lost. No doubt, she has memorized Solomon’s words in chapter 19, verse 15, when he said, "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle sold shall suffer hunger." One will not find this godly mother being slothful, or lazy. For, There Is Wisdom In What She Speaks, and There Is Wisdom In What She Shuns. She has A Wisdom That Is Unfeigned !

We now move on to verses 28-31 .Lemuel concludes this section by not only showing us this godly mother’s worth that is unequaled, work that is unmatched, and wisdom that is unfeigned; but, her wealth that is unshared. Though her wealth may not be that on the world’s scale, her wealth is calculated, and demonstrated.

Verse 28-29 ; " Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. " It doesn’t take long to see that her family knows how valuable she is. For, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed." Notice, they are praising her Person. For, she is not receiving praise, necessarily, for what she has done; but, for who she is. Sure, they’re aware, and appreciative of all the acts of kindness and love she has shown to them. But, they’re praising the woman who has shown it. They are the first to stand up, and speak up to praise her person.

It is said, that after one of the awful battles of the Civil War, a dying Confederate soldier asked to see the chaplain. When the chaplain came, to his surprise, the first thing the soldier asked was for him to cut off a lock of his hair for his mother. Then, he asked the chaplain to kneel, and thank God. The chaplain asked, "What am I thanking God for?" The wounded soldier replied, "Thank Him for giving me such a godly mother, that so influenced my life, that I’m now saved , and ready to meet the Lord !"

The family of this blessed saint realize what a precious jewel she is, and they praise her person. Yet, not only is she praised for her person, but for her Position. Notice, the last part of verse 29, "but thou excellest them all." Here is a lady with not only an excellent person, but an excellent position. One might ask, "Where does a godly mother rank in relation to others?" Lemuel says that she "excellest them all !"

I remember reading of a little boy who forgot his lines in a Sunday School play. His mother sat in the front row to help him, and she gestured and formed the words with her lips, but it didn’t help the boy, for his mind was blank. Finally, the mother leaned forward, and whispered his cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed with relief, then blurted out the words, "My mother is the light of the world !" Yes, this godly mother is the light to her family. Dad, children, you better thank God everyday you live, if He’s blessed you with a godly mother. You need to recognize her person, and realize her position.  This lady might not be the wife of Bill Gates, but she is a wealthy mother. It is demonstrated By The Praise Of Her Family !

Verse 30 ; " Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth (reveres ) the LORD, she shall be praised. " She is a mother who not only receives her wealth by the praise of her family, but by the praise from her Father. She may or may not be an outward beauty, but that’s not her secret. Her secret is that "she feareth ( reveres ) the Lord." Thus, by pleasing Him, He is praising her ! She has found a special place in the heart of God. Her true beauty is within, for she has learned what it takes to please the Lord. Ladies, let me ask you, "Do you want to be a great mother ?" Then, memorize Proverbs 31:30. Regardless of how you measure up to Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Taylor, you set your heart to fear ( revere )  Him, and to please Him. As a result, you will not only be a great servant, but it will make you a great mother. You’ll be wealthy By The Praise From Your Father !

Verse 31 ; " Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. " This godly mother is not only wealthy because of the praise of her family, and the praise from her Father; but, by the praise for her fruits. All she has endeavored, and will endeavor to do, will be blessed. She need not boast of herself, but "her own works will praise her in the gates." She will receive praise for her works, and for her fruits. You remember, in Acts 9, the death of a lady named Dorcas. After she had died, and was buried, the widows gave a display of the coats and garments she had made for the poor. Even after her death, the fruit of her hands lived on. Ladies, don’t you think for one minute, that you’re not leaving an impression on you family by the life you live. You see, your testimony will bear witness of you even after your death. So, you stand for God, and you serve God, and even after you leave this world, your work for the Lord will go on, and bear fruit. The lady described here is one who has amassed a great wealth. Again, it may not be the wealth of monetary terms, but it is a wealth demonstrated By The Praise Of Her Family, By The Praise From Her Father, and By The Praise For Her Fruits. She is a millionaire on heaven’s books, and she has A Wealth That Is Unshared !
As you can see , my brothers and sisters , Proverbs has a lot to say about women . How fitting that the book ends with a picture of one who "excellest them all " - a woman of strong character , great wisdom , many skills , and great compassion .

Some people have the mistaken idea that the ideal woman in the Bible is retiring ,servile , and entirely domestic . NOT SO ! This woman is an excellent wife and mother . She is also a manufacturer , importer , manager , realtor , farmer , seamstress , upholsterer , and merchant . Her strength and dignity do not come from her amazing achievements , however . They are a result of her reverence for God . In our society where physical appearance counts for so much , it may surprise us to realize that her appearance is never mentioned . Her attractiveness comes entirely from her character .

The book of Proverbs begins with the command to fear ( revere ) the Lord ( 1:7 ) and ends with the picture of a woman who fulfills this command . Her qualities are mentioned throughout the book : hard work , reverence for God , respect for spouse , foresight , encouragement , care for others , concern for the poor , wisdom in handling money . These qualities ,when coupled with reverence for God , lead to enjoyment , success , honor , and worth .

In closing , may I publicly and humbly say that Of all the godly mothers that I have read of, and heard of, there is one that has left an eternal impression on me. This godly mother was born on July 12 , 1922 into the home of two hard-working and God loving parents in Milwaukee ,Wisconsin . She married a God loving man from Eureka Springs , Arkansas on May 25 , 1945, and they labored all their lives to raise five children . This godly mother’s life verse is in Psalm 73:25-26 , which says , " Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. " 

This godly mother, above all else, walks with God ! She is a living testimony that "A Godly Mother Ain’t Like No Other!" This godly mother is my mother, Magdalen Mary Stahl , and she is the godliest woman I know, and my spiritual hero !

To all you other Mom’s out there - I ask you,  do you want to be the best mother you can be? Do you want to be the mother that God has designed for you to be? Then, don’t just be a good mother, or a great mother; but, be a godly mother, and follow the instructions of Proverbs 31. The writer has set a godly mother apart from all others. He has shown that she has A Worth That Is Unequaled, A Work That Is Unmatched, A Wisdom That Is Unfeigned, and A Wealth That Is Unshared. Think what you will, but I believe that you would agree with me, when I say, that, "A Godly Mother Ain’t Like No Other !" I Give Thanks to my Heavenly Father for you , and Thank YOU , Mom , for your decades of love , help , guidance , wisdom and understanding - GOD BLESS YOU , and Love from Gerri , Dylan , Ciara , and MYSELF .
To ALL other Mothers out there - HAVE A BLESSED , HAPPY , JOYOUS AND SAFE MOTHERS DAY - AND MANY MORE !!

May the Peace ,Love and Grace of Our Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ be with you ALL - ALWAYS . . .

Your brother in Christ ;
Pastor Mike