A Woman Who Fears the Lord
One study claimed that by the time a child reaches age eighteen, a mother has handled an extra 18,000 hours of child-generated work. And that's per child! With six kids in my home, it's no wonder I have to schedule a meeting to talk to my wife...
I've seen discussions among preachers about how to handle 'Mother's Day'. Some go all out preaching the virtual 'sainthood of all mothers', while others mention it and recognize mothers - but focus their preaching on weightier theological issues. It is after all a worship service focused on God. But I think there's a balance found in the passage from Proverbs 31:30-31 (NIV)...
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (31) Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
If the 'book of wisdom' encourages us to honor those women who 'fear the Lord' - it's probably a good idea. But preaching just the right Mother's Day message is not an easy task. There's no way to cover this topic adequately in one message. What I say today can't fit every mother and woman.
We understand, Mother's Day can be one of the happiest days, but it can also bring a lot of pain to some. So, not everyone looks forward to Mother's Day. But I do have this video to share...
Every single one of us has been greatly affected by motherhood in one way or another, for good or bad. Everyone here has a mother, had a mother, is a mother, or knows a mother. The act of giving birth is a miraculous thing - but what we celebrate is not just a matter of biology, but of spiritual character. Today this holiday recognizes all mothers - but I want to specifically recognize and honor those mothers who are...
I. Godly women
We just read the end of the chapter of Proverbs 31, I'd like to go back and look at all of it again. Proverbs 31 describes a mother who is hard working, generous, strong, and wise – she's both blessed and a blessing. But the source of that blessing is her relationship with God.
No one can be sure if the Proverbs 31 woman was an actual woman that the writer was describing as 'near perfection', but bare minimum – she certainly is someone to be emulated. I've personally met women who come awfully close to fitting this description. And keep in mind - this proverb wasn't written to make any mother feel guilty or place unrealistic expectations on your life. It was written to encourage you and demonstrate your God-given potential.
Let's read that full passage from Proverbs 31:10-31 (NIV)...
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (11) Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. (12) She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. (13) She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. (14) She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. (15) She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
(16) She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. (17) She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. (18) She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. (19) In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. (20) She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. (21) When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
(22) She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. (23) Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. (24) She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. (25) She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. (26) She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. (27) She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
(28) Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: (29) "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." (30) Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (31) Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Who is the Proverbs 31 woman? First, she's…
A. A strong partner
This passage starts with the phrase, 'a wife of noble character'. The King James translates it as 'a virtuous woman'. The word is also used elsewhere for warriors, strength, and capability.
This passage from Proverbs isn't teaching that in order to be a complete woman you have to be married or be a mother. The Bible does teach that marriage is honorable and established by God, but the Apostle Paul also placed a high value on being single as a Christian as well. But for our purposes today - I want to focus on that strong partnership aspect. Every great marriage that I've seen is a strong partnership.
As I stated, God established this relationship – so let's jump back to the very beginning from Genesis 2:21-24 (NIV)...
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. (22) Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. (23) The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman', for she was taken out of man." (24) For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
God unites man and woman as 'one flesh' - as complementary partners. Did you catch what makes the proverbs 31 woman such a great partner? Let's reread Proverbs 31:10-12 (NIV)...
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (11) Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. (12) She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She earned her husband's full confidence by working with him and not against him. I get frustrated when I see a husband talking negatively about his wife or a wife about her husband. I understand that no one is perfect – but you are on the same team! You won't be very successful as a family if you act as opponents rather than partners. You should have the same goal: to build, provide for, and maintain a Godly family.
It's that kind of partnership that makes the Proverbs 31 woman such an amazing woman and a blessing to her family. And not only is the Proverbs 31 woman a great partner, she's…
B. A hard worker
I got tired just reading about all of the things that she does. - Building, providing for, and maintaining a Godly family is a lot of work for both partners – but it's been my experience that no matter how hard you try; you can't 'out work' a mom.
A young father was trying to explain the concept of marriage to his four year old daughter. He got out their wedding album, thinking visual images would help, and explained the entire wedding service to her. When he was finished, he asked if she had any questions. She asked, "Daddy, is that when mommy came to work for us?"
It almost feels like that, right? And being a hard worker is Biblical. Let's look at Paul's teachings to all the believers in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)...
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, (12) so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Whatever task comes your way – you are encouraged to work hard. The Proverbs 31 woman worked hard and whatever she did – she put her all into it. She was a great partner, a hard worker and the most important trait…
C. A woman of faith
A mother can be a hard worker, but if she doesn't have faith – all that hard work means nothing for her family in the end. My mom kept me clothed and fed - but the most important thing she did was to show me Jesus. And she still does! Hot meals, clean clothes, orderly house, income - all good things mothers can provide for their children. But without Jesus, they will never see Heaven...
You can see a person's hard work by watching them; you can see the results of their effort. You can also see a person's faith by watching their actions; what they do, how they react, how they treat others, and what they value. Yes, we should work to provide needed physical things for our families - but what they need most is Jesus.
One of the best descriptions of characteristics that develop in a person of faith is found in Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)...
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
When you have God's Spirit in you, you are given the power to develop those traits in you. They won't magically appear as soon as you step out of the baptistery – but you are to cultivate, practice and grow them in your life. That takes effort and time.
Spiritual women take that time to encourage that growth in the faith; to model that growth, to train that growth. I've heard it said, "Mothers write on the hearts of their children what the rough hand of the world cannot erase."
Jesus said not to put all your time and energy into that which is only temporary. We probably know of moms and dads who've worked hard and stored up money and things for their children to provide for them when they're gone. But we've probably also seen children take those things for granted and even waste them in a very short time. But I've yet to hear a child say that they didn't appreciate the faith that their parents passed on to them.
The Proverbs 31 woman spent a lot of time throughout her life in order to grow and develop that character and faith that would bless her children and husband. And for that, we are told…
II. She is to be praised
Let's reread the last section from our passage in Proverbs…
Proverbs 31:28-31 (NIV)
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: (29) "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." (30) Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (31) Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
I'm pretty sure that this is exactly why we celebrate Mother's Day. When a woman serves God, when she gives herself to Jesus and to her family – that kind of faithfulness needs to be recognized and honored. And…
A. It honors God
God is the one who created women - who created 'moms'. He's the one who thought up the very concept of such an amazing thing as a mother. When you see an example of a Godly woman – there's no mistaking the love and the strength that she embodies. When we honor 'mom' – we honor the One who made her. Honoring our mothers honors God and - it's a command.
Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV)
Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
If we obey the command to honor our mothers – chances are much higher that our life will go much smoother - because it's God's design.
Now I understand that not all of our mothers will live up to the Proverbs 31 woman. Some might ask, 'Do we have to honor them as well'? Some of us were blessed with mothers who seemed to resemble the Proverbs 31 woman from the very beginning. Others have mothers who are still not even close to that picture. But I can promise you this - even those women who do resemble that 'ideal mother' – they most likely weren't always that way. It was something they grew into and are probably still growing.
I think the idea of honoring our mothers has something to do with recognizing the good that they do. But I also believe that honoring over a lifetime has a lot to do with helping to shape who a woman becomes.
You see, I believe that any woman who comes close to being like the Proverbs 31 woman probably had a lot of…
B. Encouragement
Over the years, I have seen a lot of husbands openly complain about their wives – about their lack of work, about their nagging, about their appearance. Why would any woman want to honor a man who disrespects her? When we honor our wives, when we honor our mothers, when we encourage them rather than tear them down - it helps them become the women that God intends them to be.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NIV)
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (10) He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (11) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
We are all called to encourage one another. On Mother's Day, we want to specifically focus on one group who really deserves recognition and encouragement for all the work they do. 'Thank you' moms!
So What?
I hope that you are encouraged by this day – and even if Mother's Day isn't all that it's cracked up to be for everyone – I think we can all agree that one of God's greatest gifts is a Godly mother. The best gift is a mother who follows Jesus and shows us how to follow, too.
As one who was blessed with an amazing mother – I can say without a doubt that I would not be half the man I am without my mother. I hope that as I serve God and my family – my mom is honored through that service. Thank God for moms!