Thank God For Moms

         So, last year's Mother's Day certainly wasn't what mothers deserved. Many families couldn't get together to celebrate; everything was put on hold. I'm praying today we can get closer to being able to honor God's design of motherhood.

Mother's Day is one of those days that can bring about a lot of different emotions. It can bring a lot of joy, but it can also bring sadness. Every one of us here has a mother, or had a mother. But there are some who may have wanted to have children but couldn't and must endure yet another Mother's Day celebration with all the mothers receiving flowers and other gifts. Some are single mothers - some are 'stay at home' moms - some are working moms. Some of us are still blessed to have our mothers, and others don't have that blessing - and today, the sadness of that loss returns. And still others didn't get to have the relationship that they would have wanted to have had with their mothers. So, not everyone looks forward to Mother's Day.

I don't know what emotions this Mother's Day may bring to each of you, but one thing I do know - God adores Godly mothers. So let's start by looking at...

I. A mother's biblical role

God created each of us, and God made each of us for a purpose. Many women find themselves given the role of motherhood. But just having a baby doesn't instantly make a woman Godly or moral - we know that. But humbly taking on the God given role of a mother is a vital part in God's plan for His kingdom.

God could have created mankind to 'self replicate'; some sort of self cloning process. God could have created mankind like plants, where we just grow up out of the ground from seeds. God could have chosen any number of ways for humans to come into this world, but He chose the very intimate act of us growing inside of our mothers. That act, rather than just popping up out of the ground, creates a relationship - the mother/child relationship. And God chose to do things this way for a purpose.

You see this relationship brings with it a lot of responsibility. We see part of God's purpose for mother's in her role as seen in Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)...

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Now of course, this command applies to fathers, too - and we'll talk about that next month. But we can't underestimate the potential spiritual impact that a mother has with her children. A large part of a mother's God given role has to do with her...

A. Influence

Wilma Rudolph was a sprinter and an Olympic runner. As a child, she contracted polio which left her left leg mostly paralyzed. She was quoted as saying, "My Dr. told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother." And she went on to be called 'the fastest woman in the world' in the 1960's and became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games. That's the power of a mother's influence.

My life, my character and my ministry have the fingerprints of a Godly mother all over them. There were probably seasons of my life that my Mom might have been tempted to say, "You can't blame me for that train wreck..." But when I followed my mother's advice, when my life reflected her kindness and character - that's where her influence was evident.

There's a passage from the Apostle Paul's second letter to Timothy that I wanted to share. Timothy's mother was a Jewish believer in Jesus, but his father was Greek and evidently not a believer. But the spiritual influence of Timothy's mother seems to have made a major impact in his life. Paul says, in 2 Timothy 1:2-5 (NIV)...

To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (3) I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. (4) Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. (5) I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Our mothers can model aspects of God's character for us, can flesh it out for us to see - and this has a great impact on us and who we become. And one of those characteristics from which we learn is...

B. Sacrifice

No one cares more than a Godly mother as evidenced by their sacrifice. I thought I understood the sacrifices that my mother made for me growing up... thought I understood. Now, seeing what my wife sacrifices for our children - seeing it from this perspective - I had no idea just all my mom gave up for me. I have a growing respect for what Godly mothers do for their children.

I think we can relate - If I take an hour or more to make a meal, you can be sure I'm going to get some of what I prepared. That's not always the way it works with moms, right? A Godly mother follows the example of Jesus and demonstrates that loving someone demands sacrifice. Jesus said, in John 10:11 (NIV)...

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Now, I wouldn't put moms on the same level as Jesus - but Godly moms do understand what it means to sacrifice; and they do it all the time. - And very much to the neglect of their own well being. And that's God's design! Mothers will lay down their lives to protect their children. Think about it - if you come between a mother and her young, if you try to hurt them - you'll probably be the one laying down your life!

And, of course, even an unbelieving mother can sacrifice for her children. But a Godly mother's faith gives incredible power to the depth of her sacrifices and her influence. On Mother's Day, all across our nation people are celebrating their mothers. Many are in Churches, but many are not. But even those who do not have a Church home understand the important role that mothers play. And those of us who are a part of the Church body should respect that role even more so because the idea of Mother's Day actually has...

II. A Biblical basis

Mother's Day is a secular holiday that has only been officially celebrated in the U.S. for over a hundred years, but it does have some religious backing for the idea as well. Now, nowhere in the Bible will you find the words "Mother's Day". But the concept behind Mother's Day, the sentiment and respect for Mothers is certainly there.

Now I want to look at a passage that doesn't exactly have to do with Mother's Day. In context, the Apostle Paul was teaching about Christian's responsibilities and relationship to governing authorities. And I'm sure that Paul wasn't thinking specifically about mothers - but it really applies in this instance. Let's look at Romans 13:1-5 (NIV)...

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (2) Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (3) For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?

Then do what is right and he will commend you. (4) For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (5) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

I don't like to 'cherry pick' verses out of context - but in a very real sense - isn't a Mom a 'governing authority'? At their various ages, all my kids don't fully understand civic responsibilities and government - but they do understand that mom is in charge! (They may not always like it, but they can understand the concept.) Just as we are to obey the laws of the land out of respect for government - we are to obey 'mom's law'. Moms have been given Biblical authority over their children. And even as an adult - I still want to obey my mother, not really any longer because of fear of punishment but because of conscience.

Romans chapter 1 and II Timothy chapter 3 both contain long lists of horrible, evil things that God hates - and included in these vile lists is the phrase those who "disobey their parents". Why does God see this as such a detestable sin? - Because parents represent God's authority in the home. In our house, very frequently, I tell Winston over and over, "The secret to a happy life is to listen to Mommy and obey!" If you can't learn to obey your mother, it makes it very difficult to learn to obey God.

And the reason I want to obey, the reason I want to please my mother is because of the Biblical command to...

A. Honor

The first four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God - worship only Him, don't take his name in vain, keep the Sabbath holy. But the fifth commandment that God chooses to give is this from 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.

And I do find it interesting that this command is even listed before 'do not murder'. God evidently has some strong feelings when it comes to us honoring our parents.

We are called to honor our mothers. And what does that entail? It means to give credit to them, to treat them well - to respect our mothers. And for many of us - we have or had wonderful mothers and it's relatively easy to honor them. But this may bother some because you may have been unfortunate enough to have had a mother who really didn't do anything to deserve honor. But I think it's important to point out - we don't see a disclaimer to this command here or any other place in scripture.

Biblically, our mothers deserve honor not because of what they have done, but because of who they are. This commandment doesn't say to honor mothers if they deserve it, or if they reciprocate or if it's easy to honor them. There's something I don't want us to miss. It says, 'Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you'. Honoring your mother is for your benefit as well as for hers.

It is our responsibility to learn to honor our mothers - both because of who they are and for our benefit. And one more thing which has a Biblical basis that we are called to do for our mothers...

B. Repay

And even as I say that - it sounds a bit funny. I mean, how can we possibly repay our mothers for everything they've done for us? It's kind of an impossible task - but it is Biblical. I can't ever fully repay my mother for everything she has done for me, but scripture says this in 1 Timothy 5:4 (NIV)...

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

This passage is not saying that it's wrong to participate in any of the government's social programs for the elderly - but it is saying that it's not primarily the government's job or even your job to care for the ones who cared for me when I was young. My parents are my responsibility - Biblically speaking.

Currently my folks are doing well. When I ask my mom what she wants for Mother's Day, she tells me to spend my money on her grandkids. But there will probably come a time when my folks can't take care of themselves any more. And then who's responsible?

And many of you have experienced this with your adult parents. And it's not always easy or convenient. But think of all the things that parents do for kids as they grow - all the things moms do that aren't even remotely convenient, but they do it because they're moms.

My folk's physical abilities will change as they age, but their worth does not. When we care for our parents, we honor God. When we honor our mothers - we honor God.

And even if you had the worst mother in the world - you still couldn't repay her for the fact that you wouldn't even be here if it were not for her. We are called to honor and repay our mothers to the best of our ability - this is pleasing to God.

So What?

If your mother is still alive - make sure you honor her in a way that is worthy of the role that God gave to her. If your mother has already left this life - live a Godly life that would leave a legacy that would make her proud. If you want to please God - you need to honor your mother.

And one last thought - Every single one of us has or had a mother. In order for us to get into this life, that relationship was a necessity. And to get to the next life, there's another relationship that is a necessity. - A relationship with Jesus through baptism into Him. Perhaps you can honor your mother by either starting a relationship with Jesus or by strengthening that relationship today. Yes, your Mother may love you and take care of you in this life - but this life is not all there is!

My mother has done an awful lot for me - but she also taught me that only Jesus can get me to Heaven.