Wise Words: How to Treat Your Mother

May 11, 2014

Wise Words

How to Treat Your Mother

Proverbs 23:25

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Introduction

I realized as I was preparing for this lesson...it might not apply to everyone.

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• We must realize though that God’s Word is not for just us.
• God’s word is also to help other...to help other walk with God.

As a began with last week, the book of Proverbs is full of wisdom.

• In fact, it is considered in the genre of writings “wisdom literature.”
• My intentions for this series of lessons is to extract, and thats not all that heard, the important pieces of wisdom so that we can implement and use them.

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Last weeks lesson was on fearing God...it is an important foundational piece/the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.

• A healthy fear of God helps us to avoid evil.
• A healthy fear of God helps to prolong our lives…because when we have that healthy fear we draw near to Him.
• This leads to repentance and repentance leads to eternal life.

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Text

“Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.” Proverbs 23:25

This book of wisdom tells us that mom has a lot to teach us about life.

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• “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”  Proverbs 1:8

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• “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” Proverbs 6:20

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• The entire 31st chapter is dedicated to the teachings of King Lemeul’s mothers teachings:
• “The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:...” Proverbs 31:1

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Some of the greatest leaders of all time credit their mother’s as influential in their success:

George Washington - “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”

Andrew Jackson - “There was never a woman like her. The memory of my mother and her teaching were the only capital i had to start life with, and on that capital have made my way.”

Abraham Lincoln - “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

Ronald Reagan - “From my mother I learned the value of prayer.”

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Scripture is full of examples of godly mothers:

Sarah - Is the mother that waited for for her son only them to have God demand him as a sacrifice

• Peter used her as an example “as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.” 1 Peter 3:6

Jochebed - Moses’ mother who knew Pharaoh demanded the death of every Israelite boy.

• She hid him as long as possible, and then sent him adrift in a homemade ark.
• She trusted God to take care of her son.

Hannah - Was childless and wept before God in shame.

• She promised that if God gave her a son she would give him back to God for the rest of his life.
• Samuel became one of the greatest prophets in all of the OT

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These were awesome women of faith!

• These mothers taught their children about God.
• These mothers taught prayed to God for their children.
• These mothers trusted God to protect their children.

In Proverbs, God tells us that mothers have something to teach us about life.

• There are things that God wants us to know!

Lesson

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What types of lessons can a mother teach?

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“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.” 2 Timothy 1:5

• Lois and Eunice’s lives were examples...Timothy noticed and learned from them.
• If you notice the next verse they began a flame inside of Timothy.
• More interesting to me is that their faith was so powerful that it stood out to Paul

Other lessons:

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• A godly mother share the BIBLE with her children.
• A godly mother share her FAITH with her children.
• A godly mother share her MORALS with her children.
• Things like this drive teangers crazy!
• They see these and a neverending list of “do’s” and don’ts”
• Eventually, what happens is that mom’s teachings become internalized.

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This kind of mother deserves to be honored...respected!

• From Proverbs 31...

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:” vs. 28

“Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” vs. 31

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Some ask, “Well, what if my mother is not deserving of respect?”

• Consider what God said about that…

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“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Deut. 5:16

• NOTE - It doesn’t say if she’s deserved or earned it!
• At least 10 times in Proverbs it warns us not to despise our mothers.
• If we do not learn to honor our mothers then life will be hard!

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“11 There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. 12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. 13 There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! 14 There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.” Proverbs 30:11-14

Action Step

This should be an easy action step!

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• Living or deceased...honor your mother!

Are you still looking for a gift that you can give your mother:

1. Be the son/daughter that she can brag about.
2. Show her respect.
3. Give her honor.
4. Listen to her.
5. Speak loving words to her.

PRAYER

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Conclusion

What does God want for our lives?

• He wants: HEALING...CHANGE...FORGIVENESS.

He modeled the kind of love that would bring that into our lives.

• He didn’t humiliate us, He didn’t shame us.
• He did throw His loving arms around us!
• AND, He gave us His only begotten Son so that we would know how much He loved us!