Mothers Wanted To Do The Work Of God
INTRO: Mother’s Day is so hard for me in the pulpit. Not that there are not any good things to say about mothers, but that the Bible is very quiet about women in general. Yes it names many, but not near as many as men. So consequently the need to use the same women exists. Today I will talk about Hannah, Samuel’s mother. Yes she is the one who was childless and pleaded with the Lord to give her a child. What a comparison with today’s modern woman who fears child-rearing and avoids it with all means possible.
Let’s read Hannah’s call to the Lord for a child.
1 Samuel 1:5-11 (KJV) 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
Charity in the KJV (or as we call it Love)
Childlike or simple love (not complicated, it is just there)
Caring love – not selfish or self-serving, etc.
1 Corinthians 13 (KJV) 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
As we know, love has a way of showing up all kinds of ways in our lives. In mothers it is often seen in their…
Real concern – genuine, not fake or for show
Kind of like the widow woman – she gave it everything she had – like mothers, when it comes to their children, they give it all!
Luke 21:2-4 (KJV) 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Revealing concern – who/what they are
Renewing concern – doesn’t quit, let up, or diminish. It just keeps on giving
Acts 9:39 (KJV) Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
Timely – guess who gives comfort when a child wounds or scrapes their knee.
Tireless – First and last to give comfort.
Do you know what Dad’s advice to their sons in this situation? “You are just going to have to suck it up and be a man son!”
I won’t say which is right and which is wrong (here), I just want you to see Mother’s comfort is tireless.
Teaching – like Moses’ mother when afforded the chance to care for her child – she taught him the ways of the Hebrew people.
Tears – like Mary (Jesus’ mother) at the cross full of tears and comfort
Conscientious or industrious Co-laborers in the Lord
Romans 16:1-3 (KJV) 1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
These were several women mentioned by Paul as worthy conscientious co-laborers in the Lord. Just as God has blessed us with mothers and blessed them with children we all need to be laborers for the Lord!
Yet when it comes to mothers and their labor for their children, we can see a…
Labor of duty – yes, they feel, show and do a labor of duty for their children
Exodus 35:25 (KJV) And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
Labor of delight – but oh, what a labor of love. Not just because they have to, but because they want to nurture and help their children
Labor of declaration or demonstration – for all to see. Not to brag, but to serve
1 Samuel 2:18-19 (KJV) 18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
Labor of dedication – it should be to the child and to the Lord
1 Samuel 1:27-28 (KJV) 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
When we have been blessed with a child to raise, a child to rear in the admonition and fear of the Lord, we have a great responsibility. How can we fall short here? How can we not show love, concern, comfort and be conscientious in teaching and pointing our children the right way?
When we have been blessed with a mother that loved us we should be thankful and tell them we appreciate their love.
When we have been blessed with a mother that loved the Lord and us, we should be more thankful and tell them we appreciate their love and dedication.
Men, when we have been blessed with a wife that loved our children we should be thankful and tell them we appreciate their love and devotion.
Men, when we have been blessed with a wife that loved our children and loved the Lord, we should be doubly thankful and tell them we appreciate their love, devotion and sharing Christ with their life.
Everyone if we had a God fearing mother who taught us about the Lord then we should not thank our luck starts, but the Lord!
God be praised for godly women and mothers! Amen.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 051009am