Focal Passage: Proverbs 31:10-31
Several years ago when I was a minister of music I was discussing with the choir the songs we could sing to honor our mothers on Mother’s Day. We burst into laughter as one of the men suggested “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard. You may remember the lyrics: “I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole. No one could steer me right but Mama tried.” Although some children rebel in spite of godly parents, we must never cop out with a “kids today” mentality that surrenders children to the world before formative parenting really begins.
As we turn to the Bible we find trustworthy directions that help turn children into God-honoring adults. While fathers are commanded to be the spiritual leaders of their homes, mothers provide the nurturing and management that demonstrates Christ-like love and sacrifice to her household. Although capable wives (women of noble character) may be scarce in our modern age, Christian wives and mothers should set a standard for their roles that grabs the attention of unbelievers, showing them the desirability of God’s standards.
Mothers who discipline themselves for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7) show their job requires nothing short of hard work. As Proverbs 31 describes, biblical motherhood requires long days of hard work that focus on others more than self. When my wife and I went through premarital counseling, the pastor told my wife that she would either make me or break me. We soon learned that in marriage, family and ministry a godly woman makes her husband more than he would be without her. If she refuses God’s direction, she will prove to be a liability.
In addition to all the hard work my wife does, I’ve also noticed that she cares for others better than I do (Proverbs 31:20), just one part of her beauty that increases over time (Proverbs 31:30). The wife who runs after worldly and selfish standards will despair as her physical beauty fades alongside the other superficial aspects of life. Wife, is your beauty increasing?