Lesson for May 12, 2019

The Doctrine of Motherhood

The Word of God has a lot to say about mothers. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible reveres women and God honors motherhood. The importance of being a godly mother cannot be overemphasized. A godly mother is a mother who is advancing in the spiritual life. As a godly mother advances through the various stages of spiritual adulthood, she is preparing herself for one of the important roles God has assigned to a believer.

A mother is given the duty of not only bearing the child but also nurturing and teaching the child. It’s a big job and one that is to be respected. The objective of raising children is to prepare them for adulthood – not always an easy task. For the godly mother the objectives are numerous. One objective is to teach their children to love God, love their family and love others. They are also tasked with training the child in all areas of family life and social life. The influence of a mother on a child cannot be overstated. While fulfilling this role, a mother is also asked to be the supportive partner of her husband and perform many other more mundane jobs within the family unit. Motherhood is a huge job, but when done in accordance with the principles of the Word of God is one of the most (if not the most) rewarding jobs on earth.

Here is what the Amplified Bible says about a godly woman and mother: Proverbs 31:1-31, “An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls. The heart of her husband trusts in her [with secure confidence],and he will have no lack of gain. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good and not evil all the days of her life. She looks for wool and flax and works with willing hands in delight. She is like the merchant ships [abounding with treasure];she brings her [household’s] food from far away. She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and assigns tasks to her maids. She considers a field before she buys or accepts it [expanding her business prudently]; with her profits she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. She equips herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task]and makes her arms strong. She sees that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out, but it burns continually through the night [she is prepared for whatever lies ahead]. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle [as she spins wool into thread for clothing]. She opens and extends her hand to the poor, and she reaches out her filled hands to the needy. She does not fear the snow for her household, for all in her household are clothed in [expensive] scarlet [wool]. She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is linen, pure and fine, and purple [wool]. Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes [fine] linen garments and sells them; and supplies sashes to the merchants. Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; and she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared]. She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction]. She looks well to how things go in her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired); Her husband also, and he praises her, saying,“Many daughters have done nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness],but you excel them all.” Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord[reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised. Give her of the product of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city].

Proverbs 31 is the advice of a mother to her son about finding the right woman. Proverbs 31 is also and most importantly the inspired Word of God. So, here are the characteristics of a godly woman and mother according to Proverbs 31. Please keep in mind that these were general characteristics given to King Lemuel, who many believe was another name for King Solomon who wrote Proverbs. This passage sets up a standard that few women, if any, could achieve. That being said, the principles of these characteristics should reside in every Christian woman.

Here are the characteristics of a godly woman as they relate to us today:

1. Virtue. An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? – the Hebrew word for excellent is “chayil,” which means virtuous, substance, valor and worthy. It is a word that refers to the spiritual life of the ideal woman. A woman who is living her life as unto the Lord by growing spiritually and being consistent in her application of Bible doctrine is a rare find and one to be treasured. When a man finds such a woman, he is able to place his full confidence in her with regard to her decisions for him and her family. The result is that he will be rewarded by her worthiness. Virtue is developed by the consistent study and application of Bible doctrine.
2. Supportive Marriage Partner. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good and not evil all the days of her life – this refers to the role of the woman within the family unit as the supportive partner of the husband. God has assigned certain roles within the marriage. The husband is assigned the role of leadership and the wife a support role. This in no way diminishes the importance of the role of the wife in marriage. The Bible tells us to be subject one to another which indicates a partnership with each partner fulfilling their specific role as God has assigned them. An extremely important part of the wife’s role is that of mother.
3. Homemaker. She looks for wool and flax and works with willing hands in delight – this is a reference to the industrious nature of a godly wife and mother. A godly wife and mother always works hard to provide the necessities of life for her family. She provides food and clothing for her family. She even plants a garden for growing food items if necessary.
4. Industrious.She considers a field before she buys or accepts it [expanding her business prudently];with her profits she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard – she has a business sense and makes good decisions with regard to buying and spending. She recognizes that what she has been given is from the Lord and she is a good steward of God’s provisions. She is also an investor of her time and money to make the most of what she has been given.
5. Charitable. She opens and extends her hand to the poor, and she reaches out her filled hands to the needy – she is not greedy but shares the bounty that she has with others less fortunate. She understands the doctrinal principle of “give and it shall be given to you.” She not only extends her hand to the poor with food, she also gives of her time. She cares for others.
6. Creative. She does not fear the snow for her household, for all in her household are clothed in [expensive] scarlet [wool].She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry.Her clothing is linen, pure and fine, and purple [wool].Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.She makes [fine] linen garments and sells them; and supplies sashes to the merchants – she has trained herself in the art of making clothing, rugs, cushions, etc. so that her family will be warm in the winter. She makes sure that her husband has the best clothing so that he is known by city elders. And with what is left over, she makes into products that she can sell to the local merchants.
7. Wisdom. Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; and she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared].She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].She looks well to how things go in her household and does not eat the bread of idleness – the godly mother and wife have the most important type of clothing, spiritual wisdom. She understands Bible doctrine and knows how to apply it. This gives her inner strength and security because her confidence is always in the Lord and she lives her life in light of eternity, which is a personal sense of destiny. When she speaks it is divine viewpoint based on the doctrine in her soul. She speaks the truth in love and is able to teach her children the principles of the Word of God.
8. Admired. Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired);Her husband also, and he praises her, saying,“Many daughters have done nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness],but you excel them all” – she is the ideal wife and mother because she has her priorities straight. Her love for God influences her decisions and actions bringing the praise of everyone, but especially her family. Her children praise her and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her and places her above all other wives and mothers.
9. Inner Beauty. Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord[reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised. Give her of the product of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city] – her real beauty is internal. She is an invisible hero having advanced in her spiritual life to spiritual maturity. Her relationship with God has advanced to the point of reverential trust in God and all that He has provided for her. She demonstrates her inner beauty by her overt attitudes and actions and is praised for it.

Paul wrote about two godly mothers in II Timothy 1:5, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” Lois was a woman who many years before had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only had she believed but she had persisted in learning doctrine after her salvation. Many grandmothers have been the basis for the perpetuation of a great spiritual heritage. Eunice was taught doctrine from early childhood by her mother Lois and Timothy was taught by his mother Eunice.

The grandmother, Lois, became a spiritually mature believer and had the privilege of teaching her daughter, Eunice. Lois was a woman who began a spiritual heritage by leading her daughter to Christ and teaching her the Word of God. Having trained her daughter in doctrine after salvation, what happened?

She had a son whom she called Timothy, which means “he who honors God” and she dedicated herself to training that child. She named him Timothy because she knew Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This also bring in another principle. No matter how a child fails, if that child ever becomes interested in doctrine, and stays with doctrine, that child will never fail. There is no such thing as a child who cannot recover their spiritual life, but you cannot force doctrine on a child. Eunice was smart, she named her son Timothy because she had dedicated herself to the principle that only through doctrine resident in the soul can there ever be happiness in this life. So, grandmother Lois had the privilege of seeing the fulfillment of Proverbs 22:6, for when Eunice was old, she did not depart from her spiritual heritage and what she received from her mother Lois she passed on to her son, Timothy. Eunice trained Timothy in doctrine, Timothy was saved and advanced in a remarkable way becoming a pastor-teacher and having a great influence for Christ.

Mothers who have been faithful in teaching doctrine to their children, training them to apply that doctrine, getting them under the right pastor when they are young will reap great reward.