1. Mothers are to be honored. Jesus said in Matthew 15:4 quoting the Old Testament, "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'" Children not respecting and honoring their parents is a very serious matter before God. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:2-3, "'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.'" Disobeying parents can lead to an early death in a great number of ways. In 1 Timothy 5:2, we learn the older women in the church are to be treated as mothers. This is with love, honor, and respect.
2. Mothers are to be teachers of good things. "When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5). This verse makes it clear that little Timothy was taught about God by his mother and grandmother. Their good influence and lives influenced him for good. In Titus 2:3-5, "The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Most of these older women would be mothers. Mothers should teach their children in many ways.
3. Mothers are to be loved. "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.' Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates" (Proverbs 31:26-31). Let us be sure we respect mothers.
4. Mothers are to discipline. "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother" (Proverbs 29:15). Notice what happens when children are not disciplined. They act in such a way that it brings shame on their mothers. Bad things happen to the child that scorns obedience to his mother (Proverbs 30:17). Consider Proverbs 22:15, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him." Yes, godly mothers discipline because they love their children as God loves us and chastens us (Hebrews 12:5-8).
5. Mothers are to be cared for in their old age. Proverbs 23:22 says, "Do not despise your mother when she is old." Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:8, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." And in verse 16 he wrote about the Christian's duty to their widowed mothers.
6. Children are to bring their mother joy. "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice" (Proverbs 23:24-25). We can do this only when we love, obey, and respect our parents. We do this only when we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ and live the Christian life (Titus 2:11-13). I say this because of the above verses from God's word and because of what Christ said in Matthew 25:46, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." The child that loses his soul in hell for all eternity brings on his or her mother the greatest sadness, disappointment, and grief that can be brought to the human heart.
Please think on these things.
- Good News, 5/5/02