The Influence of a Mother

Proverbs 31 and 2^nd Timothy 1

Today, we not only acknowledge the mothers who brought us into this world, but we also salute every soul who has taken up the role of nurturing us in any way possible.
On our journey through life nothing can compare with the impact made by our mothers. Their words, for good OR for bad, are never fully forgotten, and the memory of their presence lasts a lifetime.
I would like to take a moment to reflect on the wise insights shared by some mothers:

1) A son told his mother that he couldn’t tell the difference between a rose and a dandelion. So when it came time to fix up his garden, he had no clue which plants to keep and which ones to remove. Until, that is, his mother gave him this handy tip: “Pull them all up. If it comes back, it’s a weed.”

2) Another Mom had a small decorative windmill in her yard. A storm broke one of the blades, causing the windmill to shake violently. Dad announced that he would “take care of it” and rebalanced the windmill by snapping off the opposing blade. Watching him, Mom remarked, “I hope I never break a leg.”

3) While rummaging through her attic, a woman named Debbie found an old shotgun. Unsure about how to dispose of it, she called her parents. “Take it to the police station,” her mother suggested. Debbie agreed and was about to hang up when her mother added, “Oh, and Debbie? Make sure you Call them first.”

4) And then there is the mother, who can be a master of the guilt trips. When her son finally got around to calling his mom he heard the following answering machine message: “If you are a salesperson, press one. If you’re a friend, press two. If you’re my son who never calls, press 911 because the shock will probably give me a heart attack.”

Abraham Lincoln said, "No one is poor who had a godly mother." And I believe he was right. The influence of a godly mother on her children cannot be overstated.
There are some notable examples of motherhood in scripture. But this morning I want to mention two special passages that we ought to consider. One is found in Proverbs, chapter 31. Listen to a few selected verses.

"10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.

13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.

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

29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates."

And the 2^nd passage we find in 2^nd Timothy 1:5
It was written by the apostle Paul to young Timothy,

"5 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."

Whether you’re a “stay-at-home” mom like Timothy’s mother, or one who works like the mother praised in Proverbs 31, the emphasis of my message this morning has to do with a mother’s influence upon her children and her family.

And I urge those of you who have no children or whose children are far away, look around and take note of those who may be in need of a "parent figure," or a "second mom or dad." You may be just the mentor or friend that someone else desperately needs.
Proverbs 24:3-4 tells us that "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, passed on to your children so that they might build their lives on a foundation that is sufficient for all their needs.
There were once 4 scholars who were arguing over Bible translations.

• One said he thought that the King James Version was the best because of its beautiful and eloquent style of speech.
• Another said he preferred the American Standard Bible for its accurate translation of the original text.
• A third preferred the New International Version because of its modern language and ease of understanding.
• After thinking about it for a moment, the 4th scholar said, "I have always preferred my mother's translation."

When the others expressed surprise, saying that they didn’t know that she was a translator, he responded, "Yes, she trans-lated it. She translated it into life, and that's the best translation I’ve ever seen."
We have already mentioned one young man who saw such a translation of God's Word in his lifetime. His name was Timothy. He lived in the 1st Century, and it is to him that Paul's New Testament letters of 1 and 2 Timothy were addressed.
Paul was Timothy's older friend and mentor. As Paul sat in a Roman dungeon, facing impending death, he wrote to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry.

But 1st and 2nd Timothy are also letters filled with nostalgia. Paul draws upon his memories and recalls the examples of faith and commitment he has observed in the life of Timothy.
Particularly in 2 Timothy 1:2-7, Paul reminisces about the way Timothy's faithfulness is largely a reflection of the examples and instruction which he had received from his mother and grandmother.

And, in the process, Paul pinpoints some contributions that they made to his life; contributions we will consider this morning.

Listen as I read 2^nd Timothy 1:2-5.
“To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 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.”

This passage deals with the contributions Timothy's mother and grandmother had made to him as he was growing up.

The 1^st contribution they made, and I think the most important one, is "A Living Faith."
In Vs. 5 Paul refers to the "...sincere faith, which first lived in your grand-mother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

The word "sincere" here is a word that means "without hypocrisy…. genuine."
In essence, it's a faith that is real, that has been applied realistically and consistently to the issues and situations of life.

Where Lois and Eunice came from originally... we have no idea, but we do know that they eventually settled in the Roman town of Lystra.
They had been born Jewish, but they came to know about Jesus, and they DID take their faith in Christ very seriously, seriously enough to make sure that Eunice's young son knew all about it.

What did Timothy hear and see in his home?
Assuming that he was a normal kid, everything!
That is the way it works.
Despite all the aggravation that our children give us by apparently not listening to what we tell them, they still hear and see, and it does make an impression - for good or for ill.

Those of us who have, or have had, young children
We are amazed at the things youngsters pick up.
They see commercials on TV and then, when it’s time to go to the grocery store, they’re already prepared with a mental list of all the brand names that have attracted them.

They repeat words or phrases that they hear around the house, sometimes to mommy's and daddy's embarrassment.
They remember things that parents quickly forget.
They might be naive and easily led, but kids will not be fooled for long.

And just as they are not fooled by anything else, they will not be fooled about religion either.
So, if you really want to share the Gospel with your children, or with anyone else, you had better take your own faith seriously. Paying lip-service to Christ and the church will never give the proper message.

By your attendance at Bible Study and Worship, by your participation in the life and mission of the church, by the effort you put forth in the deepening of your relationship with the Lord, you will determine what lessons about the Lord and the church your children will learn first.

One thing is certain; parents can never fool their children with a message of "Do as I say, not as I do."
Kids are too smart for that.

If you tell them that Sunday School and attendance at worship is important but you yourself find other things to do on Sundays, what message will your children get?

If you tell them that a personal relationship with the Lord is important but they never see you opening the Bible or praying, what message will they get? You know the answer!

Parents who want to make serious claim on the name "Christian" had better make sure that their faith shows in front of their children.

Apparently, Lois and Eunice lived their faith in front of Timothy. They made whatever efforts they could to learn about Jesus.

And then mother... and grand-mother passed on the results of that learning to the receptive boy.
They left him an outstanding legacy – a living faith!

This kind of living faith is what we all should demonstrate to our children, and to others around us through our actions as well as through our words.

A 2^nd contribution is given in Vs. 7.
“7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2^nd Timothy 1:7 carries a powerful message for believers: rather than being ruled by fear and timidity, God has bestowed upon us a spirit of strength, love, and self-discipline. This verse reminds us that fear does not come from God. Instead, the Holy Spirit empowers us to face life's challenges with courage and confidence.
Power The “power” mentioned here isn’t a boastful claim about our own strength; But it’s an empowerment that comes from God and enables us to overcome obstacles and to stand boldly in the face of adversity. Whether you're confronting personal challenges, uncertainties at work, or difficult decisions, this power encourages you to act with conviction and resilience.
Love is central to the Christian faith. The verse emphasizes that the Spirit God gives us a divine, unconditional love. It’s a love that motivates us to care deeply for others, forge genuine relationships, and reflect God’s compassion in our actions. This love not only transforms how we interact with people but also softens our hearts to embrace forgiveness and understanding.

Dr. Stanley Coopersmith, in a study of middle-class boys, found that children have higher esteem and become more successful and independent when they have a home where sure and consistent discipline is present.

It's been said that children need two pats on the back:
*One high enough to encourage them when they do right, and *one low enough to discourage them when they do wrong.
Dorothy Nolte wrote, "If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice." And the only way to be fair to our children is to praise where praise is appropriate, and to discipline where discipline is appropriate. And sometimes you will be making a difference in ways that you never imagined.
Yes, today is a special day. And for most of us there are many precious memories that we will always treasure.

I will close today’s lesson with this story.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.
"Is the way long?" she asked.
And her guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard.
And you will be old before you reach the end of it.
But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.
So, she played with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way.

The sun shone on them, and life was good, and the young woman cried,
"Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
Then the night came, and storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,
"Oh Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." The Mother said,
"This is better than the brightness of the day, for I have taught my children courage."

The morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary but she said to her children, "A little patience and we are there."

So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, Mother."
And the Mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said,
"This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned perseverance in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I gave them courage.
Today I have given them strength."

With the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth - clouds of war and hatred, and the children groped and stumbled.
The mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light."
And the children looked up and saw above the clouds an everlasting Glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness.
That night the Mother said,
"This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

The days went on, and weeks and months and years, and the Mother grew old, and she was little and bent.
But her children were strong and tall, and walked with courage.

When the way was hard, they helped their mother; and when the way was rough they lifted her, for she was light as a feather.
And at last they came to a hill, and golden gates open wide.

The Mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey.
And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."

The children said, "You will always walk with us mother, even when you have gone through the gates."
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her, and they said,
"We cannot see her, but she is with us still."

INVITATION

Sermon Contributor Melvin Newland