WEBVTT 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:11.880 All right, let's pray. Father, I want to thank 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:14.160 you for your word. Thank you, Lord, for Mother's 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:16.559 Day. Thank you for the gift of the mom. Just 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:18.739 ask you would be with us as we go through your 00:00:18.739 --> 00:00:20.480 word, that the full counsel of your word is spoken 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.019 and taught. Help us to rightly divide it. Help 00:00:23.019 --> 00:00:25.239 us to be good Bereans and to test all things. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:27.719 I pray that you are high and lifted up, glorified 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:30.609 in all that we do, because you are the God. who 00:00:30.609 --> 00:00:32.609 gives life. We praise you and thank you in Jesus' 00:00:32.710 --> 00:00:37.049 name. Amen. So the kids have been given a task 00:00:37.049 --> 00:00:41.170 to count how many times the word she is said 00:00:41.170 --> 00:00:45.710 in today's sermon. Now, I probably won't. I'll 00:00:45.710 --> 00:00:47.549 have to go back and listen to it just to count 00:00:47.549 --> 00:00:50.590 how many she's I have said, but we're going to 00:00:50.590 --> 00:00:53.149 do that. So I hope you have your little pens 00:00:53.149 --> 00:00:54.810 ready and your little papers and your little 00:00:54.810 --> 00:00:58.539 pads. Proverbs 31. is where we're going. You're 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:00.460 like, oh, really? You had to pick out of all 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:04.859 of the scripture to compare a mom to, a woman 00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:09.260 to Proverbs 31. It's an impossible task. Well, 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:12.120 actually, if you look at it from the perspective 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:14.159 as I'm going to present it, it's actually not 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:18.819 that impossible. The words of King Lemuel, an 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:23.359 oracle that his mother taught him. Oh, wow. So 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:27.739 this entire Scripture, Proverbs 31, is an oracle, 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:31.299 a teaching, an instruction that was given to 00:01:31.299 --> 00:01:36.400 King Lamuel from his mom. So that kind of settles 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:38.939 some things, doesn't it? What are you doing, 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:42.939 my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:46.920 are you doing, son of my vow? Do not give your 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:50.659 strength to women, your ways to those who destroy 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:56.189 kings. It is not. For kings, O Lemuel, it is 00:01:56.189 --> 00:02:00.310 not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to 00:02:00.310 --> 00:02:03.370 take strong drink, lest they drink and forget 00:02:03.370 --> 00:02:07.450 what has been decreed and pervert the rights 00:02:07.450 --> 00:02:10.909 of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to the 00:02:10.909 --> 00:02:14.409 one who is perishing and the wine to those in 00:02:14.409 --> 00:02:17.870 bitter distress. Let them drink and forget their 00:02:17.870 --> 00:02:21.030 poverty and remember their misery no more. Open 00:02:21.030 --> 00:02:24.780 your mouth. for the mute, for the rights of all 00:02:24.780 --> 00:02:30.060 who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, 00:02:30.219 --> 00:02:33.719 defend the rights of the poor and needy. An excellent 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:37.400 wife who can find she is far more precious than 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:41.620 jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:46.479 and he will have no lack. gain. She does him 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.199 good and not harm all the days of her life. She 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:52.539 seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands. 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:55.939 She is like the ships of the merchant. She brings 00:02:55.939 --> 00:02:58.819 her food from afar. She rises while it is yet 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:02.240 night and provides food for her household and 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.219 portions for her maidens. She considers a field 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:09.259 and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:13.020 plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:17.780 and makes her arm strong. She perceives that 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:22.139 her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does 00:03:22.139 --> 00:03:26.120 not go out at night. She puts her hands to the 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:30.060 staff and her hands hold to the spindle. She 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:33.620 opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:37.659 hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow. 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:41.580 for her household, for all of her household are 00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:46.099 clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:48.979 herself. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:52.800 Her husband is known in the gates, and he sits 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.360 among the elders of the land. She makes linen 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:59.580 garments and sells them. She delivers sashes 00:03:59.580 --> 00:04:02.439 to the merchants. Strength and dignity are her 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:06.300 clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:10.090 She opens her mouth. with wisdom, and the teaching 00:04:10.090 --> 00:04:13.229 of kindness is on her tongue, and does not eat 00:04:13.229 --> 00:04:15.909 the bread of idleness. Her children rise and 00:04:15.909 --> 00:04:19.250 call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises 00:04:19.250 --> 00:04:22.730 her. Many women have done excellently, but you 00:04:22.730 --> 00:04:25.949 surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty 00:04:25.949 --> 00:04:28.610 is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to 00:04:28.610 --> 00:04:32.170 be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, 00:04:32.189 --> 00:04:35.970 and let her works Praise her in the gates. First 00:04:35.970 --> 00:04:37.709 thing I want you to notice, gentlemen, is it 00:04:37.709 --> 00:04:40.509 has nothing to do with you. We'll handle that 00:04:40.509 --> 00:04:43.350 right in the beginning. You're like, ooh, that 00:04:43.350 --> 00:04:44.949 just like took the air right out of the balloon. 00:04:46.329 --> 00:04:49.709 A mother's heart for her kids. Listen to your 00:04:49.709 --> 00:04:52.629 mother's warnings. Wisdom is found in the lips 00:04:52.629 --> 00:04:55.829 of a godly mother, and failure to heed will bring 00:04:55.829 --> 00:05:00.250 calamity. Mom has a lot to say. I said this earlier. 00:05:01.050 --> 00:05:05.490 My wife's right 90 % of the time. You're like, 00:05:05.550 --> 00:05:07.490 what happened to the other 10 %? I can't make 00:05:07.490 --> 00:05:13.910 her perfect. But she's usually right. I know 00:05:13.910 --> 00:05:15.269 some of you women are saying, what happened to 00:05:15.269 --> 00:05:19.990 99 .9? At least there's one 10th left. Sorry, 00:05:20.129 --> 00:05:22.649 can't do that. I at least want to be right 10 00:05:22.649 --> 00:05:27.589 % of the time. Proverbs 1, 8 through 9 says this, 00:05:27.649 --> 00:05:29.649 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:34.180 Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:37.639 son, your father's instruction, and forsake not 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:41.319 your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:45.480 garland on your head and pendants for your neck. 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:50.019 Proverbs 31, 1 through 9. I want you to notice 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:52.100 a couple things here. It says the words of King 00:05:52.100 --> 00:05:57.129 Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught. This 00:05:57.129 --> 00:06:00.790 is his mother's righteous and sound instruction, 00:06:01.050 --> 00:06:05.430 not his father's. His mother taught him. Notice 00:06:05.430 --> 00:06:08.250 these three things. What are you doing, my son? 00:06:09.410 --> 00:06:12.730 What are you doing, son of my womb? What are 00:06:12.730 --> 00:06:16.509 you doing, son of my vow? Every single son has 00:06:16.509 --> 00:06:19.490 brought terror and white hair to the mother's 00:06:19.490 --> 00:06:22.810 head. I'm telling you right now. This is sort 00:06:22.810 --> 00:06:25.230 of like this. I'll say it like South Jersey. 00:06:25.850 --> 00:06:30.470 What are you, stupid? Are you kidding me? I carried 00:06:30.470 --> 00:06:32.490 you for nine months and you don't listen to me 00:06:32.490 --> 00:06:36.089 ever. Oh, I gave it to the Lord and you're still 00:06:36.089 --> 00:06:40.149 not listening, you crazy nut. If you're Italian, 00:06:40.269 --> 00:06:43.629 you know exactly what I'm saying. I mean, it's 00:06:43.629 --> 00:06:46.089 three times. First, he reminds him, hey, you're 00:06:46.089 --> 00:06:48.730 my son. Second, I carried you for nine months 00:06:48.730 --> 00:06:51.089 and you still don't listen. And third, you made 00:06:51.089 --> 00:06:53.129 a promise and you're still not keeping your promises. 00:06:53.589 --> 00:06:56.300 That's exactly what it means. Do not give your 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:58.480 strength to a woman and your ways to destroy 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:02.480 kings. A mother's wisdom. Keep yourself chaste 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:06.920 until you marry. Because when you give yourself 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:09.879 away, it drains you of your life. That's what 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:12.620 she's saying here. Why? She's a woman. She sees. 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:16.279 She knows. She knows. Notice, she also tells 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:19.180 him, oh, King Lamuel, it's not for kings to drink 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:22.930 wine and for rulers to have strong drink. In 00:07:22.930 --> 00:07:26.170 other words, how many moms have begged their 00:07:26.170 --> 00:07:28.189 kids not to get drunk or become an alcoholic 00:07:28.189 --> 00:07:30.870 or get addicted to drugs? It's going to kill 00:07:30.870 --> 00:07:35.069 you. And not only does it kill you, it perverts, 00:07:35.209 --> 00:07:38.990 it causes you to forget the law that's there 00:07:38.990 --> 00:07:42.110 to protect you. And it perverts and affects the 00:07:42.110 --> 00:07:44.649 rights of those around you. That's what she's 00:07:44.649 --> 00:07:47.189 saying here. How do I, why do I know this? Because 00:07:47.189 --> 00:07:49.910 my mom did the same thing with my brother who 00:07:49.910 --> 00:07:53.660 died from a heroin overdose. begged him. Did 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:57.639 he listen? No. Listen to your mother. She knows. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:07:59.779 Notice it says, give strong drink to those who 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:02.300 are perishing. For those who just want to continue 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:05.360 to destroy their lives, they will destroy their 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.240 lives without any hesitation. When God gives 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.519 grace and mercy, latch onto that because God 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:14.620 is giving you life to run away from the thing 00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:18.079 that has snatched you. Notice it says here in 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:21.110 verse Seven, let them drink and forget their 00:08:21.110 --> 00:08:24.230 poverty and remember their misery no more. Eventually, 00:08:24.310 --> 00:08:27.029 they won't remember anything. By God's grace, 00:08:27.089 --> 00:08:30.149 if God has given you life, embrace it. Open your 00:08:30.149 --> 00:08:33.409 mouth for the mute, for the rights of those who 00:08:33.409 --> 00:08:36.210 are destitute. You should be men, you should 00:08:36.210 --> 00:08:39.269 be speakers, speaking on behalf of those who 00:08:39.269 --> 00:08:42.490 cannot speak for themselves. This is from a mother's 00:08:42.490 --> 00:08:46.029 mouth. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend 00:08:46.029 --> 00:08:48.730 the rights of the poor and the needy. Take care 00:08:48.730 --> 00:08:50.570 of those who cannot take care of themselves. 00:08:50.889 --> 00:08:53.809 That's wisdom from a mother's mouth. So I want 00:08:53.809 --> 00:08:56.490 you to notice here in this oracle that's been 00:08:56.490 --> 00:09:01.409 given to King Lemuel. This is a mother giving 00:09:01.409 --> 00:09:04.990 him directions on how to lead. You know who develops 00:09:04.990 --> 00:09:07.950 leaders in the home? You know who develops godly 00:09:07.950 --> 00:09:12.250 men? Moms. Why? Because when dad's out there 00:09:12.250 --> 00:09:14.809 working eight hours a day, guess who's forming 00:09:14.809 --> 00:09:18.059 and molding that man into being a man? Their 00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:21.220 mother, you come and you lead your wife. She 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:25.200 leads the kids. Notice what it says. Next, biblical 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:28.860 principle. Biblical motherhood starts with how 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:32.480 well she partners with her husband. How you treat 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:35.879 your husband teaches children more than what 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:38.539 you say about how a Christian woman should be. 00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:41.259 The greatest gift that you can give your kids 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:44.230 is to love their father. and to treat him with 00:09:44.230 --> 00:09:46.730 respect and honor as God has assigned him the 00:09:46.730 --> 00:09:49.330 responsibility to be the head of the home, the 00:09:49.330 --> 00:09:52.169 leader who leads in service and in servitude. 00:09:52.789 --> 00:09:56.470 That's how men lead. Men become slaves. What 00:09:56.470 --> 00:09:59.490 did Jesus say? Peter, if I do not wash your feet, 00:09:59.669 --> 00:10:03.529 you will have no part with me. Treat him well. 00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:08.070 Love him well. Be faithful to him, and your kids 00:10:08.070 --> 00:10:10.509 will learn what it means to be faithful. First 00:10:10.509 --> 00:10:14.600 Peter 3, 1 through 2. Likewise, wives, be subject 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:17.700 to your own husbands so that even if some do 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:20.840 not obey the word, they may be won without a 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:24.480 word by the conduct of their wives when they 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:28.620 see your respectful and pure conduct. What's 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:31.179 interesting about this word subject means partner. 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:35.220 Walk alongside with, work with, together with, 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:40.379 support with, fit him even if he's not a believer. 00:10:40.990 --> 00:10:44.129 Don't give up. Proverbs 31, 10 through 12. An 00:10:44.129 --> 00:10:48.149 excellent wife who can find. I found one. I know 00:10:48.149 --> 00:10:50.509 all of you are saying, well, if you're married, 00:10:50.629 --> 00:10:52.769 you have to say the same thing. Because if you 00:10:52.769 --> 00:10:55.009 don't, you're in deep trouble when you go home. 00:10:56.470 --> 00:10:58.450 So hopefully you can say your wife's excellent. 00:10:58.970 --> 00:11:05.110 I do. I don't have a choice. She is far more 00:11:05.110 --> 00:11:09.929 precious than jewels. Her value is beyond measure, 00:11:10.129 --> 00:11:13.690 and she is priceless. So much more valuable and 00:11:13.690 --> 00:11:16.929 priceless than jewels is a wife to a husband. 00:11:17.149 --> 00:11:20.970 There is nothing more valuable in my life than 00:11:20.970 --> 00:11:24.649 my wife besides Jesus. Nothing. And I say this 00:11:24.649 --> 00:11:26.970 to my kids ever since they were little. When 00:11:26.970 --> 00:11:28.669 they would mouth off and give mom a hard time, 00:11:28.889 --> 00:11:31.889 don't talk to my wife that way. You're going 00:11:31.889 --> 00:11:35.909 to grow up, move out, get your own family. I 00:11:35.909 --> 00:11:39.539 got to die with her. Leave her alone. Respect 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:42.879 her. Don't talk to my wife that way. Not don't 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:45.080 talk to your mother that way. Don't talk to my 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:50.519 wife that way. She's mine. My gift. Now, thank 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:55.159 you. She does him. Notice what it says here. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:58.659 The heart of her husband trusts in her and he 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:01.820 will have no lack of gain. There's nothing that 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:04.620 I don't trust my wife with. Nothing. Trust me. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:07.049 She grabs my phone anytime she wants. Just saying. 00:12:07.169 --> 00:12:09.769 She does him good and not harm all the days of 00:12:09.769 --> 00:12:12.049 her life. Does she do, do you do your husband 00:12:12.049 --> 00:12:15.210 good? Are you working and partnering and edifying 00:12:15.210 --> 00:12:18.629 him? Next principle. A woman living biblical 00:12:18.629 --> 00:12:21.470 motherhood is never found to be idle. She is 00:12:21.470 --> 00:12:26.250 always doing what she was designed to do. Galatians, 00:12:26.269 --> 00:12:29.009 I mean, Genesis 2, 15 says, and 18 says this. 00:12:29.110 --> 00:12:31.549 For God took the man and put him in the garden 00:12:31.549 --> 00:12:36.940 of Eden to work it and keep it. Verse 18, then 00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:40.519 God said, it is not good for man that man should 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:45.460 be alone. I will make a helper fit for him. So 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:48.879 I want you to get this, men. She is your helper, 00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:52.539 one who works with you in the garden, not someone 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:56.840 you tell what to do. She is not your slave, and 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:59.740 you are not dominant over her. You walk with 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:03.080 her and you guide her. You lovingly care and 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:05.740 protect her and you work together. You invite 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:09.620 her into the work together with her. She's there 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:13.120 to fit you, not for you to control. Biblical 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:18.019 men who lead, lead by being a slave and edifying 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:21.240 his wife so that she's willing to walk alongside 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:25.200 with her husband to accomplish what God has set 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:29.419 for them to do. I could not be the pastor I am 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:32.980 today without my wife's complete and total partnership 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:37.860 and support in what we do. Very important. Now, 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:43.659 Proverbs 31, 13 through 16. She seeks wool and 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:47.120 flax. Notice, she seeks it. She doesn't go to 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:49.019 her husband and say, honey, you know, I need 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:51.659 some clothes for the kids. I got to make clothes. 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:54.299 Is it all right if I buy that? Because if she 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:56.950 doesn't buy it, guess who runs around? Without 00:13:56.950 --> 00:14:00.730 clothes on. They're kids. Not good. But notice 00:14:00.730 --> 00:14:02.929 what she does. Not only does she do that, but 00:14:02.929 --> 00:14:04.590 she also does some other things with it. Look 00:14:04.590 --> 00:14:08.710 what it says. She seeks wool and works with willing 00:14:08.710 --> 00:14:13.409 hands. She delights in working with her hands. 00:14:13.529 --> 00:14:17.210 She finds God's purpose and plan for her life 00:14:17.210 --> 00:14:20.230 to be busy doing what God has equipped her to 00:14:20.230 --> 00:14:24.049 do. She is like the ships of the merchant. She 00:14:24.049 --> 00:14:27.740 brings her food from afar. So not only does she 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:30.899 take care of your clothes, washes them, folds 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:34.539 them, sometimes irons them. She also cooks your 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:37.179 dinners. When you come home from work, what's 00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:40.259 the first thing you do? Sit on the couch, hit 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:43.000 your recliner, ask her for something to drink. 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:47.940 Hey, you know what my wife say? Get up and get 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:52.899 it yourself. That's what she would say. I know, 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:55.019 babe. She's helping me get up and get it myself. 00:14:57.040 --> 00:15:00.259 No, her job is not to serve at my every beck 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:03.779 and call. What should men do? Men, like Jesus, 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:07.519 go in after a long day's work, see a bunch of 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.340 piled dishes, and they do the dishes. You're 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:12.639 like, well, that's not fair. I worked all day. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:16.120 She did too. She managed your house, cleaned 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:19.139 your laundry, took care of the kids, took out 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:21.960 the dog, made you dinner, made sure they ate 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:24.379 lunch, taught them school all day, and then you 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.980 want to come home and act like you're Mr. King. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:30.740 Notice what it says here. She rises while it 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:33.139 is yet night and provides food for her household 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:35.720 and portions for her maidens. Now, I don't have 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.620 any slave, but I will tell you, there are many 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:39.759 times my wife usually goes to bed really late. 00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:42.720 I know because anyone who talks and texts her 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:49.320 at night, I know you. I'm in bed. My wife's still 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:55.940 up. So she's busy preparing. How many times has 00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:59.720 she prepared food the previous day in order to 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:01.860 make sure you had food for the next day? Or that 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:05.100 you have lunch to take to work? That's your wife. 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:08.860 She's managing and running the house. She considers, 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:12.620 she devises and purposes a field and buys it. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.759 Notice, she doesn't go to her husband and ask 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.379 permission to buy a field. You're going to notice 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:21.490 something here in a minute. Why? Why does she, 00:16:21.490 --> 00:16:25.509 on her own, devise plan and purpose to buy a 00:16:25.509 --> 00:16:29.750 field? Because she has to feed her family. Look 00:16:29.750 --> 00:16:32.470 what it says. With the fruit of her hands, she 00:16:32.470 --> 00:16:34.929 plants a vineyard with the field she just bought. 00:16:35.470 --> 00:16:38.009 Do you know what that means? Not only does she 00:16:38.009 --> 00:16:42.350 provide food, grapes for her family, she's provided 00:16:42.350 --> 00:16:46.029 revenue. Because vineyards are very expensive. 00:16:46.289 --> 00:16:50.389 They produce wine and other things that she gets 00:16:50.389 --> 00:16:54.230 to sell. Isn't that interesting? She is always 00:16:54.230 --> 00:16:57.070 looking for ways to care and provide for her 00:16:57.070 --> 00:17:00.350 family. She is fulfilling the work mandate as 00:17:00.350 --> 00:17:03.730 prescribed and commanded by God in Genesis 2. 00:17:04.410 --> 00:17:07.329 She's fulfilling what she's supposed to do as 00:17:07.329 --> 00:17:10.369 a wife. If I trust her, I need to trust her with 00:17:10.369 --> 00:17:14.000 the money. I only trust you but this far because 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.299 I need to manage it all. We do it together or 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:19.740 it don't get done. The beauty of a woman living 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:23.759 biblical motherhood is not in attire that draws 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.619 the eye. It's not in what she wears that draws 00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:29.460 the eye, but she is clothed in strength and dignity. 00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:36.339 1 Peter 3 -6, chapter 3 -6. Do not let your adorning 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:38.460 be external, the braiding of hair or the putting 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:41.099 on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear, 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:44.119 but let her adorning be the hidden person of 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:47.079 the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:51.680 and quiet spirit. She's not demanding, pushy. 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:55.579 She partners, she works together, she communicates 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:58.200 clearly. She's not screaming at the top of her 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:01.319 lungs because in God's sight, it is very precious, 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.640 that gentle and quiet spirit. For this is how 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:07.880 the holy women who hoped in God used to endure 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:10.839 themselves by submitting to their own husband. 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:15.140 As Sarah obeyed Abraham. This word obeyed means 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:19.019 honored. As she honored him by calling him Lord, 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:21.920 by calling him dear, by calling him my love, 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:26.140 by calling him my king. Not my master slave, 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:31.019 but master husband. And then, and you are her 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:34.240 children if you do good. And do not fear anything 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:37.279 that is frightening. Why? Because she is sure 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:40.859 in the hands of her God and her husband. Proverbs 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:45.700 31, 17 through 25. She dresses herself. She girds 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:50.779 and prepares herself with purpose. She gets ready 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:55.579 on purpose. I got a mission. What does she dress 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:58.359 herself with? With strength. And she makes her 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:01.839 arms strong. This makes her arm strong is God's 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:05.400 symbol of strength for her family and those in 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:09.480 her life. I am getting myself ready to walk alongside 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:13.099 you, partner with you, work with you. I got work 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:17.539 to do. That's the idea. She perceives, she knows 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:20.359 with confidence that her merchandise is profitable. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:23.099 Think about it. I mean, she just bought a field. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:25.960 She's making wine. She's like, I can make some 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:29.390 serious money. She perceives, she knows with 00:19:29.390 --> 00:19:31.269 confidence that her merchandise is profitable. 00:19:31.509 --> 00:19:34.289 Her lamp does not go out at night. She works 00:19:34.289 --> 00:19:37.589 and continues to work. She puts her hands to 00:19:37.589 --> 00:19:40.029 the distaff and her hands hold to the spindle. 00:19:40.069 --> 00:19:42.730 She's the one doing the work when you're busy 00:19:42.730 --> 00:19:47.190 doing other things, dad. She opens her hand to 00:19:47.190 --> 00:19:49.509 the poor and reaches out her hand to the needy. 00:19:50.089 --> 00:19:53.210 She is always compassionate to those who are 00:19:53.210 --> 00:19:55.910 less fortunate. She is not afraid of the snow 00:19:55.910 --> 00:19:58.309 for her household. Why? Because she's already 00:19:58.309 --> 00:20:00.690 prepared them for the clothing she needs. For 00:20:00.690 --> 00:20:04.390 all her household is clothed in scarlet. She's 00:20:04.390 --> 00:20:08.490 given them the best of what she has. She makes 00:20:08.490 --> 00:20:11.390 bed coverings for herself. You notice she doesn't 00:20:11.390 --> 00:20:14.130 forget about taking care of herself. She takes 00:20:14.130 --> 00:20:17.670 care of herself also. Her clothing is fine linen 00:20:17.670 --> 00:20:20.529 and purple. Her husband is known in the gates 00:20:20.529 --> 00:20:23.289 when she sits among the elders of the land. Notice, 00:20:23.430 --> 00:20:27.390 she makes her husband popular. When a wife partners 00:20:27.390 --> 00:20:30.829 with her husband and they are busy accomplishing 00:20:30.829 --> 00:20:34.150 what God has set out for them to do, everyone 00:20:34.150 --> 00:20:38.490 knows them. We are no greater than the women 00:20:38.490 --> 00:20:43.009 that God has given us. She makes linen garments 00:20:43.009 --> 00:20:46.690 and sells them. She delivers sashes to the merchant. 00:20:46.869 --> 00:20:49.269 You don't do that. I don't know about you, but 00:20:49.269 --> 00:20:52.470 this woman is making some serious cash. Strength 00:20:52.470 --> 00:20:54.690 and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs 00:20:54.690 --> 00:20:57.549 at the time to come. She has no fear. She has 00:20:57.549 --> 00:21:01.269 contempt for what's coming. It's a joke. It doesn't 00:21:01.269 --> 00:21:05.390 matter, she says. Women living biblical motherhood, 00:21:05.410 --> 00:21:08.910 as God designed, commands praise and respect, 00:21:09.170 --> 00:21:12.720 especially from her family. Do you respect? your 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:16.119 mom? Do you respect your wife? Do you proclaim 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:19.900 and give praise and honor to the woman that God 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:23.579 has put in you? This life giver. Psalm 127 verse 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:26.039 3. I want you to hear this. This is huge. Psalm 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:29.539 127 verse 3 and Proverbs 14 .1. Proverbs 14 .1 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.759 is going to wreck a lot of men's ideas. It's 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:35.369 just amazing. Behold, children are a heritage 00:21:35.369 --> 00:21:38.529 from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward. 00:21:38.730 --> 00:21:43.069 The only reason why we as men can claim that 00:21:43.069 --> 00:21:45.930 we have arrows in the quiver is because our wives 00:21:45.930 --> 00:21:50.410 give them to us by God's grace and his will. 00:21:50.650 --> 00:21:53.069 But I want you to notice something else. Proverbs 00:21:53.069 --> 00:21:56.869 14, 1. I want you to hear this, men. Pay attention, 00:21:57.049 --> 00:22:01.150 gentlemen. The wisest of women builds her house. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:06.519 But folly with her own hands tears it down. A 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:10.079 woman can make a house successful, strong, and 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:12.920 powerful if she's partnering alongside with her 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.839 husband and they are walking together for the 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:17.680 glory and edification of God and the accomplishment 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:20.819 of bringing up godly children. But she, in the 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:23.819 same breath, can tear it down. There is nothing 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:26.559 worse than a scornful woman. But there's nothing 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:30.599 greater than a woman who does the will of God. 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:35.160 and obeys him. Proverbs 31, 26 through 27, no, 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:39.500 31, sorry. She opens her mouth with wisdom. Notice 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:43.700 that. Your kids get their wisdom from their mother. 00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:46.240 And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:50.339 How well should you care for her? She looks well 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:52.980 to the ways of her household and does not eat 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:56.500 the bread of idleness. I can tell you that for 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:59.619 sure. I wake up in the morning. I don't know 00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:02.759 about you. But my brain isn't working. I need 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:06.559 like an hour and a half. I've sat down for like 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.460 45 minutes. My wife comes out and says, what 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:12.220 are you doing? I said, I just woke up. She said, 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:15.779 45 minutes ago. I said, I need another hour. 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:19.680 What does she do? Right in the kitchen starts 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:22.299 working. I'm like, oh my goodness. Showing me 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:24.640 up. I'm like, sometimes I just sit and enjoy. 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:26.900 Because I'm just like, my brain is like, ooh. 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:31.420 She allows me. She allows me. Look what else 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:35.180 it says here. She looks well to the ways of her 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.759 household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:40.559 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:44.319 husband also, and he praises her. Do you understand 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:46.200 how blessed you are with the woman that God has 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:48.900 given you? The life giver that God has given. 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:51.539 It's the greatest gift that the next salvation 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:55.259 God could ever give is your wife. There is no 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:58.789 greater gift. that you could give your kids to 00:23:58.789 --> 00:24:02.809 love your wife in front of them. My kids get 00:24:02.809 --> 00:24:04.529 gross when I go, hi, honey, and give her a little 00:24:04.529 --> 00:24:07.369 hug and kiss. She's like bugging out. They're 00:24:07.369 --> 00:24:09.890 like, ew, that's gross. I'm like, you're 19. 00:24:10.170 --> 00:24:17.829 Give me a break. Many women have done accidentally, 00:24:18.109 --> 00:24:21.130 but you surpassed them all. A charm is deceitful 00:24:21.130 --> 00:24:22.990 and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the 00:24:22.990 --> 00:24:26.200 Lord is to be praised. Give her. of the fruit 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:28.839 of her hands, and let her work. Praise her in 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:31.440 the gates. There's one more mother I want to 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:34.200 be able to talk about, and that is a mother who 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:37.319 is single. Didn't do this in first service, but 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:40.960 I will do it here. I grew up with a mom who was 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:44.440 single. I want you to think about that. She raised 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:48.039 two boys. By God's grace, God redeems one and 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:50.700 calls him to ministry. The other, not so much. 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:54.019 But my mom was a life giver. There are two types 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:57.299 of single moms. Ones where their husbands don't 00:24:57.299 --> 00:25:00.420 have enough gumption, don't have enough gumption 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:03.259 or guts to continue to love their family and 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:05.700 lead them and guide them and walk with them. 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:08.220 The second are those who lose their husbands. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:11.500 It's our responsibility as the church, as best 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:13.720 as we possibly can, to come alongside those women. 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:17.220 It's hard enough to try to raise kids with parents. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:20.619 It's harder to raise kids without them, at least 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:24.170 one. The burden that single moms have is greater 00:25:24.170 --> 00:25:26.950 than I could ever imagine. And my mom worked 00:25:26.950 --> 00:25:30.869 her rear end off. So remember those whose fathers 00:25:30.869 --> 00:25:34.130 are gone, who are left alone, who we must come 00:25:34.130 --> 00:25:37.130 alongside and walk with and be the support that 00:25:37.130 --> 00:25:40.609 she needs until the Lord provides another. Father, 00:25:40.690 --> 00:25:42.009 I want to thank you so much for your goodness 00:25:42.009 --> 00:25:44.630 and faithfulness. Thank you for your grace and 00:25:44.630 --> 00:25:47.190 mercy. Thank you, Lord, for the moms, the life 00:25:47.190 --> 00:25:50.089 givers. Thank you for the moms that continue 00:25:50.089 --> 00:25:52.549 to work hard. partnering with their husbands, 00:25:52.789 --> 00:25:55.190 walking side by side, accomplishing your purpose 00:25:55.190 --> 00:25:59.670 and your plan and your task. She is a gift. Thank 00:25:59.670 --> 00:26:03.450 you for the moms who are alone, still raising 00:26:03.450 --> 00:26:06.589 kids, walking with their children, teaching them 00:26:06.589 --> 00:26:09.390 their ways. I pray, Lord, that you would continue 00:26:09.390 --> 00:26:13.910 to remember them, provide for them as the church 00:26:13.910 --> 00:26:16.150 comes alongside them. I pray that you would be 00:26:16.150 --> 00:26:18.809 honored and glorified in all things. Lord, we 00:26:18.809 --> 00:26:20.430 praise you and thank you for your faithfulness 00:26:20.430 --> 00:26:22.430 to be honor and glory forever. In Jesus' name, 00:26:22.569 --> 00:26:23.289 amen.