Mother's Day

Scripture: Psalm 127

Sermon preached at Gospel Light Christian Church, Singapore
by Pastor Dr Paul Choo
on 14 May 2000 9 am English Service

Introduction: Today we honor all mothers in our church - for all the love they have given us, all the labor they have bestowed upon us, all the tears they have shed for us and the example they have left us. Being a mother is one of life's most important jobs, one of its most demanding ones, and certainly one of its most rewarding ones. Today, we will learn four vital characteristics that a Christian mother must have.

Joy: Joy is the outward exuberance that results from a right relationship with God. (Happiness is the outward exuberance that results when things go according to our desires.) Joy is not easily lost because our relationship to God is an eternally unchanging one. Even when problems surround us, Christians know that they are God's children, that He is always in control of all things, that He is all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, that He loves us and wants the best for us, and that nothing can stop Him from loving us. Therefore, no Christian should ever lose her joy, unless she deliberately chooses not to think of these truths and "forces" herself to disbelieve them.

A mother's joy is her greatest gift to her family. It is such a blessing to have a joyful mother, who in spite of life's many difficulties and disappointments, continues to infect her home with her joyful spirit, and who through her joyful spirit leads her children to the Source of her joy. To all Christian mothers, God says "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). "For the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

Peace: Peace is that inward contentment that results when we know that all things are under control. Peace is greatly sought after by men. However without God as our Father, there can be no peace because there are so many things that are beyond our control. But Jesus says to us "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (PHI 4:7). Our peace with God can be lost when we sin against God. But it is immediately restored when we confess our sins "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1John 1:9). A mother who enjoys God's peace builds a peaceful environment for her family. A peaceful home is a needful refuge in this world of trouble and strife.

Thankfulness: Sinful human nature tends to focus on problems rather than blessings, and to murmur rather than to thank. But Christians are commanded to focus on good things rather than bad things so that they will have a thankful attitude. "Whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). Failure to obey this commandment results in a negative attitude that produces discouragement and depression. Mothers who learn to focus on their children's good points will be sources of encouragement to their children. This does not mean that they should ignore their children's weak points that need correction. However, it means that they must be careful not to focus on the bad points and lose sight of the good points. Mothers should be thankful for the real blessings in their families (eg. a Christian family, freedom to worship, unity in the family, healthy bodies and minds) and not be overly discouraged by things of far lesser value (eg. academic brilliance, husband's status, condominium). An unthankful person is one who thinks he failed to get what he deserved. The only thing we deserved is to go to hell!

Dependence on God: Dependence is an attitude of insufficiency, a realization that we cannot really succeed without God's help. Talented successful people have great difficulty cultivating this attitude. Mothers, who effortlessly excelled in school and career, often assume that they will also excel as mothers. They fail to realize that being a good mother is far harder than being a good student or manager. When they fail to put their babies to sleep, to eat, to be free from sickness or to obey them, they become frustrated. They then try new child-rearing formulas and implement them with greater determination. They are so busy trying to succeed that they soon forget God. When all their attempts fail, they may even question God's faithfulness to them.

The most important ingredient to successful motherhood is dependence on God. Christian mothers must realize that "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1), and that "children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalm 127:3). Mothers who are tempted to think that children are theirs to do as they please and to build-up with their own strength, must pray this prayer: "Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression" (Psalm 19:13).

Conclusion: Christian mothers must remember that their children are God's heritage to be brought up in God's way with God's help. They need the joy of the Lord that strengthens, the peace of God that comforts and godly thankfulness that uplifts, to be good mothers. Blessed Mother's Day!