Notes from the Pulpit

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Honoring Mothers

We are going to take a break from our Profiles in Leadership series to spend some time focusing on our moms today. For the past several months, we have heard some lessons on how we should honor God through our worship of Him – not just when we gather on Sunday, but every day of our lives, in everything we say and do. The way we treat our mothers is no different, and how we honor our moms today and every day is a reflection of how we worship and honor God.

Imagine if you heard someone say, an adult or a child, that they hated their mom. What kind of person would you think they would be? Would you think they were kind and sincere? Would you want to be their friend? You know, how you treat your mom is a reflection on your capability to love others and your God. Your mother is your first caregiver. She is the source of life and nourishment. She is the first person you learn to trust and rely on. We learn to love God through learning to love our mothers. Loving and respecting our mothers honors and worships God.

Learning from the Pharisees

It is very clear in the Bible how Jesus wants us to treat our parents. He called those who were worshipping on Saturday in the temple but not taking care of their moms “hypocrites.” We have a specific example in the Bible of this when Jesus was talking to the Pharisees.

Matthew 15:1-9:

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

“This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Honoring our parents is obviously a very serious thing to our Heavenly Father, but the Pharisees made rules where God had not and strayed from God’s teachings in an attempt to protect His laws. Their traditions ran counter to God’s will in some areas. Likewise, How easy is it for us to say we give our glory and honor to God and all the while not show honor to our mothers. In so doing, we can void God’s word, and become hypocrites.

Worthy of Honor

There are several passages in both the Old and New Testaments that deal with how we should be treating our mothers. Proverbs 1:8-9 and 6:20-22 tell us how we should be listening to the advice and teachings of our mothers, how those lessons should be as companions to us in our lives. Proverbs 31:26-28 then reminds us that we will bless our mothers for the wisdom they share with us. Furthermore, we know the first couple verses of Ephesians 6 wherePaul tells us to honor our fathers and mothers. II Timothy 1 then shows the result of the man Timothy keeping the teachings of his mother and grandmother – he grows to be a preacher in Christ and a companion to Paul.

Even when facing his own death, Jesus takes time to consider His mother. In John 19:25-27, Jesus sees to it that the apostle John will look after Mary after He is gone. In this setting, Jesus is already hanging from the cross. He has been beaten, spat upon, and verbally abused. He is tired and in great physical pain. He is reaching the culmination of the Father’s difficult plan for Him, yet He takes this brief moment to honor His mother, to make sure she will be cared for after He is gone. Honoring our mothers is a core aspect of a Christ-like life.

Practical Steps to Honor Mothers

There are many ways we can show honor to our mothers while we’re still living at hime. These may include:

Helping out around the house, especially with things we assume mom will take care of.
Keeping a good attitude when she asks us to do something.
Behaving when she’s not around, remembering our conduct is a reflection on her.
Being kind to her when our friends are around, even if it won’t win any points with our friends.
Talk to her, especially when she asks about how our day went.
Find ways to show gratitude for everything she does.

Then here are some ways we can honor our mothers after moving out:

For those who live far away from our mom’s, talk to her at least once a week. Ask her about how things are going in her life.
Ask her for advice on raising children.
If your dad has died, or if she is divorced, or just by herself, take extra time to talk with her.
Take care of her in every way, especially if she is older. Ensure that she is living in dignity.
Does she have grandchildren? If so, ensure that your children call grandma frequently.
For those of us who are married, respect our mother-in-laws and our wives. How we treat them reflects back on the honor we have for our own mothers.

Finally, here are some ways we can honor our mothers who have passed on:

When we continue to do those things that made her proud when she was alive.
There are many folks that may know of you because of your mother and you may not have known personally. Your mother can be honored by your sharing memories of her with folks who knew her.
Mothers can be honored by sharing her life experiences as an example when teaching godly principles.
Passing on her teachings to your children honors your mother.

Conclusion

Regardless if you are still living with your mom at home, or if you have moved out of the house, or if your mom is no longer living, honoring her is one way for us to honor and worship God. How is your relationship with your mom today, or more important, how is your relationship every day? Do you show her respect? Do you show her love? Have you told her lately? Maybe you are practically estranged from your mom? If so, now is a good time to work on that relationship and your relationship with God.

Moms, we hope you have a great day today! And for those of us who might not treat you very well at times, or take you for granted, we are going to do better. We are going to love you more and we are going to love God, and honor Him, not just today, but everyday!

lesson by Ben Lanius, Robert Smelser

, and Dawson Guyer

Comments

14 May

I’m putting comments on indefinite hold. Since launching the new blog, I’ve moderated a couple thousand comments and have approved only a handful. Most have been spam. A few have contained language or attitudes I don’t want reflected here. Some have been drawn out political rants that have little bearing on the spiritual points contained in the related posts.

I’ve spent a great deal more time wading through comment moderation than actually posting new content or updating the older articles to the new format. So they’re turned off right now. I apologize if this inconveniences you in any way. Hopefully, though, it will remove one of the obstacles in my path to updating this site more often.

Worship 24×7: Taxes

16 Apr

As we’ve visited and revisited the concept of worship 24×7, we’ve been talking about how we worship God in all aspects of our lives – and today we’re talking about our taxes. None of us particularly enjoy taxes. We may not like the concept of taxes. Filling out the forms is a pain. Paying for someone else to do the taxes is burdensome. And the prospect of taxes can sometimes affect our Christian attitudes and conduct, so what does the Bible have to say about this touchy subject?

We sometimes feel bitter about taxes; we see it as someone else taking what is rightfully ours. Paying taxes, though, has been around for centuries, and our feelings about taxes are nothing new. In Matthew 22, the Pharisees want to set Jesus up with a politically loaded question, and, beginning in verse 17, they ask Him about paying taxes to Caesar – a tax that helped fund their Roman occupation. His answer could have potentially alienated one side or the other, but Jesus diffuses the question with a simple answer of priorities. Give to the government what is theirs and give to God what is God’s.

Jesus does not say to only pay taxes for leaders you like. He does not say to pay taxes only when you agree how government money is used. He does not advocate civil disobedience with taxation. Romans 13:1-7 reminds us that God allows these worldly authorities to exist and that we should live submissively and peacefully while under secular rule. Paul writes this passage to people living under the Roman government, and he reminds them that government exists to help maintain orderly society – whether or not we like the order they put in place.

These governments and leaders may not rule by godly standards, but He still grants them authority as a husband has authority over his family or elders have authority over a congregation. While some of these may abuse authority, that does not remove the responsibility of those living in subjection. The Roman government persecuted Christians, promoted extremely immoral behaviors, was cruel, was unmerciful – but Paul says to be subject and to pay taxes.

And, if we live as we should under authority, then we can live without fear. If we try to find tax loopholes, if we try to evade our taxes or cheat on them, we are stealing what belongs to others. Moreover, we are rejecting God through our dishonesty. Paul says we owe these taxes, and we enjoy many privileges because of these taxes, even if we can list off a litany of things we disagree with. God demands we render unto Caesar what Caesar is due, whether we like our current Caesar or not. We can say to ourselves that the government is corrupt, that we don’t agree with how the money is spent or not spent, that we think the politicians are unworthy. The point is living godly, and we must do as God expects.

Philippians 4:8-9 reads:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Our lives should be centered on this kind of living, praising God in our every action. Our focus should not be on everything bad we see around us, but on the good. And we should all be good influences on others around us. We should be an example of something better. Sometimes, such an example begins with a simple act of unusual behavior – like paying our taxes honestly and without complaint.