Today, we come together to celebrate motherhood.
In the beginning when God created man in His own image, He chose to do it in a unique way that leaves us guessing and speculating about why He chose to do so. He first created a man, formed out of the mud. God called everything that He had created good. As time went on, however, God said that it was not good for man to be alone. That statement still rings true today. Men, left on their own, well, it’s not good.
*Dumb things guys do compilation video*
Until we come to understand and agree with this truth, we’ll never fully appreciate and value how God completed mankind: with woman. Today, we celebrate you, the many strong women of God that we’ve been blessed with. After all, where else but from our mothers would we receive awesome nuggets of wisdom like some of these.
*Mom wisdom compilation video*
For most moms out there, you’ve probably heard your mothers words flying out of your own mouth from time to time. Those words, “just wait until you have kids, I hope you have one just like you” might have a bit of a sting to them today. Sometimes the hardest thing to see is the mirror of our kids talking and acting like us!
This morning, we go to God’s word to gain His wisdom specifically for women. Our hope is that His word would encourage and inspire each woman to reach her full potential in Christ. Your responsibilities are heavy ones and I’m sure that you often face discouragement, fear, and weariness. Jesus is here this morning, however, to encourage, love, and strengthen you as you serve Him in all these things.
One of the primary responsibilities that any woman of God carries, especially mothers, is to be a builder.
Proverbs 14:1
The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
The Hebrew word here used for the word house, bayith, is far more inclusive than the building in which this wise woman dwells. This word includes not only the home, but also the family and all of its affairs. As is the case with most things in life, Solomon left no middle ground when it came to the act of building. There is either wise or foolish; either a builder or one who tears down their household.
Of course, it’s God’s will that women be wise builders when it comes to their households, building them up ever-reaching toward its full potential. Whether it be the use of finances, the overall health of the family, the academic performance of the kids, the scheduling of a very full calendar, the quality of relationships within and friends outside of the family, the overall cleanliness of everyone and clothes that they are wearing, the never-ending piles of dishes, clothes, and clutter, keeping everyone and the pets all well fed, the list goes on and on.
A wise woman’s job is never, ever finished. There is always more to build, always an area of need. If she were to stop and begin thinking about the great task before her, it would quickly become overwhelming to the point of depression and feeling like just giving up. Some of the areas that you feel like you spend most of your resources building and building feels like it just keeps falling apart.
This morning, I feel that the Lord is here to strengthen and encourage you. The task before you is not yours alone! Teamed up with Jesus, all these things are possible. Instead of looking ahead at all of the uncertainties and fears that could await your future, look back on how far you’ve come. Woman of God, you are a wise builder who has accomplished so much within your household! You are called blessed because that’s what you’ve been. You have been richly blessed for your tireless efforts and you will be even more richly rewarded for it when you stand before Jesus!
Sure, tomorrow holds many unknowns and uncertainties, but it doesn’t have to hold fear and discouragement! How is this possible? Because Jesus is there tomorrow and nothing will come as a surprise to Him! When tomorrow comes, you won’t face it alone and you’ll have all of the grace and strength that you’ll need to face that day’s needs when it comes.
God will never lead you into circumstances that He does not have a blueprint for. God will never lead you into circumstances that He has not already provided all of the building materials that you need. God will never lead you into circumstances without the team that you need around you to support you as you build.
What is the defining difference between a wise and a foolish builder? Jesus gave us that answer here:
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise woman who built her house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish woman who built her house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The defining difference between a wise and foolish builder is not whether or not you build nor even how you build. The defining difference is what you are building on. If a woman builds her household on the rock of Jesus Christ, she is a wise builder and her household will endure the storms that rage against it.
Notice that Jesus didn’t say that a wise builder builds where it will be sheltered and never face troubles; He said that it will face raging troubles and difficulties, but that what has been built will endure it all.
Women of God, don’t listen to the lie of Satan dragging you down and tearing you apart because of the troubles that your household faces! Listen to the voice of Jesus who says that you are wise. Jesus, who says that your household will face raging storms and troubles and difficulties, but that you will stand firm because He is the foundation you are building upon!
Don’t let Satan shame you into hiding the troubles of your household, boast in your troubles and weaknesses because it is within them that Jesus alone is your strength and refuge. It is the hidden testimony within the troubles of your household the power of God that you are still standing because of Jesus Christ, your Rock!
Proverbs 14:1
The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Woman of God, when you are at your end, when you feel helpless, when you don’t have the answers nor the strength to continue on, throw up your hands! Throw those hands in the air in full surrender and call on Jesus. It is in this surrender of your household and the endless task before you that you make the life-changing transition from foolish to wise. It is when you admit that you just can’t do it and that you need Jesus that you transform from foolish to wise. It is in that moment that everything changes.
The overwhelming challenges before you shrink down to nothing in comparison to your great God. Everything that looks like it is falling apart falls into perfect place within God’s blueprint for you. The screaming needs and troubles before you are all quieted by the promises of God to solve every single one. Instead of trying to stand on the slippery, ever-changing circumstances of life, you stand tall and firm on the never-changing and certain word of God. The worries that ensnared and choked you with anxiety yesterday are now in the mighty hands of Jesus whose yolk is easy and burden is light. They are in the hands of Jesus who gives rest and peace to those He loves.
You’ve heard the acrostic poem of King Lemuel’s mother found in Proverbs 31. Perhaps that picture of perfection has been an unwelcomed in the past, but today is a new day. From this moment on, this is no longer a standard to be discouraged by, it is an anthem to declare. It is no longer a dream to be laughed at, but a goal to be achieved. This is what the word of God declares about you, and I mean about you personally, woman of God:
Proverbs 31:25-31
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.