05-11-08 #Disciple Bible Study titled: ‘Why The World Needs Mothers’

[Disciple]

‘Why The World Needs Mothers’
Proverbs 15:20, 30:17
We have heard these quotes about Mothers Day from Anna Marie Jarvis and just who is this Anna Marie Jarvis, and what makes her an expert on Mother’s Day? Anna Marie Jarvis was and is THE MOTHER OF MOTHER’S DAY.
She was born in Taylor County, WV, May 10, 1864. Her mother had been instrumental in developing ‘Mother’s Friendship Day’ as part of the healing process of the Civil War. The first fully organized Mother’s Day program was held at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, WV, on May 10, 1908.
This was in tribute to Miss Jarvis’ mother, Anna. On that day Anna Marie sent 500 white carnations with this message: ‘Each one present will be given a white carnation; mothers will be given two, in memory of the day.’ Through her efforts, President Woodrow Wilson seven years later proclaimed the 2nd Sunday of May as a national holiday in honor of Mother’s Day.
We honor our Mothers today. To honor is to give recognition and credit that is due. Our society today downgrades motherhood. The models that are offered to us of mothers via the media include Roseanne and Peggy Bundy. How far we have come from the days of June Cleaver, Harriet Nelson and Margaret Anderson.
Solomon says much about honoring mothers:
Proverbs 15:20
Proverbs 30:17
Believe me, I know that doesn’t sound life a very appropriate verse to read for Mother’s Day. But I wanted to read this verse because of the truth that it contains. What this verse is saying is ‘if you can’t appreciate your mother you’re blind’ and ‘there will be the sternest of punishment for such a one.’
I refer to one of the great experts on just about anything, Erma Bombeck, “When God Made Mothers’. There is something about motherhood that is very close to divinity. This evening I am not going to pretend to try and tell mothers how to be a better mother. I can’t really tell you men and boys how to be better to your mothers. But I want to discuss with you some reasons why the world needs mothers.
I. We Need Mothers To Comfort Us.
No one can do for us what a mother can do. No one can be for us what a mother can be. It is interesting to note the picture that God chose to use when He wanted to express the way He would bring comfort to the people of Israel.
Isa 66:13
Isa 49:15
No, of course a mother can’t forget her baby and have no compassion. We look to the mother of Jesus as an example: she must have been perplexed at her whole life, she must have been perplexed about her son, Jesus. I’m not certain that she understood everything about Jesus’ life.
But there is one passage of scripture in particular to which we may not even give much consideration, that say multitudes about what kind of mother Mary was. She is older now, her hair is grayer now, she’s perplexed. But though perplexed she is present.
John 19:25
A mother can comfort everything from a wound to the hurt from a love gone wrong. No one can comfort like a mother can comfort and we need our mothers to comfort us.
II. We Need Mothers To Strengthen Us
There is a verse of scripture that is often misunderstood.
1 Peter 3:7
We often misunderstand the word ‘weaker’. We need to be careful how we apply this verse. The word ‘weaker’ actually has the idea of ‘fragile’ or ‘more sensitive’. The comparison is like your everyday dishes and your good china. One is weaker, more fragile and therefore requires a greater care. So the wife is the more sensitive partner in the marriage.
We can illustrate the sensitivity of the woman. Studies reveal that if you study the vocabulary of a 3-5 year old girl that 100% of what she says is words. If you study the vocabulary of a 3-5 year old boy, 50% of what he says is just noises. Vroom, etc… some of you men today still all you do is make noises. Your wife says, ‘Honey, do you want some supper?’
and all they hear is yuh huh or a grunt or well… you know what I am talking about.
Do you realize that a woman can make 250,000 different facial expressions? It’s that sensitivity of the woman, the ability to communicate. Men, you know what your wife has communicated with you at times without saying a word and you have known everything she said by that certain facial expression.
God has created the woman with that sensitivity that helps to bring us tenderness, helps to strengthen us and helps to make us more aware.
III. We Need Mothers To Teach Us
Paul uses a beautiful picture to help us understand this also.
1 Thess. 2:7
The word ‘gentle’ here is the word meaning ‘to supply nurture’, or ‘to give nourishment in the way that only a mother can. Men, we can pass on some information but a mother can pass on a lifestyle.
We are aware of the impact that a mother can have in our lives. We need Mothers for the comfort they can give us. We need Mothers to strengthen us. We need Mothers to teach us.
We can never forget the words of Paul to Timothy concerning Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois who had taught Timothy and given him the faith he had.
Mother’s we say thank you and we honor you today!