Faithful Wives, Loving Mothers, Women to be Praised.

Bible Text: Proverbs 31:10-31 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Topical Study

In Genesis 1-2, God spoke all creation into existence, but when it came to the first man, God personally formed him out of dirt and breathed life into him [Hebrew Adam = man, to be red; Adamah = ground, earth; and so, man is dirt].

At the end of each day of creation, it says, “God saw that it was good,” but, because there was no counterpart for Adam, on day six God said (2:18), “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” God put Adam to sleep (2:21-22), took some of his flesh and bone, made a woman, and brought her to Adam.
God’s purpose for humans (1:28), was to procreate, and to rule over all that God had made, as caretakers who were made in the image of God (1:26-27).

In Genesis 3:20 Adam names her “Eve” [lit. living, or life] as she would be the mother of all the living, the first child would come from her, bringing future generations.

In Genesis 4:1, with the birth of her son Cain, Eve the first mother, acknowledges God as the sovereign giver of all life. But notice in 5:1-3, the image bearing likeness of God was passed on to all generations.

Motherhood was God’s original intent for women. Not that being single without children (1Corinthians 7:8-9), makes a person any less important to God, for there are times when both married men and married women are unable to conceive; about 10% of all women, and 6% of all men are physically incapable of having children.

It was clearly God’s plan from the beginning that most women would be mothers at home, raising children to know and bring honor to God; and that older women were to train younger women to do the same.

1Timothy 5:9-10, “No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”

Titus 2:3-5, “teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

In my life, I have witnessed some good examples of Christian womanhood [my mother, my wife, my mother-in-law, my daughter, my sister, my cousin, my niece]; I have also witnessed many bad examples [unnamed].

The Bible records stories of many women, some good wives and mothers, some not so good, some very bad.
See Proverbs 31:10-27…

Verses 10-12… Excellent wives exist, but they are not the norm. They are loyal to and trusted by their husband.

Verses 13-16… These women are diligent workers, gathering raw materials in order to make what is needed for the family; they are thrifty, seeking the best deals.
The excellent wife gets up while it is still dark in order to prepare food and provide for the family, and even for the workers who help her. Such a woman is enterprising, clever, and capable, she invests what she is entrusted with, making the most of her resources for the sake of caring for her family.

Verses 17-19… She is sweet in spirit, strong in body, and she does not avoid hard work or difficult tasks. She is not only up before sunlight, but also working late into the night. The distaff and spindle are tools used to turn wool into thread, so that clothing can be made from it.
Verse 20… She also cares for the poor and needy.

Verses 21-22… In the highlands of Palestine it gets cold, she makes warm garments for her family, coverings for her furniture and adornments for her home.

Verse 23… Her excellence commends her husband before the community, where he serves in leadership.

Verse 24… She not only makes clothing for her family, her wares are sold in the stores, bringing home income.

Verses 25-27… She loves God, serving Him honorably and diligently, speaking wisdom to her children, so they will learn reverence for
and instruction from the Lord. She is a faithful steward of all that the Lord gives her, using it to bring praise to God and blessings to her family.

Verses 28-29… As a result of her service to God, she sets the very best example for all women, all wives, and especially for all mothers: “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

If you have not already done so, please take the time today, to thank all the women in your life who are faithful to God’s Word and selfless in their service to those around them, setting an example in this present generation that will overflow to future generations, for Christ.

We celebrate Mother’s Day today, and rightly so, but special praise must go to all Proverbs 31 Mothers this day, that they might be properly recognized and honored by all the family members they have served through the years; the Family of God, the Church, must also honor these women who bless us each and everyday; they are like a beautiful bouquet of fresh, colorful, and fragrant flowers.

And so, I would like to broaden the celebration Mother’s Day to include all women who earnestly seek to bring praise and glory to God, women who serve others with all that the Lord has given to them, like the example of the excellent wife in Proverbs 31.

And so, I want to say, “Thank You, to all you Ladies,” I do hope that your family recognizes and praises you; and I pray that God will bless each one of you richly, today, and forever, in Christ!