THE BIBLE PICTURE OF A GODLY MOTHER

PROVERBS 31:3

A. "FAVOR IS DECEITFUL, AND BEAUTY IS VAIN; BUT A WOMAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD, SHE SHALL BE PRAISED GIVE HER THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS, AND LET HER OWN WORKS PRAISE HER IN THE GATES"
  1. The words of our text are:
    1. Remarkable - coming from a man who had sold out to women which led him into idolatry and spiritual bankruptcy - Neh. 13:26
    2. This is a tragic picture of what was one of the wisest men in the East - Neh.. 13:26
  2. They are, indeed, thought provoking:
    1. The Book of Proverbs closes with a vivid description of a virtuous woman
    2. Her price is above rubies - Prov 31:10 B. WHATEVER KING SOLOMON'S SHORTCOMINGS MAY HAVE BEEN, THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS MAKES IT POINTEDLY CLEAR
  3. That he recognized the qualities of a virtuous woman:
    1. She has the full confidence of her husband; he trust her so that he does not have to fear that she will waste his substance - v. 11
    2. To do him good and make him happy is the aim of her whole life - v. 12
    3. She is industrious - seeks to increase their possessions in business - like way -
    4. 13-16
    5. She is handy in all she does - puts skill into her domestic duties - v. 19
    6. She is not stingy with her substance, but remembers the poor - v. 20
    7. She is meticulously neat and brings honor to her husband by the good taste her home shows
    8. Best of all, as our text says, she loves and fears the Lord - v. 30-31
  4. Let us attempt to find assurance and comfort in the words of our opening text - Christian womanhood - note six virtues of a Christian woman:
    1. Piety - "She feareth the Lord" - v. 30; she has within her the spirit of reverence, and the life she lives is devoted to God and His holy word; the Bible roster includes many god-fearing women
    2. Purity - "She is a virtuous woman - v. 10; her husband need not doubt her complete loyalty to him
    3. Industry - Dorcas is a typical example of this virtue - Acts 9:36
    4. Kindness - "The law of kindness is on her lips" - she does not rule by "constant droppings of censure
    5. Love - not fear is scepter which she holds and it is the source of her strength
    6. A life of prayer is the great secret of her godliness - Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser, is a typical example of this virtue of Christian womanhood
    7. Last, but not least, simple - childlike faith in God and in humanity is in truth the crown of a virtuous woman C. WHAT A LESSON TO COMFORT US THIS AFTERNOON AND WHAT A CHALLENGE IT BRINGS TO US WHO REMAIN BEHIND
  5. This I sincerely believe:
    1. That our dear sister was indeed a God fearing woman to do the will of her God was the ever present aim in her life
    2. She loved the Bible and sought continuously to learn more of the will of God revealed in the Bible
    3. She was a true, loyal and devoted wife; to make her husband happy and contented was her every effort
    4. She, too, was a hard-working woman - clean and very tasteful in her home and on her person
    5. She was a loving a self-sacrificing mother, who did many things to ensure the comfort to her family
    6. She was, indeed, a praying mother - prayer seemed to be the breath of her soul
    7. And what is more, this writer, who had known our sister for many years, sincerely believes that she fell asleep in Jesus and awaits the call of the life-giver at His second coming
    8. Can we do any better?


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