It is a day that has been designated Mother's Day. In the Bible, God does give honor to women. After all, it was not a man that bore the Savior into this world. It was a woman. God does recognize motherhood. Many places in the Proverbs themselves that children are admonished to have respect of their mothers. And we have many examples in the Scripture of how mothers influence their children for good. There are some that influence their children for evil. But godly women Godly mothers always influence their children to good. It's not necessarily wrong for us to honor mothers. I love my mother. J.T. loved our mother. I know Brother to love your mother. I know that Brother Jerry and Sister Linda love their mother. I believe, I never really knew Sister Joyce's mother, but I believe she would testify that she loved her mother, and I know that my son loves his mother. and I know that Madele loves her mother and my wife loved her mother and I wrote a little thing on Facebook last night and I was remembering and reminiscing really over the fact that I had two mothers and my wife had two mothers. One that gave us birth, and the other we received when we were married. Actually, before that. But in reality, our mothers did not become mother-in-laws. They simply became mothers to us. and that's what we call him. Dorothy's mother to me was mom and my mother to her was mother, Jordan. And we love them. It is good, I believe, to remember the importance that mothers have upon the influence of their children. And consequently, it is, I believe, good and right to honor mothers. The Bible tells us, doesn't it, give honor where honor is due. And so we do it, though, in the sense that we worship the Lord, thanking Him for godly mothers. And I do not believe that it is wrong. In fact, I believe it is good for us to remember occasionally that our mothers, the mothers of this land, the mothers of this world that are godly, deserve to be recognized. That recognition, of course, is only based upon and to the degree that mothers are godly. Now, once again, there never has been a perfect one in the sense that they never sin, and they're always right. But they are always mothers. J.T. was talking earlier to us about, preaching to us, I really say, about the importance of obeying governments. Well, parents are a form of government. And mothers are a particular part of that form of government. And if this, well, let me back up a minute and go back to this in the right order, I would say, if the mothers of our families today were godly, then our families would be in much better shape, wouldn't they? If the mothers in our churches were more godly, our churches would be in much better shape. if the mothers of our nation were godly, our nation would be in much better shape. Now, we're electing more and more, quote, mothers, end quote, to positions of authority in the government, but it's not helping. And what they're having to do in order to be elected to those positions of authority within the government of our nation, they're having to abdicate their responsibilities as mothers to their children in their families and in the churches. God honors mothers in a way that we can only begin to do. So this morning, Lord willing, we're going to look at one passage of Scripture that is devoted to wives and or mothers. in Proverbs, the 31st chapter. In the very first verse of this 31st chapter, it says, the words of King Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught That kind of stood out to me, really, this morning. 2 Timothy, and hold your finger there, we're not nearly through there at Proverbs 31, but in 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 5, the apostle says, when I call to remembrance the unfamed faith that is in thee, he's writing to Timothy, which dwelt first where? In thy grandmother, Lois, and thy mother, Eunice. And I am persuaded that in thee also. And then in chapter three, In verse 14, the apostle says, But continue thou, again talking to Timothy, in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Timothy's grandmother, as well as his mother, seems there was a cooperation there between these two. Now, we'll not turn over there, at least not for the moment, but in the book of Ruth, We come to the end of the book of Ruth, and Ruth has been married and has a child, but there's someone else in that picture, isn't there? And it's this old grandmother, Naomi. And she took that child up and she nursed that child. She took care of him. And here is that cooperation again. It's exactly the same as was between Lois and Eunice. And now there's Timothy. And now we hear here have a king, Nimuel. And he's attributing the prophecy here to his mother. It was she that taught him. And we're not going to read the next nine verses, or eight verses, but we're going to drop down to verse 10. And here's a question. Who can find a virtuous woman? It sounds almost the same as Isaiah in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. Lord, who hath believed our report? And unto whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Who can find a virtuous woman? And why a question like this? What prompts a question like this from this king, Lemuel, whose mother has taught him prophecy? For what prompts it is the very next statement, for her price is far above rubies. Her price is not the price of rubies, her price is far above. You feel the emphasis there? Do you understand the implication there? In other words, there's no comparison really to the price of a mother, a virtuous woman. The only other person that I can think of, and you correct me if I'm wrong here, but the only other person that I can think of that such words like this were ever said is the Lord Jesus. Again, we're not bought with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus. His price was 30 pieces of silver. That's what man prized Him at. But what about God? God has prized Him far above everything. Not just rubies, not just silver and gold, but He has prized Him above everything. Above every dominion, above every power, above every authority, above the angels, above the cherubim and the seraphim. He is prized above all of them. He is prized by God as the most precious thing upon the face of the earth or in heaven above or hell beneath or wherever you might seek to find one. Christ is above all. beyond imagination out to infinity even. But here, has ever another man, has it ever been said of a man, this price is far above rubies? Does God honor Godly husbands and fathers? Absolutely. But I think this ought to give us somewhat of an idea of the preciousness that God holds wives and mothers in. Her price is far above hers. But it also implies the scarcity. You know, nothing that is common in the sense that there is multitudes of it is ever precious, is it? Why aren't stones, just regular old stones, why aren't they precious? Because you can pick them up anywhere, right? But what about rubies? They have to be searched out. They are not easily found. They are hidden, in fact. How many of them do you find just laying around somewhere? And so it is with a virtuous woman. But by whose definition can we define a virtuous woman? It's only God. And He has defined it, hasn't He? And once again, we honor mothers, but mothers, just like everybody else, mothers, if they are going to be honored, they have to deserve that honor. They have to merit that honor. Now there will be millions upon millions of mothers today that will receive cards of all kinds of, you know, glowing praise and whatever. And there will be millions upon millions of mothers today that will be honored with flowers and phone calls and all these different things, but guess what? It will only be because it's Mother's Day. But it's kind of like Christmas, isn't it? What about the other 364 days of the year? And how many of those that send cards, that send flowers, that have phone calls, that send whatever, how many of them will truly honor their mother? And what is the greatest honor that you can give to your mother? Well, if she is a godly mother, the greatest honor, of course, is for you to be godly, for you to live godly. Other than that, no matter how great a love that a mother has for her children, until and unless Those children are led to be godly. She will grieve over those children. It won't diminish her love any, but she will grieve over them. But what makes, again, a godly mother, what makes a virtuous woman? Why is her price above Ruby's? And the answer is given us in these next verses here in Proverbs chapter 31, beginning at verse 11. It says, the heart of her husband does safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil. Her husband's heart does safely trust in her. In other words, he knows what she is going to do. He knows. how she is going to conduct herself both as a wife and as a mother. She is going to follow the commands of the Lord so that her husband can rest. He doesn't have to always be wondering what she's going to do next or how she's going to react. He knows what she's going to do. First of all, then she is going to be in subjection to her husband. And she is going to assume gladly her responsibilities both as a wife and as a mother. And may I ask you a question? Can you separate those two things? I'm talking about a wife and a mother. What is the desire of women? Isn't it to be mothers? Isn't it to bring forth children? I so often again think, and when I'm thinking about things of this nature, I think of Jacob and Rachel. Rachel was barren, right? Had no children. And one day she comes to Jacob, and you know what she says? She says, give me children or I die. The desire of women is naturally to bear children. A woman that does not desire to bear children, something's wrong with her. It's not natural. Now, do all women, are all women able to bear children? No. withholds sometimes the fruit of the womb, doesn't it? But it doesn't diminish the desire of women to bear children. And so many women that cannot bear children, what do they do? They go and adopt them, don't they, Sister George? And thanks be to God for women like that. We have some grandchildren whose wives desire children, and they adopted some children. And they're just like, there's no difference between them and flesh and blood, is there? You love them. and their fathers and their mothers loved them. But again, hold your finger there at Proverbs 31, and in 1 Timothy chapter 2, it's talking about women here. In verse 9, it says, in like manner also, did I say chapter 2? 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 9, in like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but which becometh women professing godliness with what? Good works. With what are those good works? Well, that's what Proverbs is going to answer, isn't it? But we go on. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection, that I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve, And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. But now verse 15, notwithstanding, she shall be saved in what? She shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. A woman can bear as many children as she can physically bear to do, and that in itself will not save her. But on the other hand, the implication here is if she rebels against the commandment of God, and what is the commandment of God? Be fruitful and multiply. If she rebels against that, then all else is vain. God hath put in the very nature of a woman to bear children. but in what we've just read there is part of this, the heart of her husband thus safely trusting her so that he shall have no need of spoil. Verse 12, and we won't be able to go through every one of these verses and expound upon them, but nevertheless, they're all equally important. She said, it says, she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. And that is an important word there too, isn't it? Willingly. Now, let me say this again, that just because a woman brings forth a child into this world doesn't necessarily make her a mother in the true sense of that word. In order for her to be a mother, she has to mother those children. In other words, she has to have a very active and hands-on part in bringing those children up from the time actually that they're conceived, right, until the time that they are how old? Anybody have an answer? How old does a child have to be before she ceases to be a mother? Yeah, either the child dies or she dies, right? But even after she dies, my mother and my wife's mother have been dead for quite a number of years now. But guess what? They're still mine. And they always will be. They will be mine. And thank God for them. But it was because they cared. And they taught us, even though sometimes we did not adhere to their teaching. But they did it in patience. And I know that my mother suffered many things because of my disobedience. But in patience she suffered and she loved me. And she set an example not only in word but in day heat. Here is the virtuous woman. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. She's like the merchant ships. She bringeth her food from afar. She will do whatever is necessary to provide for her own. She ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She's not lazy. She is very diligent. Now I hear all the time, you know, this little jingle thing that they've got going today. Well, a man's work from plumb to sun, but a woman's work is never done. How many of them actually mean that? And how many of them is it actually applied to? And the answer, truthfully, is not many. I know there are multitudes of women today, their wives, their mothers, and yes, they go out. They go out of the house and they seek to work and they do. They work and many of them work long hours But that's not what this is talking about. That, you see, is a conflict with the rest of Scripture. That does not harmonize with the rest of the Scripture. Be a keeper in home. Loving her husband. And loving her children. that she riseth also whilst yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it. With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard." Now, I've heard this several times used to justify women that get involved in outside of the home and even in politics and in business ventures. Oh, see, see what the scripture says. Well, you know, then comes back the old question, does it mean that literally or is it a figure of speech? And this whole section here is full of similitudes and figures of speech. But it's talking about godly things. And does it mean godly things literally? Yes, it does. When I look at this, you know, she considered the field and by the fruit of her hands she planted the vineyard. You know what he's talking about? He's talking about raising a family. He's talking about having a family. and taking care of that family. In 128 Psalm, for instance, says, Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands. Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. And then in verse 3, Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house. Oh, well, how many of you, you wives, how many of y'all are literally a vine by the side of the house. No, you know that it's talking about, it's using a figure of speech to tell about the fruitfulness of a faithful God-fearing wife. And then added to that, thy children like Olive plants round about thy table. And so it becomes evident that when she considers that field and buys it, the fruit of her hands is not talking about a literal field. It's talking about preparing a place in which it's conducive to godly living and godly raising of children. And when it talks about planting a vineyard, it's obvious that it's those children that she produces. She girded her loins with spring and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good. Her candle goeth not out by night." When I read this, I think of this story that our J.T. and my parents used to tell about Grandpa and Granny Knox. not our grandpa, but our great grandparents. How that granny would sometimes get under the covers with a candle. Yeah, with a candle. And what was she doing? She was knitting. But she was doing that so she wouldn't disturb grandpa. Now, that may be making a little bit too little of it, Brother Burrs, but nevertheless, it illustrates a point. What does it say? Her candle goeth not out by night. There is a true sense in which a woman's work It's never done. There's no time, really, for any of us, is there, to rest upon our laurels? For after ye have done all these things, still say what? We're unprofitable servants. Why? Because we've just done that which was our duty to do. But nevertheless, nevertheless, you see, our God is so wonderful and so, you know, magnificent in His benevolence to us that even though we're still unprofitable servants in the fact that we've not done more than was required of us. Nevertheless, He still honors us with reward, doesn't He? She perceiveth that her merchandise is good. Her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Now who, what woman in the New Testament comes to mind when we read this. Her name was Dorcas, wasn't it? Wasn't it Dorcas that died and they were showing all the things that she had done with her hands for the poor? And she was raised from the dead. Amazing, isn't it? But all of this indicates that she is an industrious woman in the things that God has commanded her to do. And she does it all with joy of heart. She does it willingly. Verse 21, Then she is not afraid of the snow for all her household are clothed with scarlet. They are clothed with the things that are going to cover them like the blood of Christ covers us. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry. Her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Now, what is that referring to? Well, it's simply the fact that, again, Her husband has no need of Paul. His heart safely trusts this in her. He's not having to watch over her all the time. He has the time to do what he is supposed to do as a husband and a father himself. In other words, again, each one in fulfilling their role as God has ordained it, there is fulfillment for the entire family. Verse 24, she maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come." This is the promise, isn't it? This is the fulfillment of a virtuous woman, a godly woman. There is fulfillment in it. Actually, really, that's the only fulfillment that any of us have, including wives and mothers, is simply that we obey the Lord. What other fulfillment is there? What other purpose, what other reason have you been created for? What other reason, especially if you're here today and you're saved, what other reason have you been saved for except for the pleasure of your Savior? Now, some people Can't get that. They just can't get that. Well, what pleasure is there in being a slave? That's the way they look at it. They don't look at it and they can't look at it as being not the pleasure of a slave, but the pleasure of a free person. And yet, We are servants unto the Lord, aren't we? What a paradox that is to the natural man. He just cannot be happy, he thinks, in serving anything, much less God. He can't be happy in serving, as J.T. was talking about this morning, in obeying those that have the rule. Can't be that way. If he's not rebelling, he don't think he can be happy. But God's people are just the opposite of that. We are happy. It is our joy to serve the Lord because he has taken notice of us. and has showed mercy and given us grace. Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opened it, her mouth, with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. But where is that wisdom from? Yeah, from the Lord himself, isn't it? Where is your wisdom from? But her wisdom, you see, her wisdom begins with obeying God, and then under that, her wisdom is in submitting to her husband. And then her wisdom is to spend her time in raising her children, caring for them. Yes, she will do whatever she needs to do to feed them, to clothe them, to teach them. She will do it with patience, and many times she will do it with sorrow, but she will do it also gladly, with joy. She looked well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her. Now, this is conditioned, of course, upon whether or not those children and that husband have really appreciated what she is doing. If they have thought it worthwhile, they have thought it to be of God. As many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain. But a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hand and let her own works praise her in the days. And so we end, I believe, today by going over to the book of James. Again, so familiar verses, and yet how little do we consider them. In that first chapter, verse 22, but be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass, or he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgeteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein." If you continue in my word, right? He shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. And continue it therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in what? Is he going to be blessed by everybody coming to him and saying what a wonderful person he is, what a great man he is, or a great woman she is, or heaping praise upon him with the lips? Not at all. In fact, the truth is, if you are godly, what can you more expect? Persecution, right? And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. It doesn't say everyone that lives godly is going to be praised. But he will be praised in his deed. That will be his joy. is the very fact that he has walked with God. What do you think Enoch's joy was? He had this testimony that he did what? He walked with God. Do you want the praise of men or do you want the praise of God? Mothers, do you want the praise of men or do you want the praise of God? And we can say the same for fathers. We can say the same for children. We can say the same to anybody, can't we? Whose praise is it that you desire? Where is satisfaction anyway? It's only as we find ourselves pleasing to God. So today, Mother's Day, we do give thanks for godly mothers that strive to meet the standards that God sets forth for a mother. Bless them and thank God for them, for where would a household be without a mother, and especially a godly one? It would certainly be incomplete, but may God grant to us today that we look at these things from God's standpoint and praise Him first. that we have a reason to praise our mothers. And may God bless, may God bless our mothers to our own hearts. And I think probably all of our mothers, well I know Sister Joyce, Sister Linda, Brother Jerry, and JT, and myself, and my wife, our mothers are gone. And I know I can say this, that every last one of us should look back, and do look back, and wish that we had honored to them more, much more than we ever did. Brother Dale, your mother's still living. And I know you give thanks to God for us. And if I had an audience of thousands upon thousands of young people, my one word would be to them, honor your mothers. Honor your mothers. And especially so if God has given you a godly wife. Oh count her prize far above rubies. Look at her, so, so round.