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10 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels…

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

Proverbs 31:10, 28-31

Check out last Sunday’s sermon here. 

Pastor Burt shared from Proverbs 31 to encourage mothers to praiseworthy lives and those who have them to both engage in praise of their mothers, especially for the praiseworthy qualities of godly motherhood.

To the Mothers

Proverbs 31 may feel like a daunting list. Some call it unattainable. However, the wise woman who excels in order and commerce will be known mainly by one quality, fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins (Proverbs 9:10). The wise woman will start there, dwelling for a lifetime. As Pastor Burt shared, fearing God is putting, “Your complete reliance on Him.”

So, to the mother who reads Proverbs 31 and does not even know where to start, start by fearing the Lord.

To Those Who Have Them

The interesting thing about Proverbs 31 is that, though its subject is a worthy mother, the proverb’s intended audience is her husband and children. The call of the passage is not, “Mothers get in line and live praiseworthy lives!” Of course a mother should read and aspire to live for the Lord, not wasting her life. But, the call of the passage is directed at husbands and children calling, “See and praise the qualities of the women in your life!” As Pastor Burt shared, “Rise up. Get out of the monotony,” in order to praise these women. Praise the work of God in her. Encourage her. Be the affirming voice in her head, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but your fear of the Lord is the best.”

Praise your mothers and your spiritual mothers. Let them know that God is at work in them.