bul 5-9-10

Mother

By: Larry Yarber

" ... despise not thy mother when she is old" (Proverbs 23:22). "There is a generation that ... doth not bless their mother" (Proverbs 30:11). " ... a foolish man despiseth his mother" (Proverbs 15:20).

Mother, " ... one's nearest female ancestor; ... something that gives rise to, or exercises protective care over something else; ... To be the mother of; give origin or rise to; to care for or protect as a mother does; ... " (WEBSTER, pg. 623).

There are many passages in the Bible that teach us to honor our mothers, "Honour thy father and mother, ... " (Ephesians 6:2) and, "My son, ... forsake not the law of thy mother" (Proverbs 1:8). We are even told to care for them in their need, "But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God" (1st Timothy 5:4). Jesus obeyed His parents (Luke 2:51) and cared for them in their hour of need, "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, ... When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (John 19:25-27). But, as our opening paragraph warned, there are those today who despise the one who bore them into this world and refuse to hearken to the voice of their mother. By so doing, they bring shame and sorrow upon her. The wise man said, " ... a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Proverbs 29:15) and, " ... a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother" (Proverbs 10:1). No one who loves their mother wants to hurt her in this way. However, we truly live in a world which is " ... without natural affection ... " (Romans 1:31 and 2nd Timothy 3:3).

While it is sad to think of a child who has forsaken his/her love for their mother, it is even sadder to see a mother who has abandoned her love for her children. Paul penned, "The aged women likewise, that they be ... teachers of good things; That they may teach the young

women ... to love their children" (Titus 2:3-4). Earlier in this article Webster defined a mother as one who cared for and protected her offspring. Today, many so-called mothers kill (abortion) and abandon both their husbands and their children. Again, we are a society void of “astorgos” love or, as God stated it, " ... without natural affection ... " (Romans 1:31 and 2nd Timothy 3:3).

However, many mothers who have been deserted by their natural children, and many children who have been forsaken by their natural parents, have found an extended family in Christ, "And Jesus ... said, ... There is no man that hath left ... mother, ... or children, ... for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, ... mothers, and children, ... and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-31). In another place our Lord stated, "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother" (Mark 3:35). Paul said, " ... entreat ... The elder women as mothers; ... " (1st Timothy 5:1-2) and, "Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: ... “(1st Timothy1:2).

Most of us, like me, have probably been blessed with Godly mothers; if they are still alive and with us, we are fortunate and need to be mindful of them. We need to remember that life is short, "... For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14), death is certain, " ... it is appointed unto men once to die, ... " (Hebrews 9:27), and there is no greater loss on this earth than the loss of a loved one, " ... I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother" (Psalms 35:14). May we ever care for and obey our parents.

We hope all of you will join us in our thanksgivings this morning as we say "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!"

When this kind of question is asked, it is not being asked in order to “brow beat” anyone. But rather, there is the genuine concern for the souls of those who find themselves “assembling only on Sunday, for worship, only, only once in a while.” Indeed, it is quite strange to see this ever present trend among the people of God. People who have been purchased with the blood of Christ, enlisted in the army of the Lord, under the command of the Captain of our salvation, shining as lights in the world, and those who are to put the Lord and His kingdom first (1 Peter 1:18-19; 2 Timothy 2:3; Hebrews 2:9-10; Matthew 5:14-16, 6:33). Thus, in order to answer the question of “why do some Christians assemble only on Sunday, for worship only, only once in a while?” there are several questions which need to be asked:

…There are MORE IMPORTANT THINGS for you to be involved with during the times of assembly cf. Mt 6:33; Col. 3:1-6?

…You have NO NEED for additional study. cf. 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:2; Jas. 1:21?

…You have a SUPERIOR SPIRITUALITY which enables you to “forsake” the times of assembling cf. Heb. 10:23-25; Lk. 18:9-14?

…You try to SUBSTITUTE the time of assembly with “good works” or “service” to others cf. Lev. 10:1-2; Jn. 4:24; Mt. 8:19-22?

…By absenting yourself from the times of worship and the Bible classes are you being OBEDIENT and SUBMISSIVE to those who rule over your soul cf. Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4?

…By NOT ATTENDING the times of assembling you are showing the world how important it is to be a member of the church cf. Mt. 5:13-16; 2 Cor. 4:3; Phil. 2:13-16?

…Of your DESIRE to be an encouragement to your brethren when you absent yourself from the times of assembly cf. Heb. 10:23-25; Eph. 4:14-16?

…You are “walking worthy,” and “steadfast” and “abounding in the work of the Lord” WHEN YOU ABSENT YOUSELF cf. Eph. 4:1, 17; 1 Cor. 4:3; Phil. 2:13-16?

…By NOT TAKING PART in the “body,” you are saying that we have nothing to supply and no function to fulfill in the body of Christ cf. Eph. 4:14-16; Mt. 25:14-30?

…You DO NOT NEED the fellowship, strength, and peace that are intended by God only in the church. cf. 1 Jn. 1:7; Phil. 4:6-8?

…Your children, whom you are charged with training, DO NOT NEED the example of proper loyalty and devotion to God in every area. cf. Eph. 6:4?

…You are not concerned about UNFAITHFULNESS which will cause you to miss heaven with all of its eternal splendor. cf. Jas. 4:17; Mt. 25:1-13; Rev. 21:8, 27?

In view of these few observations, it is my prayer that those who “assemble” ONLY on Sunday, for worship ONLY, ONLY once in a while, will repent and will begin to “continue stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42), and “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25), and will “always abound in the world of the Lord” (2 Cor. 15:58). There can be no doubt that in being a faithful child of God, and the time spent in preparing ourselves and in properly influencing others (Rev. 2:1, 2 Tim. 2:15; ! Tim. 4:12), faithful Christian living is far better than anything that this world has to offer (Heb. 11:24-26; 1 Jn. 2:15-17). Thus, the answer to the question really comes down to whether or not you “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mk. 12:30.)