MOTHER’S MINISTRY IN THE FAMILY

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” – Proverbs 31:28

There is a uniqueness to the MOTHER’S MINISTRY in the FAMILY: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Pro.31:28). Motherhood is a ministry, high calling, loving work of service, and vital assignment, not a casual side job! Proverbs 31 provides a Blueprint for Excellence on Womanhood and Motherhood. Fathers and children must cherish the dignity of womanhood and the Ministry of Motherhood. Every potential mother must have a clear vision and develop worthy values of who she wants to be as a Wife and Mother. Motherhood is a long-distance run, not a sprint. Every believing woman must pray for, receive and nurture the mother’s heart and hands, and be prepared to be a mentor and model to her children very early in life.

Mothers bear vital roles in every human life, starting from being pregnant and sustaining a life for nine months and eventually giving birth, with the risk of loss of life. But, giving birth is just the beginning of the complex and crucial role in raising a family. Mothering is a high and holy calling to raise and invest in the development of the next generation. No one can do this work but the mother whom God gave the babies. He intends for her and her husband to be the primary influence in their lives for all of their first eighteen years. Childhood is short, and the necessity of the ministry poured into it cannot be overstated. Other roles of mothers that can help us understand the depths of this ministry include being: the family manager, children’s teacher, best chef, and home nurse.

As manager, the mother not only maintains the physical aspects of her family’s life but also the intangible elements such as creating a lively environment for her husband and children. Many mothers also function well as the family’s financial manager, handling the money spent for basic needs, electricity bills, and also savings. As teacher, mothers must be able to teach their children, especially by being the best role model they can be. Most children regard their mothers as the best chef as they are able to fulfil the family’s needs for proper cuisine and nutrition across age ranges. Many mothers are saddled with tough home-nurse responsibilities, changing baby diapers, monitoring what the children would eat, and dedicating time to looking after their children and husbands.

In an era of social media, there is great pressure on young women to not just do it all but to have it all. Many women, often pushed by husbands, strive to achieve a comparison-driven status of living. Young stay-at-home mothers feel inadequate or inferior in comparison with celebrated corporate or celebrity contemporaries, forgetting that mothering is a ministry! If they do not want the enemy to seduce them into harming their children, marriages, and families, they must realise that “for everything there is a season” (Ecc.3:1). The temptation to compare is as old as Eve, who listened to Satan whisper that God hadn’t done enough, and more could be theirs if they followed his plan. Many failed marriages and lost children result from unfulfilled ministries of motherhood.

Having carried the miracle of new life in her body for nine months, mothers’ care is vital to the health and well-being of new babies and growing children. Mothers play a central role in rearing honest, contributing members of society’s next generation. Believing mothers have a special God-given role. It is written of young Timothy, that he learned the Life of Faith from his mother Lois and his grandmother Eunice (2 Tim.1:5). A believing mother, alongside her husband, endeavors to build a home filled with love and faith; a home where God’s Word is taught and valued, and a refuge from the world’s trials and temptations.

The Proverbs 31 Mother is trustworthy and loyal to her family, building a strong foundation of love and trust (vv.11-12); diligent, industrious, and resourceful (vv.13-15); hospitable and generous (v.20); wise in words and kind deeds (v.26). By God’s Grace, these values and virtues can be maximized in every Believing Family!