By Janis Dearman

Marriage, Motherhood, and Materialism

Introduction

  1. Threat to our children’s well-being and their souls in this present world
  2. Satan (1 Peter 5:8)
  3. Increasingly immoral and amoral society

(1) TV – fornication, homosexuality, promiscuity, immodesty, nudity, foul language

(2) Movies and computer games – brutality, violence, sexuality
(a) “Conditioning”
(b) Vicarious absorption
(c) Secular, humanistic society
(d) “Techno-society”
(e) “AWOL” Moms and Dads
(f) Lack of spiritual training and guidance – lack of identity, purpose, direction

  1. Action required: Take a stand and take back our families, our homes, our children, and the standard of Christian living
    a. Psalm 46:1
    b. Philippians 4:13

I. Marriage

A. Marriage to the Lord, as a member of the church, His bride

B. Parental marriage
1. Picture of the spiritual relationship of Christ and the church
2. Priority – value of souls and the goal of heaven (Psalm 127:1)

C. Yale-New Haven study on increased risk of delinquency: Number 3 contributing factor, lack of cohesiveness of the family unit

D. Teaching and exemplifying to children the honor, sacredness, and desirability of marriage, esp. Christian marriage

E. Danger, destructiveness, and undesirability of divorce (Malachi 2:16)

F. Instilling in children the value and importance of the family and of each child in it
1. Spiritual uniqueness, self-worth, and dignity
2. Proper behavior and common courtesy
3. Integral, important, functioning members of the family
4. Proper self-confidence and self-esteem from achieving goals, completing projects, etc

G. Honoring father and mother

  1. Father
    a. Abraham (Gen. 18:19)
    b. Joshua 24:15
    c. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
    d. Proverbs 3:12
  2. Mother
    a. Eunice and Lois (Acts 16:1; 2 Tim 1:5; 2 Tim 3:15)
    b. Proverbs 29:15
    c. Hannah (1 Sam. 1:11)
  3. Spiritual parent – Paul (2 Tim 3:10,11)

H. The haven of home
1. Homeschooling
2. Scheduling
3. Communication and consideration of spiritual matters

II. Motherhood

A. Keepers at home (Titus 2:4-5)

B. Workers outside the home

  1. Choice or necessity
  2. Choosing caregivers

C.  Monitoring what comes in and who goes out and where

III. Materialism

A. Standards and measures

  1. The Master, not money
  2. The quality of character, not the quantity of money

B. Colossians 3:2: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

  1. “Put to death” (Col. 3:5)
  2. “Put off” (Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:8,9)
  3. “Put away” (Eph. 4:31)
  4. “Put on”
    a. The new man (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10)
    b. The whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11-17)
    c. Colossians 3:12-14

C. Psalms 119:25: “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.”

D. Contentment

  1. Hebrews 13:5
  2. 1 Tim. 6:6-7
  3. Philippians 4:11

Conclusion:

  1. Scriptural marriage and spiritual priorities of parents = basis of successful parenting for God
  2. Mother = keepers of the home and God’s spiritual “Head Start” program (2 Tim. 3:15)
  3. Minds set on the heavenly, not the earthly
  4. Children = souls to save, a heritage to preserve (Psalm 127:3)