Mother's Day

Dear Brethren,

Is it proper to celebrate Mother's Day?  Some times we become confused about the will of God when it comes to the celebration of national holidays.  Certainly, Mother's Day is a fine way to recognize mothers - there is nothing improper about it.  The only problem that sometimes occurs is that some only honor their mothers one day each year.  A card, an email, or a phone call once a year does not fulfill the Biblical command of God to honor our mothers - far from it. In giving the commandments, God tied the honor of our mother to a long life.   "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."  (Exodus 20:12)

Honoring our mother is a very serious matter to be pondered by those in God's Church today.  Sabbath service attendance is not a substitute for parental honor.  For converted brethren, the Biblical promise of long life points to our eternal life - or the forfeiture thereof.  "Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness."  (Proverbs 20:20)  We curse a parent when we conclude they are not worthy of honor because of some past offense we are not willing to overlook.  Having an excuse not to honor a parent is a salvational issue in that it makes the law of God of none effect.   "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death... And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."  (Matthew 15:4,6)

This command from God is foundational for society itself.  Paul speaks of the importance of parental honor in Ephesians.  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and thy mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."  (Ephesians 6:1-3)  Moses reiterated this law of God in the second giving of the Law.  " Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."  (Deuteronomy 5:16)

Art Martinez (b.1928 - d.1990) a long-time Church of God member, in Pasadena, California, wrote this poem in honor of his mother and ours.

"Mom, You're The Greatest"

"To raise me cost you your best years,  Your mother love allayed my fears.

Your comfort helped to dry my tears,  Mom, you're the greatest!

"You've always had a heart of gold,  Your love for me is wealth untold

When they made you they broke the mold,  Mom, you're the most!

"I know that I cannot repay,  The many times you spent the day

Beside my sick bed where I lay,  Mom, you're the greatest!

"A crown of silver strands you wear,  A life of giving put it there

Of giving tender, loving care,  Mom, you're the best!

"For motherhood you paid the price,  How great then, was your sacrifice

A simple thank you won't suffice,  Because mom, you're the greatest!"

When we give honor to our parents - we give honor to God.  How so?  Parents want their children to do well - in the same way that God wants each of us, the children of God, to do well.  We cannot honor God and, at the same time, not honor our parents.  God requires that our mother should receive honor from each of their children continually throughout the year.

Brethren, Jesus Christ, in one of His very last acts on earth, paid a final honor to His mother, Mary.  He assured His mother's care, in her last years, to the beloved disciple John.  Couldn't Jesus have simply taken care of His mother's needs from His heavenly throne?  Certainly, He could have - but He does not work that way.  He expects hands-on-action from each and every one of us, on this earth, in honoring our mother!  Christ's honor for His mother is recorded for us, upon whom the ends of the world have come.  "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, [John] Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  (John 19:26-27)  Jesus never ceased honoring His Mother!

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Sermon:

"Honor"