A MOTHER'S ADVICE

Text- Proverbs 31:1-9

Introduction

Tonight we are going to begin to study the last chapter of the book of Proverbs.

Our text is found in Proverbs 31:1-9 and the title of my message is, "A Mother's Advice."  She gives this advice in the form of a warning to her son.

One mother after a day of complete harassment was completely at her wits end.  As a last attempt to control her unruly child she stood over him, shook her finger and said, "All right, Junior, do anything you please! Now, let me see you disobey that!"

We set aside one day a year to honor mothers.  The majority of them deserve it, and they truly are VIPs.  Abraham Lincoln declared, "no man is poor who has had a godly mother."  A Spanish proverb reads, "An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest."  Someone else has said, "The instruction received at Mother's knee, together with the pious and sweet souvenirs of the fireside, are never effaced entirely form the soul."

As we consider the advice mentioned in our text tonight we first need to understand some things about the people involved.

In verse 1 we are told that these are, "The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him."

Since there is no record of any king with the name Lemuel it is believed that this might have been a nickname or pet name for King Solomon given to him by his mother Bathsheba.

The name Lemuel literally means, "devoted to the Lord."

The importance of this advice can be seen in two ways.

First, it is important because it comes from a mother to her son.

Even though Lemuel was a king it was still important that he listen to his mother's advice.

You can never get so important in your position in life that you don't have to listen to your mother's advice.

Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction  and do not forsake your mother's teaching. (NIV)

Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father's commands  and do not forsake your mother's teaching. (NIV)

The second reason why this advice was important was not only because it came from a mother but also because it came from God.

This can be seen in the word "oracle" which can also be translated "prophecy."

God was using Lemuel's mother to give him some sound advice that could help him be a great king.

As children today, each one of you need to listen to the advice of your parents as they speak to you and give you advice as god's representatives.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise--  3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (NIV)

As we examine our text, there are three areas in which King Lemuel's mother gave him advice.