Moms are wonderful gifts from God! Their children should be incredibly grateful for them! We owe our very life to them! They nurture us, feed us, instruct us, protect us, defend us, comfort us, put up with us… and they WARN us! I think every young person who called someone “Mom” knows what it is like to go out on Saturday evening and as they approach the door hear the speech – the warnings: “Be careful! Watch out! Don’t! Be sure to…! ETC.
And the answer? Yeah… I know… OK… Sure… Sure… ETC!
Hey, we should have taken them more seriously! We should have listened closely and heeded their warning! It probably would have saved us a lot of trouble, difficulty, and pain!
This morning in my Bible reading, a fellow by the name of Lemuel had a mom like that. Here’s how the passage opens, “The sayings of King Lemuel [he had become a leader!] which his mother taught him [she apparently was a good, loving, caring mom]…”
Then Lemuel tells us about two warnings and an admonition his mom gave him…. A warning about loose women, alcohol, and an admonition to defend the oppressed and seek justice for them. Here it is in the very words of Scripture and the advice she gave King Lemuel is still valid for any leader (I’ll let it speak for itself)!
“The sayings of King Lemuel which his mother taught him.
“O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. (From Proverbs 31:1–9 NLT)
I had a mom with advice like that – Vera Constance Shirley Bartel! A godly mom – a caring mom – a loving mom – filled with wonderful warnings and advice. I still remember some of the warning and admonitions she gave me as I was walking out of the door on Saturday evening… Those words are still ringing in my ears… And Mom, I just want you to know, I’m trying to heed them!!! Thank you!!!
Coffee With The Lord 