Text:  Proverbs 31:1-9

Aim:   to warn against the use of addictive and/or illegal drugs.

Thesis:  the “sermon” of King Lemuel’s mother reminds us why it is foolish to use addictive drugs;  because every mom knows the natural progression of life is towards more responsibility, and the use of drugs leads in the wrong direction!

Introduction: 

RECOGNIZE MOTHERS

At this time each year I usually preach a “Mother’s Day” sermon;  but this will be a “Mother’s Sermon Day” – that is, our lesson this morning has been prepared by a mother.

We ordinarily think of the book of Proverbs as being written by King Solomon – and indeed, he is the author of most of them.  But wisdom is wisdom, no matter where you find it, and when Solomon found an especially apt lesson, he included it in his collection of sayings. That’s how a “sermon” by a mother ended up in the book.  We don’t know her name (she is referred to simply as the mother of King Lemuel);  we don’t know where she is from, but apparently she was not a Jew, because there is no record in the Bible of a king by that name.  But it doesn’t matter if the particulars of her identity are vague, because she has a universal theme that transcends all boundaries and applies to all ages!

READ TEXT.  What do we learn from this mother’s sermon? 

Lesson 1:   A Mother is always a “momma”!  Think about it:  Her son is a grown man – but she’s still giving him advice – continues to warn him about dangers in life!  Is there a higher authority than the King?  Yes!  Even a King has to answer to his momma!!

Lesson 2:   Mommas know that life is dangerous and you need to be fully aware/conscious/alert.  All mothers have the same list of warnings:

• Look both ways before you cross the street
• Don’t run with scissors
• Remember to fasten your seatbelt
• Always wear clean underwear because you might have a wreck (I’ve never quite understood the logic of that last one, because if I’m in an automobile accident, I can assure you that is the last thing I’ll be concerned about!  But then – I’m not a momma!)

Why are our mothers constantly warning us about the dangers of life? I am convinced it is because they have a deep, almost mystical connection to their children, by virtue of their unique role in giving us life.  “O my son, O son of my womb, the answer to my prayers” – Verse 2.  Our mothers carried us under their heart at the very beginning of our life, and we never really leave that spot. Every one of us carries, on our body, the mark of that connection – a physical reminder that we began life tied to mom.  “Moms know how to push our buttons because they installed them” (Robin Williams.)

Our mommas gave us life in the most literal sense possible, so naturally they don’t want us to lose it – to squander the gift they have bestowed – don’t want their pain to be wasted!

That’s why alcohol is a mother’s natural enemy.  Her every instinct, her constant concern, is focused on her children’s well-being/safety/success in life. And mommas know that alcohol increases all the other risks! And that leads to……

Lesson 3:   It is not sufficient to simply believe that alcohol and drugs are dangerous for our children.  It is crucial for parents to verbalize their values – and, take a firm stand against addictive or illegal drugs!

• For example, here in Arkansas, in families where parents believe that marijuana use is “very wrong” – only 4.1% of their kids will smoke pot.

• When children believe their parents are the least bit tolerant of marijuana (even if that only means the parents answered “Wrong” instead of “Very Wrong”!) then the rate of pot-smoking shoots up to 27.4%!

[Source:  Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment 2005 – Arkansas DHHS]

When parents communicate clear expectations for their children’s behavior;  when they actively monitor their kids, knowing where they are and who they’re with;  when mothers and fathers exercise their parental responsibility in a consistent and caring way; and, when they model a healthy, drug-free life themselves, their children are much less likely to use drugs!

What does a momma know?  God created everything – even drugs!  The problem is not drugs – but their abuse.  Lemuel’s momma says “Son – drugs are for sick people!” (Does that sound familiar? Mom’s have been saying the same thing for at least 29 centuries!)  Some drugs are helpful to the terminally ill – a blessing!  “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish” (verse 6). 

But – those same drugs, given to an otherwise healthy person –

can be a curse!  Why?  Because addictive drugs diminish responsibility.  READ Verses 4-5.   And that leads to our last lesson: 

Lesson 4:  The natural progress of life is from less responsibility to more.  As babies we came into this world absolutely helpless – unable to walk, talk, or even feed ourselves – and only gradually did we acquire the skills necessary to be competent and capable people.

What do momma’s want? To see their children successful in life. That’s why they bundled us up and sent us off to school each day –  asked about our homework – gave us those Flintstones vitamins – worked so diligently to instill values in us.

What does it mean to be successful in life?  To be capable – self-supporting – able to fulfill our responsibility.

King Lemuel was at the peak of that process, not only taking care of his own needs, but overseeing the welfare of an entire nation of people!

And while his momma must have been proud of his success – she was not fooled into thinking he was invincible! She knew that he had not always been so powerful – he may have sat on a throne as an absolute ruler, but she could remember his first shaky steps – changing his diapers! 

• And that mother’s perspective from the past helped her realize there was no guarantee that he would always be successful in the future.

• There is no height of success, no pinnacle of power, from which we cannot fall. Anyone, even a king, can regress / fail if he carelessly consumes alcohol!

What is a King’s responsibility?  JUSTICE!  READ Verses 8-9 To protect the weak – maintain security – preserve order.

• What, on the other hand, does alcohol do?  Makes us incapable – irresponsible – unsuccessful.
• What does marijuana use do?  It muddles the mind – saps the spirit – reduces motivation.
• What does the abuse of prescription drugs do?  They leave us in a fog – a perpetual haze – not fully in touch with our loved ones or our life.

Addiction undermines the basic building blocks of success:

• Self-discipline
• Diligence
• Good judgment
  

Drugs will rob us of the most precious thing we have – life itself!  This “sermon” by King Lemuel’s momma reminds me of a comment made by the apostle Paul many centuries later.   Listen to Ephesians 5: 18 – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to DEBAUCHERY.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” The Greek word for “debauchery” carries the sense of “dissipation” – of being “WASTED”  (cf. 1 Peter 4:4).  It signifies squandered opportunities – blown chances – a life that has been thrown away by foolish choices.

King Lemuel’s momma understood all too well that is an apt description of what drugs do to a life – they “waste” it.  Precious years, gone forever in a blurry haze.  That’s why this mother’s sermon warned her son about alcohol!

Conclusion:

What is the best way to honor our mother?  Flowers and cards are all nice – phone calls and letters are always appreciated.

Ultimately, however, we genuinely honor our mothers when we listen to their godly advice and demonstrate their righteous influence in our life! 

• Proverbs 23:25 “May your father and your mother be glad, may she who gave you birth rejoice!”

Dan Williams

Swearing, cursing, taking God’s name in vain and potty-mouth have no place in a Christian’s vocabulary. Anyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus CANNOT have a habit of cursing.

Listen to our Lord, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that man shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment,” Matthew 12:36. See also James 3:10-11.

It is amazing, disappointing and inconceivable to me that someone who claims to be a Christian habitually uses profanity. No one is “perfect” but all Christians can let their speech be with grace seasoned with salt…Col. 4:6. One of the biggest “pollution” problems in many places is the abundant use of profanities which contaminate our atmosphere and ears.

Continued use of profanity is a blasphemy of Christ and discouraging to other Christians. Let us do better! Let us use our tongues and mouths to praise and glorify God and tell the wonderful Good News of the Gospel, Eph. 4:29!

Read carefully and consider Ephesians 4:29-32: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

—Ivy Conner

Early in the chapter, King Herod beheads John the baptizer because John told Herod that he was in an unscriptural marriage. That’s verses 1-12. After hearing that his coworker was killed (ver. 13), Jesus withdraws to a secluded place by Himself. But the crowds would not leave Jesus alone, so He heals them.

That evening, Jesus realizes that the crowd has been with him long enough that they need food. So He feeds all 5,000 of them, not counting the women and children. That’s verses 13-21.

Verse 22 begins “Immediately” Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of them to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. John’s account records that the crowds wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him King (John 6:15). Maybe that’s the reason Jesus sent away His disciples; He wanted to keep His disciples from getting caught up in the mis-guided crowds who did not understand the nature of His kingdom.

With the disciples in the boat, headed over to the other side of the sea, Jesus sends the crowds away, and He goes up into the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone (ver. 23).

What did Jesus pray for? For His own fears? For His own need to trust His heavenly Father and Jehovah God’s plans? Did He pray for His own disciples’ fears? For their need to trust Him?

If that is so, then the storm on the sea of Galilee was an opportune time for Jesus to reveal His powerful nature to them. He goes walking to them on top of the water and they cry out in fear. Jesus answers: “Take courage; it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter asks if he can walk on water and Jesus gives him that authority. Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk to Jesus on the water. When he takes his eyes off Jesus, he sees the storm, gets scared and begins to sink.

Jesus reaches out, takes Peter by the hand, and they get into the boat. Immediately the wind stopped. The apostles in the boat all fall down before Jesus and worshiped Him, declaring that He was the Son of God (14:33)!

If a certain amount of anxiety sends us to the Great Physician, it can be helpful. If it saps our faith, then it is dangerous. We cannot allow fear in our spouse to keep him or her from being the person God designed them to be.

Pray for your spouse or friends, that they will grow in their trust so they will fear less.

Paul Holland

Ready for an encouraging word? Here it is: Suffering is inevitable. No, that’s not the encouraging part, but I’m sure I have your attention now. Suffering is a certainty of life. Perhaps you recall Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote: “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Death, and taxes for that matter, imply inevitable sufferings. Yes, all of our individual lives will be shaken in various ways, often in unique circumstances. But how will you take on these moments of hurt and sorrow? What will you do with them? How will you overcome?

About a year ago, when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine hit a crescendo, the Christian Chronicle had a piece on our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. In that article, Ukrainian minister Dmitiri Grischuk is highlighted. Grischuk heads up a ministry called Let’s Love Good News which works to serve Ukrainians who have been displaced. Here’s a very moving quote from this article: “As Ukraine and Russia battle over political borders, ‘God is expanding the borders of his glory’ Grischuk said. As they serve, Christians have learned ‘what it means to trust God.’”

God is expanding the borders of his glory. That’s what suffering allows, for the glory of God to be displayed in the bad times as it is displayed in the good times. God’s glory is not limited to times of triumph. God can be seen arguably even more when the light is shining in dark times.

Paul often talks of God’s glory displayed in the Christian’s suffering. For example, in Colossians 1:24, written from a prison cell, Paul says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Paul sees the suffering for Christ, in a similar vein as Jesus, is his opportunity to serve the church through his suffering. Through his hardship, Paul knows that the glory of God and His gospel will be displayed. He knows that the glorious works of Christ will be displayed in His suffering (v. 27-29). Paul expresses a similar thought in 2 Corinthians 12:10 and Romans 5:3, while other first century Christians express similar sentiments, that God will be glorified in suffering (Acts 5:41, Hebrews 10:34, James 1:2-4, and 1 Peter 4:13, just to name few).

It would be a lie to say that suffering will not happen. Even more so, it is deceiving to suggest that life will be any easier for the Christian. Actually, the Bible promises the opposite. As Jesus tells his followers in John 16:33, “In the world there will be tribulation…” Tribulation is what we see when we only focus on the present. But Jesus does not stop with temporal focus. Instead He continues, “But take heart, I have overcome the world!”

Family, embrace the hard times. Pain, sorrow, suffering, and hurt will come, but rejoice, because God can be glorified in your trials and God will guide you through those trials to an eternal glory where there will be no tears, no pain, no suffering, and no sorrow. Praise and Glory be to Him!

Jared McLeod

For whatever reason, 1 Corinthians 15:58 is one of the most memorable verses in Scripture. It says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” A few practical applications from this verse jump off of the page.

Don’t Give In! We cannot be steadfast or immovable if we persist in sin. Temptations will come (cf. Luke 17:1)! As long as we live in the flesh, we will sometimes feel temptation’s pull. Don’t give in; God always provides a way of escape. First Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Instead of giving in, turn to the Word. Remember Jesus in the wilderness (cf. Matthew 4; Luke 4)? When the adversary tempted him, He responded each time by quoting Scripture. When we give in to temptation, we renounce God’s authority over our lives. When we resist temptation, we affirm our trust in Him. The enemy can’t handle that, so he flees. Don’t give in!

Don’t Give Up! As a young child, I often complained, “I can’t do it!” when anything was even a little bit hard. Consequently, I heard my father say many times, “Can’t never could.” He recognized that the problem was not my level of ability, but rather my willingness to persevere. You may have heard the saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” The statement needs qualification. God does allow His people to suffer, sometimes incredibly. Over the course of his ministry, the apostle Paul experienced incredible suffering (see the list in 2 Corinthians 11:24–28). The same Paul suffered from an unnamed physical ailment, which he called his “thorn in the flesh.” In response to his prayers for relief, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Paul comments afterward, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10). Dear Christian, don’t give up! There is much we can endure if we will lean upon the Lord’s grace.

Do Good Works! Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” One tactic for overcoming sin is to occupy oneself with good works. We only have so many hours in the day. If we spend those hours in good works, we won’t have time to do evil ones. The doing of these good works will accomplish much, even if we never see the results. Yet, often, the simple response of gratitude we may receive – a smile, a thank you – will energize us and lessen the burdens we feel. It’s no wonder that Paul caps off his encouragement to be steadfast and immovable with a call to abound in the Lord’s work!

So, dear reader, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Don’t give in! Don’t give up! Do good works!

Clay Leonard

One wonders if perhaps Elisha saw Gehazi as being to him what Elisha was to Elijah, an heir-apparent to his own work. Indeed, Gehazi had been with him from at least since the miracle with the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:12), witnessing God’s providential care of the prophet, seeing Elisha raise the dead (4:32ff), and now the curing of Naaman’s leprosy (5:1-14). Gehazi had seen God’s power firsthand in incredible ways. He had to be aware of Elisha’s inclination to execute justice on the ungodly–from disrespectful lads to the rebellious Moabites. But Gehazi had some internal problems, moral weaknesses that would literally plague him. Notice 2 Kings 5:15-27.

First, he rationalized (20). Elisha had continuously shown his faith in God’s ability to provide. Naaman generously offers to give the prophet a handsome reward. Gehazi witnessed Elisha’s refuse to “take a present” from the army captain (16). Elisha was more focused on Naaman’s physical and spiritual cleansing. Rather than trusting God’s provision, Gehazi saw an opportunity for himself. He thought to himself, “As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him” (20). We get in a lot of trouble when we feed our desires for what we want and work to convince ourselves it is the right thing to do. Maybe Gehazi forgot about Achan (Josh. 7:20-21). Remember this warning: “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts” (Prov. 21:2). In other words, we can find a way to justify any sin in our hearts, but God sees through it. So it was with Gehazi.

Second, he premeditated (21). He chases Naaman down. How often he rehearsed the story he was about to share, we don’t know. But even if he made up the story on the spot, it was in his heart before it was on his lips. Later, the prophet Isaiah would warn, “Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the Lord, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?” (29:15). Micah adds, “Woe to those who scheme iniquity, Who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, For it is in the power of their hands” (2:1).

Third, he lied (22). Up to this point, Gehazi’s sin was personal and internal. At any point, he could have reversed course with a penitent heart. He could have repented of his coveting. He could have stopped his pursuit. Instead, he catches up with Naaman, who asks him what’s wrong. Then, he audaciously tells this whopper: “My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes’” (22). He must have been very pleased when Naaman gave him even more than he asked for. Maybe, the rationalizing servant even convinced himself God was with him since things were turning out so well for him financially.

Fourth, he covered up (24). After the deed was done and he was returning to his “day job,” Gehazi gives evidence that he knew he was dead wrong. He went to his house before returning to Elisha, and he dropped off his stash before nonchalantly “went in and stood before his master” (25a).

Fifth, he lied again (25-26). Elisha does something we’ll see again in the case of Peter and Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1ff). The prophet asked him where he had been and Gehazi lies to him. Lying is a cascading crime. Usually, it requires more lies to protect the previous ones. Unfortunately for Gehazi, Elisha already knew the truth. Would things have been less severe for the servant if he had come clean? We’ll never know.

Ironically, a heathen obeyed God and was cleansed. Now, a servant of God disobeyed Him and was sullied with the stain of his sin. He found out what Moses once told Israel: “…you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23). The leprosy of Naaman clung to him and would on his descendants forever (27). Thus ended the story of Gehazi, special servant of the mighty prophet. Thus began the story of Gehazi, the terminal leper.

We live in an age where the moral compass of the world is broken. As we are in the world, we find ourselves tempted to abandon “true north.” It is so important for us to stay vigilant (1 Pet. 5:8), keeping our conscience sensitive (1 Pet. 3:16) and our motives pure (1 Chron. 28:9; 1 Th. 2:3).  The world needs examples of moral strength, in an age where rationalizing evil, plotting evil, and doing evil are commonplace. Honesty, integrity, unselfishness, humility, and the like are qualities the world will not find within. They will have to see it reflected in the lives of people whose ethics derive from God and His Word.

Neal Pollard

A little girl was given $2 by her father. He told her that she could do anything she wanted with $1 but the other was to be given to God on Sunday at church. The girl nodded in agreement and asked if she could go to the candy store. With visions of all that she could buy with her $1, she happily skipped toward the store, holding the $2 tightly in her hand. As she was skipping along, she tripped and fell and the wind blew one of the dollars into the storm drain at the curb. Picking herself up, the little girl looked at the $1 in her hand and then at the storm drain and said, “Well, Lord, there goes your dollar!”

Let us consider “stewardship” the “Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant” from Matthew 24:45-51.

What do we learn from this parable?

1) Verse 45 – We need to be “faithful and sensible” as we serve Jesus Christ. In this verse, that is defined as being in charge of the Master’s household and giving Him His fruit at the proper time. This verse deals with the idea of stewardship. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:2 that it is “required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” We will give an account to Christ for what He has given into our hands to use for His glory. See also 1 Peter 4:10.

2) Verse 46 – To reemphasize this point – the Master is coming when we do not expect Him. Christians need to be prepared every moment of every day in order to be alert when Jesus returns: 1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Thess. 5:6; 1 Peter 5:8.

3) Verse 47 – If the Master returns and finds His slave faithful, then He will “put him in charge of all his possessions.” That is a parabolic way of saying that we will receive even greater blessings in the life to come than Christ has given us here on earth. See also Matthew 25:23.

4) Verse 48 – It is an evil servant who reasons that the Master will delay His coming. Peter had to deal with scoffers in the latter days who argued that Jesus had not come back, therefore He was not coming back (2 Peter 3).

5) Verse 49 – Under the influence of false theology – “Jesus will not return for a long time” – this evil slave begins to beat his fellow slaves and to engage in hedonistic – that is self-serving – behavior, including getting drunk with drunkards

6) Verse 50 – The Master returns at an hour and on a day when the slave does not expect. That’s part of the reason why we know that Premillennialism is wrong. Jesus is coming when no one will expect Him.

7) Verse 51 – Hell is going to be painful. That’s the idea behind this evil slave being “cut in pieces.” Hell is going to be the residence of evil and wicked people. The type of people that you normally avoid at all costs on time’s side of eternity. Note that the term “hypocrites” shows that these people acted like they were followers of the Master – these are religious people. The conscious pain of hell is also illustrated by the phrase “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This is a phrase used 7 times out of the mouth of Jesus, 6 times are in Matthew. Hell is certainly a place where a clear-thinking person does not want to go.

If we don’t want to go to hell, we need to be good stewards of the resources Jesus has given to us.

Paul Holland