Mama’s Wisdom

Message Title: Mama’s Wisdom
Theme: Words of Wisdom
Season: Ordinary Time
Main Text: Proverbs 31:10-31
Scripture Reading: James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8;
RCL Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31; Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 1; Psalm 54; James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37
Focus: A mother reflects to her son about a wise partner.
Function: To celebrate the wise people in our lives and to pursue their wisdom.
Other Notes:

SCRIPTURE READING: James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8; ¹³ Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. ¹⁶ Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. ¹⁷ What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. ¹⁸ Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. 4 What is the source of conflict among you? What is the source of your disputes? Don’t they come from your cravings that are at war in your own lives? ² You long for something you don’t have, so you commit murder. You are jealous for something you can’t get, so you struggle and fight. You don’t have because you don’t ask. ³ You ask and don’t have because you ask with evil intentions, to waste it on your own cravings. …⁷ Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. ⁸ Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.

WISDOM:

1. Audience Engagement: What silly habits did your grandparent’s have?
   1. Of my four grandparents, my mom’s mom was the one that didn’t have super silly habits. Though I suppose food would be the closest—I remember falling in love with saltine crackers and frosting because of my Grandma Hazel.
2. Hazel Warner—
   1. As a child, I never understood why my Grandma Hazel seemed so serious. Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t until her death, when I sat and listened to my aunts and uncle share memories of her life that I truly learned about my grandmother.
   2. Grandma Hazel was the oldest child of 6 of my Earl & Ethyl Green. Their family was always tight on money. In marriage, my grandmother had 6 kids of her own. She and my Grandpa Dick had to work hard to make their dollars stretch.
   3. My mom recollected how Grandma Hazel made birthdays and Christmas special for the kids by giving them their necessities as gifts—new clothes or snow boots as gifts rather than just things to purchase. They felt spoiled while my grandparents, felt like they were providing necessities.
   4. Through their stories they learned that all of them had been given the same pep talk by my grandmother.
      1. “Always be able to take care of yourself”–She wanted her girls to be able to be independent and not financially stuck.

TRANSITION: Our text for today reminds me of my grandmother Hazel’s wisdom for her daughters. Let’s hear this mother’s wisdom for her son.

MAIN TEXT: Proverbs 31:10-31 ¹⁰A competent wife, how does one find her? Her value is far above pearls. ¹¹Her husband entrusts his heart to her, and with her he will have all he needs. ¹²She brings him good and not trouble all the days of her life. ¹³She seeks out wool and flax; she works joyfully with her hands. ¹⁴She is like a fleet of merchant ships, bringing food from a distance. ¹⁵She gets up while it is still night, providing food for her household, even some for her female servants. ¹⁶She surveys a field and acquires it; from her own resources, she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷She works energetically; her arms are powerful. ¹⁸She realizes that her trading is successful; she doesn’t put out her lamp at night. ¹⁹She puts her hands to the spindle; her palms grasp the whorl. ²⁰She reaches out to the needy; she stretches out her hands to the poor. ²¹She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows, because they are all dressed in warmclothes. ²²She makes bedspreads for herself; fine linen and purple are her clothing. ²³Her husband is known in the city gates when he sits with the elders of the land. ²⁴She makes garments and sells them; she supplies sashes to traders. ²⁵Strength and honor are her clothing; she is confident about the future. ²⁶Her mouth is full of wisdom; kindly teaching is on her tongue. ²⁷She is vigilant over the activities of her household; she doesn’t eat the food of laziness. ²⁸Her children bless her; her husband praises her: ²⁹ “Many women act competently, but you surpass them all!” ³⁰Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. ³¹Let her share in the results of her work; let her deeds praise her in the city gates.

EXPLAINATION:

1. Reminder: This book of Proverbs in chapter 1 was attributed to Solomon. He was writing to his son about wisdom and how to live a fruitful/fulfilling life.
   1. This book ends with wisdom from a mother to her son. Recognizing wisdom in a woman. God’s wisdom is not just for men. God’s wisdom leads to fulfillment for all who pursue.
2. Wisdom represented through a woman’s life
   1. Business woman – wool, flax, fields, trading
   2. Home maker –providing food, clothing, bedding
   3. Leader – with the servants, with her words, her projects, children
   4. Strong—powerful
   5. Partner- celebrates her husband, support each other

INTERPRETATION:

1. Eshet Chayil (eh-shet hai-yeal) – Woman of Valor
   1. Source:
      1. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/258901/jewish/Eshet-Chayil.htm
      2. https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Shabbat_Blessings/Eshet_Chayil/eshet_chayil.html
      3. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/how-to-read-eshet-hayil/
      4. https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/mutuality-women-roles
      5. https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/tag/Eshet+Chayil
2. Celebrating the wisdom of your faith family tree
   1. (Tomorrow is Fern Nash’s visitation & Tuesday is her funeral.)

APPLICATION: To celebrate the wise people in our lives and to pursue their wisdom.

1. AUDICENCE ENGAGEMENT:
   1. how to do you become at something? (athlete, doctor, baker, etc)
   2. How do you become a better Christian?
2. Ways to gain knowledge in community
   1. Accountability partners- iron sharpens iron (prov 27:17)
   2. Mentoring—not about having all the answers.
      1. Gaining wisdom
      2. Sharing wisdom

CONCLUSION: I gained knowledge through my parents, my grandparents, and my faith family tree. We all have a chance to share our wisdom and grow as a church & community. I invite you into the growing experience.