I’d like to take a moment to encourage the women who have accepted the calling of motherhood, and others, who choose to invest time, talents and love into the next generations. I want to encourage you today, because you’re probably not going to get the encouragement or the honor from the secular world. Even Eunice and Lois probably dealt with criticism long ago because Eunice had married an unbelieving Gentile.
I grew up during the time when women began to burn their bras and demand equal rights in the workforce, and because of this moment, women who continued to choose the role of “home-manager” were often looked upon as lazy, unproductive and often second-class citizens by the women who were out there trying to make strides for women’s rights.
I occasionally felt the sting of criticism and was made to feel guilty, until one day a very wise “older woman” said to me, “I can’t understand why women would choose to set aside their ‘God-ordained’ calling for one of their own choosing.” I never felt a smidgen of guilt after that.
Marriage and family are pictures of Christ and the church. As mothers, grandmothers and home-managers we have been giving the ability to invest in the future generations; to pour into them a God-centered, Christ-treasuring worldview. We have been given the right to create an environment of peace; nurtured by Christ’s unconditional love. Our loved ones are able to come home and shut out the world knowing they will be built up, nurtured and loved!
John Piper puts it this way: “This is a very high and holy and crucial calling that many of you embrace, with little understanding or encouragement from the world. You are the ones who have heard Titus 2:4-5 not as oppressive but as liberating. Paul said to Titus that the older women should “train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” You have heard that calling as a rich, deep and precious calling which confirms your heart’s longings.
You may be wondering why I'm bringing all this up today, well take look with me at 2 Timothy 3:14-15:
“But as for you [Timothy], continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (emphasis mine)
First notice who is Paul talking about in verse 14 when he says, “. . . knowing from whom you leaned it”. He’s got to be talking about Eunice and Lois, Timothy’s mother and grandmother, for:
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Paul refers (v. 15) to this learning happening
“from childhood.”
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If we look back at 2 Timothy 1:5 we see, “I am
reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother
Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” Paul
has already connected Timothy’s faith with what he got from his mother and
grandmother.
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Also in Acts 16:1, Luke told us about how Paul
chose Timothy in the first place as missionary partner. “Paul came also to
Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish
woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.” So Timothy is the
product of a home with a believing mother and an unbelieving father.
Verse 14: “But as for you [Timothy], continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed knowing from whom you learned it.” (emphasis mine once more)
Hang onto this, ladies! It’s not the world, nor the church, school etc that has been called to make a “godly influence” on the next generation, it’s you! You’ve been given the ability (calling) to not only influence your children, but countless others who God brings into your life from time to time.
And only God can measure how your influence today will impact future generations through the lives you impact during your lifetime!
Just how cool is that!?