## A Beautiful Mom

## II Kings 4:8-37

- Every child has at one time or another expressed that their mother was beautiful!
- It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
- May I suggest that actually beauty is in the heart of the beholder?
- Story of the mother who always wore gloves.
- That mother's sacrifice made her beautiful in the heart of her child!
- What makes a mom, a beautiful mom?

Read: 2 Kings 4:8-17

I. Ministering Spirit

A. God created us with a purpose.

1. That purpose is to serve.

2. To serve God and to serve others

3. This is just the opposite of the world's philosophy.

4. The world says, "It's all about me."

5. God's Word says, "It's all about others!"

Ga 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

B. The woman of Shunem is a great example of this ministering spirit.

1. Note v9, "I perceive..."

a. Having a ministering spirit requires having spiritual discernment.

b. This speaks volumes concerning this woman, no wonder she is called great.

c. She obviously had a close walk with God.

d. How is our spiritual perception?

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2. Note v10-11, "Let us make a little chamber..."

a. She not only perceived that Elisha was a prophet of God...

b. She also perceived that he had a need.

c. She made a room to minister to Elisha.

d. Do we make room to minister to others?

e. Some of the greatest works for God have been done in kitchens and living rooms.

II. Organizes Her Life By Godly Values

A. Value = the worth of something

1. So values are relative.

2. What is of value to me may not be of value to you.

3. Ben used to collect baseball cards.

a. He had a book that listed the value of nearly every card that had been printed.

b. He would spend his allowance on certain cards and be thrilled with them.

c. When I would question him, he would go to the book and tell me what they were worth.

d. He was a bit disappointed when I explained that it was only worth that if he could find someone willing to buy it for that price.

B. The woman of Shunem organized her life around godly values.

1. We have already seen that she was spiritually perceptive.

2. Now we see that she had a good understanding of what was truly valuable.

3. Elisha sent for her to see if there was anything that he could do to repay her for her kindness.

4. Her response in v13 may seem abrupt, but what she was saying is simply that her ministry wasn't done with any ulterior motives.

5. She was saying that her family provided all that she needed.

6. Living our life based on wrong values will result in frustration and heartache.

7. She understood what was truly important

a. We can value stuff

b. We can value position

c. Or we can value people God has given us

C. How do you know your values?

1. Where do you spend your time?

2. What about your finances?

3. Actions speak louder than words!

D. How do we change our values?

1. Like we change anything else…

2. We start doing what we know is right.

3. We start investing our time, energy and $$ on that which is truly valuable.

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

4. We change our values when we apply the Word of God.

III. Mighty in Faith

A. Elisha sought to minister to her.

1. Even though she asked for nothing.

2. Even though she was content to serve the prophet with nothing given in return.

3. Elisha promised her a son…

4. In her culture for a woman to be barren was looked upon in an extremely negative light.

5. A woman found fulfillment in bearing children …in motherhood...not so different today is it?

B. Trouble comes into every life.

Note: 2 Kings 4:18-37

1. Godly families are not immune to the problems of life.

2. There was a day that her son grew ill, and then died.

3. The loss of a child is tragic in any family.

C. She was mighty in faith.

1. But note the faith of this woman.

2. She knew where to turn

3. She remained focused on the one who had the solution

4. She would not accept 2nd hand solutions "…I will not leave thee…"

5. Her faith was rewarded with the life of her son being restored.

Great story, Pastor…but what does this have to do with me? (So What?) Three questions every mom, and actually every person here this morning needs to answer.

1. What Is Our Attitude Toward Serving?

2. Do Our Values Match God's Standards?

3. Do Our Actions Demonstrate Our Faith?

Ministering Spirit Organizes Life by Godly Values Mighty in Faith