Three things have conspired together for this exhortation. First, it’s Mother’s Day. Second, my Omnibus class just had a conversation about Susan’s absence in Aslan’s Country in The Last Battle. And third, I recently had a pastoral conversation with a mother who didn’t seem to give a lick about how she’s throwing away her relationship with her kids.
The connection between the last two is the same sin, and it’s a sin that corrupts more than mom’s, but mom’s are tempted in particular ways.
Regarding Susan, Peter said she “is no longer a friend of Narnia.” And Jill explains, “She’s interested in nothing nowadays except nylons and lipstick and invitations.” It’s a narrative example of the parable of soils and the seed sown among the thorns. As they “go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8:14). Matthew phrases it as “the cares of the world” (Matthew 13:22).
The sin that strangles is worldliness.
Of course there are worldly men. In fact, wealth, wine, and women are pursuits of worldly men. But there are ways that the world molds the cares of women that seem just fun, harmless, normal, and will cause love to gag and gasp.
Entangled in external appearance, not just to adorn what God gave you, but for vain glory (1 Peter 3:3). Entangled in discontentment and disrespect (Genesis 3:16; 1 Peter 3:2). Entangled in laziness and gossip (1 Timothy 4:13). Entangled in impurity and passions (1 Peter 3:2; 1 Timothy 4:11).
Mothers, fear the Lord. Respect your husband. Love your children. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all. Fear the Lord, not the world. May your children rise up and call you godly and blessed.