A Life of Hardworking Sacrifice
Pastor Tan Thai · May 10, 2015
This Mother's Day sermon reflects on the sacrificial love of mothers through the story of Naomi and Ruth in Ruth chapter 1. The pastor calls the congregation to become like Ruth — companions who comfort and support mothers who suffer through lives of hardship and loss.
The sermon opens with Vietnamese poetry and folk sayings about a mother's love, explaining the meaning of 'tần tảo' — a term rooted in the names of two water plants symbolizing diligence and endurance in East Asian cultural tradition. A mother's love is compared to the vast ocean, immeasurably deep and wide, as expressed in a poem read aloud to the congregation.
The central portion of the sermon draws from Ruth 1, recounting Naomi's grief over losing her husband and both sons in the land of Moab. The pastor broadens the concept of 'losing a child' beyond physical death to include children who walk away from faith and godly values. Three major causes are identified: the collapse of moral values in modern society, the erosion of respect for authority among the younger generation, and the pervasive dangers of the internet and online temptation.
The pastor strongly emphasizes that the church must be a place of safety and love for suffering mothers rather than a place of judgment and gossip. The figure of Ruth — the faithful daughter-in-law who lovingly cared for Naomi — becomes the model for both the congregation and children in their families. The church needs 'Ruths' who will stand with grieving mothers in their hardship.
The sermon also addresses Naomi's bitterness as she accused God of dealing harshly with her, and urges the congregation not to allow a root of bitterness to take hold during trials. The pastor reminds listeners that God is not finished with anyone, and that persistent prayer remains the means through which God continues to work in the lives of prodigal children.
The sermon closes with a moving story about a young boy who handed his mother a bill for household chores, and his mother's response listing all her countless sacrifices as 'no charge.' The pastor calls children to follow Ruth's example — serving aging parents without complaint — and affirms that God will bless those who honor their fathers and mothers in their old age. The story of Ruth, great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ, stands as the ultimate testimony that God redeems lives of hardship and brings blessing out of sorrow.