IT MUST MATTER
Titus 2:7-10 NKJV
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
The bulk of this chapter is regarding Paul's instruction to Titus on how he is to act and how the church members are to act. And Paul touches on every group, men and women, old and young.
Paul encourages Titus to show himself to be a pattern of good works. As the leader of the church, Titus was to be an example in how he lived. This is consistent with Paul's instructions to Timothy, another young pastor. Paul placed a great deal of emphasis on conduct, not just preaching and teaching. To Timothy, it would be his life that would elevate him despite his age. And Paul is on the same line of thought with Titus.
But Paul is also concerned with what Titus is preaching. Integrity, reverence, and incorruptibility were to underscore what Titus taught. His speech was to be so above board that it left no room for his enemies to say anything bad about him. That's a powerful thing when your life and your speaking leave no room for someone to attack. Obviously, we know that some people need no reason to attack. They can always make stuff up. But when the life and words are congruent, their attacks are baseless.
The fact that Paul addresses the subject of those who are servants gives us an interesting perspective into the role of Christians in the early church. There were many who accepted Christ from the servant ranks. But the difficulty of their circumstances did not excuse them from displaying Christ-like character. And Paul was clear in what the expectations were for these believers.
They were to be obedient to their masters. To be well-pleasing in all things and not talking back. Paul was encouraging servants to be good servants. To do a good job and not have an attitude. In his letters to the Ephesians and Colossians, Paul encouraged servants to do everything as unto the Lord and not unto men. In their serving, they were actually serving the Lord, and He would reward them. How liberating that must have been for a servant who had very little hope of accomplishing much in this life. They could actually work for the Lord.
Paul also told the servants to be trustworthy and honest. "So that they would adorn the doctrine of God in all things." In essence, the message to servants was that how they acted would make the message of God look good, or they could make it look bad. And remember, we are talking about servants.
APPLICATION
I don't think I have ever preached a message about making the message of God look good. But I probably should. We are so doggedly independent, especially as Americans, and some of that has served us well. But as believers, we actually represent a Kingdom that is greater than America. As believers, we can either make the message of God and His Son Jesus look good or give the enemy something to work with.
If servants in Paul's day were worth special notice, then all believers today should pay attention. Conduct matters. It matters in our ministers, and it matters in all of us who call ourselves believers. Making God's message look good must matter. Making God's message look good is something all of us can do.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to make You look good to the world who does not know You.