How Should We Live?

In our country today, we can safely assume that there are thousands of Canadians who are looking for a faith that is authentic – they are looking for something that is real and not superficial. Along with this, we find that people are looking for a sense of purpose – a sense of meaning that helps makes living worthwhile. Perhaps the apostle Paul had this in mind when he wrote to Titus in order to encourage the people to “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (2:10, NIV, italics added). Clearly, Paul wanted people who heard the gospel to know that they would live better lives as a result of following Jesus Christ.

In the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to Titus we discover that the apostle had left this young man on the island of Crete to “straighten out what was left unfinished” (1:5, NIV). Part of Titus’ commission was to travel from town to town promoting the “sort of character which should spring from sound teaching” (2:1, JBP). In other words, Titus was charged with the responsibility of teaching the people how to live! And so, in each town, Titus would gather the church together in order to address all the various groups on the practical aspects of their Christian life. In these meetings, Titus would not have wanted to simply impart theory or information, but instead, he taught those things that were necessary for a successful Christian life.

Today, we can look at what Paul encouraged Titus to teach by examining the following areas in Titus chapter 2:

To the Older Men - “Teach them about being examples of maturity” (2:2).

The church of today needs mature, older men who will be examples of what it means to walk with God throughout life. We need men who stand out as fathers in the faith – patriarchs who have proven by their lives that being a Christian is the best life one can live. About such men, the apostle Paul said they should be:

· Temperate - Such a man is balanced and knows how to live wisely. He remains calm in the face of difficulty.

· Worthy of respect - He stands out as a man who has proven himself in the way he lives. He is a pillar in the church!

· Self-controlled - He has learned to master his desires and clearly knows when to say “yes” and when to say “no.”

· Sound in faith, love and endurance - Such a man is firm, sensible, positive, trustworthy and stable in the all circumstances of life. He can weather all the storms that life throws at him because he has lived through enough of them in the past to know that God is always with him.

As a man grows older “his influence ought to increase,” (John Eldredge) not decrease, for this is one of the best stages in life to train younger men in the things of God. As I look at my own responsibility in this area, I am asking the Lord to help me produce many sons in the faith – a new generation of kingdom men who are fully committed to His purpose of restoration.

To the Older Women - “Teach them about being women of dignity” (2:3, 4).

Many people today are looking for an example of family life that really works. Because older women of faith have already managed a family and raised children along with their husbands, it is important that they pass on what they have learned to the younger women and mothers in the church. About such women, the apostle Paul said they should be:

· Reverent - Such a woman is worthy of respect, for she stands out as a person of distinction and nobility.

· Free of gossip - Her most common expression is not “Did you hear about so and so,” but rather, “Let me tell you what the Lord has shown me about life.”

· Disciplined - The text says that such a woman is “not to be...addicted to much wine” (2:3). The issue here has to do with self-control and the need to live a balanced and productive life.

· Models of goodness - Paul says that such women are “to teach what is good” (2:3). This means that the older women need to tell those who are younger what things in life are good to embrace.

Concerning the older women who are in the church, Titus 2:4 points out that “By looking at them” (MSG), the younger women will learn how to become effective wives and mothers.

To the Younger Women - “Teach them about enjoying life” (2:4, 5).

All of us know that life has its seasons – seasons that bring extraordinary joy for those who are open to it. It is interesting that the J.B. Phillips translation says the younger women should learn about “the good life” from the older women (see verses 3 and 4). Even though the instruction is not limited to young mothers, Paul does seem to encourage the love of home, husbands and children. About such women, the apostle Paul said they should be:

· Self-controlled - Such a woman stands out as someone who lives wisely and is known for her moral integrity and uprightness.

· Pure-hearted - Such a directive is really for all people and follows in line with David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10 where he says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God. In other words, God is the One who creates purity of heart.

· Kind - Such a woman is compassionate and safe to be with, for she thinks of others more than herself.

To the Younger Men - “Teach them about being disciplined” (2:6).

The secret to the success of every young man is found in what he does on a daily basis. This is why it is true to say that “the way you live today impacts your tomorrow” (John Maxwell). Clearly, we must learn to make TODAY a MASTERPIECE! Perhaps this is the reason that Paul lists just one characteristic for young men to embrace:

· Be self-controlled - The disciplines a young man embraces today will be with him for life. Therefore, all young men ought to ask themselves, “What habits am I forming today that will have a positive impact on my future?” This not only means the disciplines of prayer and Bible reading to strengthen one’s spiritual life, but also the importance of physical exercise, wise food choices, time spent watching television, financial prudence, and many other areas that create a balanced and stable life.

To those who are Employed - “Teach them about working with excellence” (2:9, 10).

Our lives touch the world in a practical way through our jobs. With our jobs taking up 40 or more hours of our time each week, they provide a major opportunity for us to reveal Jesus Christ to the world.

Many years ago when I was first married, I had the wonderful privilege of working as “the hired-man” on a local strawberry farm. Even though I would never have called it a privilege back then, as I think about it now, I can see how I leaned many valuable lessons about the importance of doing a good job. The reason for this is that God is always watching! I will never forget the many, many long hours of pulling weeds out of the strawberry fields to make way for the harvest in the middle of June. Looking back, I remember complaining to God about the work by saying, “Lord, don’t you know that I was born for better things than this! I’ve got a university degree – and here I am pulling weeds for a living!” I was acting as if God just didn’t understand my situation.

Well, when I finally got around to listening to the Lord about the “why?” of it all, I clearly remember Him asking,

“Bill, who owns these fields?”

“You do, Lord,” I said.

“Then, Bill, who are you working for?”

“You Lord,” I answered.

As you can imagine, I learned a valuable lesson that day. And it’s a lesson that has stayed with me all my working years, for as Paul said in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (NIV). When teaching about our jobs, Paul said to Titus:

· Work hard - Ultimately, you are working for the Lord, for all employment comes from Him.

· Be honest - Show your boss that in all things you can be trusted, for your goal should be to let your “good character...shine through” in your actions (see Tit. 2:10, MSG).