Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
Titus 3:14
When it comes to giving orders, there’s one small detail that makes it all work. It’s not a huge thing. It’s not complicated. Heck, you don’t need an app on your phone to figure it out. It’s as easy as pie.
You can only give orders to people that are under your control. You have to have some kind of authority over them. Both you and they have to recognize the fact that someone has the right to give orders and the other has a responsibility to follow directions.
Yes, you can give orders to just about anyone, but they have no reason to follow. If you’re just another person, why listen? Why assume that they have any more insight or authority than anyone else. The short answer is that they don’t, so just ignore them.
When there’s an accident on the road, police come on the scene to help the people involved and to direct traffic. They have the authority to redirect cars for the safety of everyone involved. And if you doubt this, you should see what happens to drivers who ignore the police. It’s not pretty.
So when Paul gives these instructions to Titus, he already has the authority from God. And Titus understands this because he’s listening and following instructions. Paul’s not just telling anyone, he’s talking to a fellow follower of Jesus.
And that’s exactly what’s happening here. Paul says that “our people” are the ones that are to devote themselves to doing what’s good. This isn’t a blanket statement that’s being broadcast to the Roman world. No, this message is focused to the Christian community. Period.
Some people may not like to hear this, but only followers of Jesus have a responsibility to follow God’s instructions. Yes, it would be nice is everyone loved their neighbor, but people have taken themselves out from under God’s authority and protection. So in one sense, they really don’t have to listen.
But when it comes to their eternal destiny, they don’t want to hear that they’ve chosen separation from God. They want a get out of jail free card. They want their God to just forget their life of rebellion, disrespect, and disobedience.
That’s why Paul’s not giving Titus a suggestion that he free to pay attention to or ignore. He’s telling him a command. He’s giving an order to teach, train, and instruct the Christian community. And like all orders, Paul’s expecting Titus to not just pay attention, but to do it. To follow orders to the best of their abilities.
And what’s the order that Titus is being commanded to do? What’s the thing that all of God’s people are to do? They’re being told to learn. But this isn’t that command that our parents gave to us when we went to school. They’re not just to learn in one class and then stop. They’re not to just learn one subject either. No, They’re supposed to learn and keep on learning these three things.
Devote themselves to doing what is good. We are to have a solid track record when it comes to living a life that’s good. But not just good enough in the way people think of good. Since only God is good[1], this means that our lives are to reflect God in everything we do.
Provide for urgent needs. These are the things that are necessary for daily life. Food. Clothing. Shelter. These are the things that our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we even ask[2]. But it also covers our spiritual needs. What we need to be saved. To grow in grace.
Don’t live unproductive lives. It can be hard to think about an unproductive life. But a life dedicated to treasures on earth where moth, rust, and thieves destroy[3] is an unproductive life. And so are people that build the foundation of their lives on wood, hay, and stubble[4].
Titus has been given authority to teach his people these three important things. And we’ve also been commanded to not only hear these truths, but to do them. In Christ Jesus we’ve been given every spiritual blessing[5]. We’ve been given more than just life, but a more abundant life[6].
The question is are we just going to hold onto all these great and glorious blessings from God for ourselves? If we really understand that everything is a gift from God[7], then what’s holding us back from sharing it? Why not give away what’s been given to us in the first place? We need to pay attention to the words of the old hymn.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of his glory and grace[8]
Noodling Questions
Why do we like to give orders more than receive orders?
Which of the three things to learn comes easiest? Hardest? Explain.
How can we better understand about God’s gifts to us?
[1] Mark 10:18
[2] Matthew 6:8
[3] Matthew 6:19-21
[4] 1 Corinthians 3:12
[5] Ephesians 1:3
[6] John 10:10
[7] James 1:17
[8] Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Helen Howarth Lemmel (1922)
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