Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Titus 2:4,5
We’ve all needed help at one time or another. Someone had to point out the truth to us. It was there all along; we just didn’t see it. Maybe we’re just too busy with other things. Or we were so focused on ourselves that we couldn’t see or hear anyone else.
To reach some people, all they need is someone to urge them. To give them a gentle nudge to get their attention. Someone to quietly point them in the right direction. They just need a little help to get them back on track. To get their lives balanced again.
For me personally, I’m not good at anything subtle. To get my attention, I need a loud horn blasting right beside my ear. I need someone to physically grab me and shake me hard. I need a heavy frying pan upside my head.
They need to do something radical and way out of the ordinary. If they don’t, I just go about my life. I can only do or think about one thing at a time, so I’m completely consumed by whatever’s interesting at the moment.
To reach these younger women, Titus needs to rally the older women to get their attention and help them. They are better equipped to help these young mothers to grow in the faith and to live lives that are pleasing to God.
After all, God’s the one who made us. He sent Jesus to die for our sins. And so to respond to the one who loves us, we want to love him back. And this means that we’ll do anything to please them.
In this case, Paul is telling Titus that these younger women are advertisements for God. Since they claim to be followers of Jesus, people are looking carefully at the results of that faith. What kind of people are these Christians? Does believing in this Jesus make them better people? How do they live their lives? Are they any different than everyone else?
For Titus, the people he was responsible for didn’t all come from nice homes and backgrounds. His church was filled with everyday people who were full of everyday problems.
Problems between husbands and wives.
Problems with their children.
Problems controlling themselves.
Problems with purity.
Problems goofing off instead of working.
Problems with kindness between people.
Problems with authority.
I don’t know about you, but this list certainly sounds familiar. It looks just like most of the stuff I read in my newspaper and social media feed this morning. Our lives and the world are filled with problems. Even though the words were written and sung a long time ago[1], they still ring true.
Problems, problems, problems all day long
Will my problems work out right or wrong
Worries, worries pile up on my head
Woe is me, I should have stayed in bed.[2]
You see, every person is a walking, talking, living, breathing advertisement for what they say. For what they believe. People are watching to see if our lives match up with what we say. Have our so-called beliefs changed the way we live? Can they connect the dots between what we say is true and how we live our lives?
Back then, just like today, people calling themselves Christians were saying one thing and doing something else. They were saying that God loves everyone, but they were hating and disrespecting people with their words, actions, and attitudes. The results are what you’d expect.
People were speaking up against Christians. They were badmouthing God and his word. They were judging God because of his representatives here on earth. They were being critical and smearing God’s name and the people that said they belonged to him.
It’s easy to say that society isn’t being fair to Christians. And in one sense that’s true. But Christians sometimes make it really easy to be criticized. They paint a target on their back when they don’t act or speak any differently than everyone else. Sure, they have bumper stickers and have stuff on their clothing. But do they really act any differently? Any better?
Whether we like it or not, we’re all an advertisement that’s urging to believe what we believe. Perhaps God wants to urge you to ask his forgiveness as we’ve strayed from him. Turned out face away from him. Full and free forgiveness is there, waiting for us. And once forgiven in Christ, we’ll want to please the one who loves us.
Noodling Questions.
How has God used someone urging you to greater faith and obedience?
List the three problems that are most difficult for you. Explain.
Give three examples for how we can better urge others in Christ.
[2] Problems, The Everly Brothers, 1958, written by Felice Bryant and Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant
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