What Are We To Be? Titus

Titus 3:1-2 (ESV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

This is a great prayer list that Titus is given by Paul.  He gives him, seven instructions and/or directives, to tell and instruct his church body.

1.  To be submissive to rulers and authorities.  Although Titus was the pastor of the church, he was to be submissive to other authorities in the world.   He was to remind others to do the same. Notice the verse just before this:

• Titus 2:15 (ESV) - Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

2. To be obedient.   Obedience was a mark of Christian maturity.   Paul is telling Titus to direct those among them to be characterized by the act of obedience.   Today’s world is not a picture of obedience: 

• 2 Timothy 3:1-2 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3. To be ready for every good work.  They were to prepare themselves for good works and be ready to complete a good work.  Remember what Paul told the Ephesian’s church:

• Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

4. To speak evil of no one.   How we use our tongues about others says much about our hearts toward God.  Notice what the psalmist stated about speaking about others:

 

• Psalms 15:3-5 (ESV). who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

5. To avoid quarreling.  Like obedience, avoiding quarreling is another marker of someone walking in the Spirit.  Rather than quarrel, we are to strive for peace with all men:

• Hebrews 12:14 (ESV) Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

6.  To be gentle.   This is a fruit of the Spirit. None of the above can be done if we are not being filling with the Spirit with gentleness:

• Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

7.  To show perfect courtesy to all people.   Courtesy here is meekness.  Remember what Jesus said about meekness:   

• Matthew 5:7 (ESV). “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Titus was to teach these seven principles to his church body.   These re markers different from the world.