1As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching.
7And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.
We naturally hold our leaders to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. Here we see Paul encouraging Timothy to embrace that, and be an example to the people under his authority... to live out what he is teaching.
9Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 10or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.
Here we see slavery mentioned, which I hate because I think slavery is the worst kind of evil. But authority is extremely important to God. So even in the situation of slavery God would say "obey your masters and do your best to please them." This is one of those things I don't understand because I would say "escape and be free" as opposed to "obey and please." But we don't see that here. So this is one of those places in the Bible that even though I disagree, I have to honor God's Word and trust that not only is his way right and wise, but that there is also a good reason for why He said this. The way we would apply this verse to us in America where slavery is almost nonexistent is by changing the words to "Employees must always obey their Employers and do their best to please them." Like I said before, authority is a big deal to God. My favorite author John Bevere wrote a book called UNDER COVER that deals with authority. It's one of the best books I've ever read. It deals with some pretty big themes and topics such as the people under authority are called to obey, but it is the one who is in authority who will be judged on whether or not his or her command was righteous. Truly amazing book.
12And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Two big themes we see here
1. We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. In the age of grace, we are truly tempted to not be afraid of sin... and embrace the love of God in such a way that we sin without shame and guilt. This is not God's desire for us. It is His desire for us to be righteous and devoted to Him, and use wisdom to make good choices.... and live in such a way that bring Him honor and glory.
2. Good works do not save us... BUT God saved us to do good works. We see that here that Jesus gave his life to free us from every kind of sin and cleanse us, and that he wants us to be committed to doing good works. We also see that in Ephesians 2:10 "10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Notice the last part of that... "He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so".... what is happening here is God is telling us a fact and then he uses the word "so." The fact is that God created us anew in Christ Jesus. And the reason he saved us and created us anew is "SO we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Well what does it mean to do good things? The world's definition of good and God's definition of good are two different things. I think it would be "good" to play in front of 100,000 people. I think it would be good to sell a million records. I think it would be good to make a million dollars. The world has taught me that these things are good. But what is good to God. What does He think is good. Listen to this......
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
We don't see things that the world sees as very attractive here. The world isn't making a big deal about people who visit other people in prison. But God does. The world doesn't glorify people who feed the hungry, but God does. The world doesn't lift up people who show hospitality to strangers, but God does. We were saved to do good things. But we must understand what this word "good" means. Because if we define "good" the way the world does, then we will only do good things to please ourselves. But God wants us to do things that are genuinely good. And those things almost always deal with how we treat other people. Good works do not save us. But God saved us to do good works..... To do good deeds for others.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart - Prov. 3:5,6