Titus: organizing the church in Wildwood, Missouri.
Ok, Titus was really hanging out on the island of Crete (part of Greece and right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea). Following Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, he traveled to various places with several of his younger proteges’s. On his trip to Crete, he was accompanied by Titus, a gentile convert from Antioch in Syria. While on the island, Paul and Titus boldly shared the message of God’s love and mercy as revealed through Jesus life, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and promise to return at some time in the future.
Evidently, there was a positive response from many people in various parts of the island. As a result, when Paul needed to move on to other locations back on the continent, he asked Titus to remain on the island to do two things: first, to help these home churches be ordered and organized; and second, to appoint men to positions of leadership that would care for people and protect this new movement of God in the hearts of those people.
These leaders (who are called Elders) were to be men of strong and trustworthy character, who were grounded in the spiritual truths of God’s Word and could help others be grounded as well. Beyond that, these leaders were to help facilitate relationships between generations that would be enriching and encouraging. As Paul’s written instructions to Titus wound down, he emphasized the need for these new believers to demonstrate their transformation by investing in the clear and present needs of others around them.
I am amazed at the powerful and practical truths that we find in this letter from Paul to Titus. I am convinced that in order for the Christian church to be relevant in the 21st century, it will have to be mature, trustworthy and faithful. This letter to Titus describes a mature, trustworthy and faithful community of believers that we would do well to emulate. Leadership is crucially important. It is not leadership that tells everybody what to do, but it is leadership that loves deeply and builds into the lives of those around them. In fact, a mature, trustworthy and faithful church has everyone involved in connecting and investing with one another. Life is way too hard to go at it alone. We need each other so that, together, we can live out the beauty of who God is and who He has made us to be. In fact, when we have a proper sense of who God is and how we are woven into His family, we then catch a vision for touching the world around us with the love and mercy of God. There is no lack of need around us and much of that need is urgent. God calls us to be a light in the darkness and to enhance the taste of life when it has become bland.
As we wrap up our look at Titus this week, may we deeply consider what The Good Life really is. I think we have seen that on earth The Good Life is being engaged with God’s empowering message of hope and forgiveness, finding Godly leaders who will help us all gain a sense of who God is and what life is really all about, connecting with one another in meaningful and encouraging relationships and then investing ourselves in good works that address the profound needs of people around us.
Now that is what I call THE GOOD LIFE!