Some of us have been reading what Paul wrote to Titus about setting things straight in the church in Crete.
Recently we came across this clear instruction to Titus.
In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. And 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. (Titus 2:6-7)
There are some walks in life where key individuals in positions are expected to behave a certain way. When they don’t behave in the way we expect we feel let down and in some cases we even think that they don’t deserve to stay in that position.
Sometimes, however, we have this thing of setting people up on pedestals and almost expecting perfection from individuals in those positions. The thing about holding people to a standard higher than the ones we expect from ourselves, is that it both talks about what we aspire to and where we can hold some degree of resentment at not meeting those standards ourselves.
Paul’s instruction to Titus, is given in the confidence that Titus can do it. He can do it because of the work of Christ on the cross taking away sins. He can do it, because he’s been knocking around with the apostolic team that in serving churches know what it is to set the example relying completely on the grace of God to be able to do so. When others see that life dedicated to good works and being a model of that, then they don’t have an argument to make against you.
What also helps with that, is when we pay more attention to Christ who gives us the responsibility, than the responsibility. That way, we’re not prone to pedestal pandering. It’s more of creating platforms for others to rise to their capacity to do good works and serve others with the love of Christ, rather than a pedestal promoting self to maintain a position.
It’s also useful to know that this encouragement is given to Titus in the full knowledge that he’s only there to set things up for others to follow – not be the full-time ongoing model there. Similarly if our focus remains Christ we don’t have to be too concerned with placing anyone else in his place. Rather we can recognise those who are being the model for us and see them setting a platform for us to rise to way Christ wants us to be.
Lovely sentiments to celebrate in the word. Challenging standards to put in practice. Challenging and worthwhile for all concerned.
(Photo by Camila Damásio on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 