We all need reminders of things we are supposed to do. It seems the older I get the more I need them from day to day. When I was in my twenties and thirties, I rarely wrote anything down as a reminder. My kids’ activities, doctors’ appointments, and schedules were stuck in my brain. It wasn’t until I was working 40-60 hours, that things became complicated, and everything was written down. I’m not sure if it was because I was older or because I was juggling one more hat. Now, I was running a business where many more people were involved and their jobs and mine depended on me getting it right and making sure they got it right. However, these fore mentioned things were not the most important things to get right. In Titus 3:1, Paul is instructing Titus to remind the church of some things that are essential to please God and further the Kingdom.
He is first to remind them that they are to be subject to the principalities and powers of the government. This is not a command that we like to hear. We feel our government is so corrupt that we have the right to disobey, to make our own rules about life. To some measure that is true. We in America have the right to vote and change laws, but what if our opinion doesn’t win? Then, unless it goes against what the Bible says we are obligated to obey. Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, that we are all subject to the governing authorities. He reminds the church in Rome that God has instituted those powers. The same is true for us today. If you don’t believe our opinion doesn’t matter try running 70 in a 55-mile-an-hour zone. It won’t be long until a blue light will appear and see if it helps that you don’t agree with the speed zone for that road.
Titus 3:1 “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
Romans 13:1 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
Paul continues in verse 1 to remind them to be ready for every good work. This we must be reminded of often when we have those who are not Christians setting our laws. Only when man’s laws require us to sin in order to keep them are we to disobey, and then it must be done with respect not a proud arrogant attitude, with a haughty rebellious spirit. Because of our supreme allegiance to God, we must be reminded of the sovereign plan of God and be good citizens setting a good example. Because he is our lawgiver and He is sovereign, and our sovereign judge we must obey for the furtherment of the Kingdom.
Now, in verses 2 and 3 he begins to remind them of things they should not be doing as a follower of Jesus Christ. He starts with the tongue. We are to speak no evil of anyone. We are to avoid quarreling. Some people love to fuss and keep things stirred up, but this ought not to be a characteristic of a Christian. We are to be gentle, the Greek word for gentle here is to be reasonable, treating everyone no matter who they are with courtesy. Each of us is created equal in the sight of God. While there will always be those you are closer to and enjoy more, we should make a special effort to treat everyone with respect and the same care that Jesus would. In verse 3 Paul reminds us that we too were once sinners equal to anyone else. We were disobedient, and foolish, following our own passions and pleasures. We hated others and had envy and malice toward other people.
Tit 3:2-3 “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”
These are reminders of how we were before our salvation. This is what each of us is capable of. While we may not let it be known that we feel wrongly toward others if it is in our hearts, we are still guilty. It is good for us to remember not only what we should do but how we acted or thought about others. When we act and think this way, we are doing great harm to the body of Christ. We have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to guide us and remind us of what Christ did for us. How He has empowered us to be different than we were before salvation. It’s time we examine ourselves and think before we speak or act. We have been forgiven and left here to represent Him and we must have a positive effect on others in order to win them to Him.
