Where The Rubber Meets The Road

Titus 2:9-15

As J. Vernon McGhee used to say, now we’re getting to where the rubber meets the road. We’ve talked about what kind of people we are trying to produce, and the importance of setting a proper example before them. Now we come to specifics in the daily life of the believer.

“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”(Titus 2:9-10)

Most people, including Christians are employed by someone else. They are in effect, hired servants. Paul addresses the attitude and actions a Christian should have toward his job. A proper attitude toward our jobs will glorify God and incline people toward his word, while an improper attitude will drive people away even faster.

As Christians, there ought to be an attitude of obedience. This does not include doing things that are wrong, but of willingly and eagerly doing what is right, even though we don’t care for the job. There should be and effort to do everything well in order to please the boss. There ought never be backtalk or rebellion, although it is advisable to warn of dangerous or harmful instructions.

There should be no taking things because the company has plenty or cheating on time, materials, or vehicle use. There ought be faithfulness to the company, in loyalty, to not run down the company or other employees. There should not be any depriving the company of work by taking on side jobs for a lower rate. Such behavior is in accord with what we learn about how we should live if we believe God.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

The gift of God, Christ’s sacrifice has given salvation to every man. We have been made righteous. We ought to live accordingly. Ephesians 4:22-24 expresses the same concept. “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Colossians 3:5-11 is more specific as to some of the things that need to be put out of our life because they are what brought the wrath of God on us in the first place. “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

If we have genuinely been changed, and we have the divine nature as described in II Peter 1:4, there should be a pronounced change in the way we live. Every Christian should be growing toward this new character despite their background. Just as the pastors, Titus is to strive to produce this in the people’s lives.

“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:15)

To prevent others looking down on him and rejecting his teaching, Titus needs to exemplify what he is teaching and trying to produce. Paul described what was needed in I Timothy 4:12. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Immaturity or hypocrisy in any of these areas will destroy one’s authority. What right do you have to expect others to do what you don’t?