Unlike the Cretens, who “claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (1:16) the redeemed people of God are to ” in every way …make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” (2:10).
How do we make attractive the gospel? Repeatedly throughout the letter of Titus, Paul tells us that it is by trading in foolish talk and unprofitable activity for doing good:
2:7 by doing what is good.
2:14 eager to do what is good.
3:1 to be ready to do whatever is good,
3:8 be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.
These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
3:14 learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,
What does it look like to be eager, be ready, be careful, be devoted to doing what is good?
It will mean sacrificially giving time, energy, money, love, compassion, resources, to those who are in need of physical and spiritual need:
- Meeting 1:1 to read the bible with a new Christian
- Turning up to church early and leaving late so to chat to new people and love the body of Christ
- Staying back for work drinks to build relationships with you non-Christian collegues
- Helping out on outreach events at church
- See a gap in the ministry at your church – why not take the initative and start something up
- Go on a short term mission preaching the gospel
- Being a helper and diligent worker in your workplace
- Making a phone call
- Start up a prayer triplet to pray and care for other at church
- Being regular to your connect group and church to build up the body of believers and show you value them
- Building a house with Habitat for Humanity
- Inviting a neighbour over for dinner
- …. the list of doing good is endless.
But where does all this fit in your week?
Will this mean adding 10 more things to you working week and home life, and be running around like a chook without its head on?
Learn to live a simple life… the sacrifice might not just be the doing good but also in not doing other things. To enable you and free you up to do good – you might actually have to say no to a promotion and be content with the job you have to maintain flexible hours outside of work or maybe saying no to some of your ‘leisure time’… those social events you have to be seen at!!!
Write a list of the things you do in you average week – are they profitable and excellent for everyone… Cull the things that aren’t and start doing more of the things that are.
The BluefishTV website (see image at top of post) talks about life being a TRADER… I think it is a great way of describing the life of one who is eager and careful to do what is good. People who trade extra hours at work, convenience, vacations and the like in for doing other things which they see to be profitable and excellent for everyone.
March 23, 2010
I know most churches have good intentions at Christmas time to connect with those who normally don’t go to church… they want to share the message that God loves this world enough to send his Son Jesus Christ as a helpless babe, to grow up living the life that we should have lived and then die the death we actually deserve.
