Productive and Proper Living -- Titus 3:8-15
Productive and Proper Living -- Titus 3:8-15
By Pastor Lee Hemen
November 23, 2008 AM
There is s difference between “goodness” and “godliness.” One is defined as the quality of being good, while the other is displaying the divine qualities of God. It is interesting to note that the English term for “goodness” was derived originally from the Old English word “godness,” but there are too many folks in our day that confuse goodness with godliness and there is a danger in doing so. Why? It implies a reward for your actions as in “so be good for goodness sake!” When the first Pilgrims landed on the rocky cold shores of North America they had a truly tough time. Many, over half, died within the first year of exposure, starvation, and disease. They determined from the beginning that since they were in this all together they would share everything they had equally, but there was one problem they forgot to bank on, not everyone in their community was godly, and not everybody would work hard enough to support the concept of goodness. That’s exactly what happens when you give people the choice to allow their sinful nature to rule their lives. It was the first instance of socialism in America, “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” – Karl Marx, and it did not work because folks aren’t inherently good. They had to learn productive and proper living, that goodness comes from godliness.
Paul understood this and wanted Titus to teach the new Cretan Christians that while many did good things in their lives lived before Jesus, their lives in Christ now should make them not just to be good but to be godly as well. Paul would argue that being good may have “some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) In fact, Paul would admonish that Christians should “flee” from pursuing a life lived for oneself and instead “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11) For Paul it was a way to productive and proper living. Let’s find out why…
READ: Titus 3:8-15
My mother used to say that “goodness has its own reward.” Of course she said this in order to get me to be or do good things instead of fighting with my brother, terrorizing the neighbors, or getting into trouble in general. Many believers have forgotten the importance of productive and proper living. Paul returns to the main subject of his letter to Titus. Paul wanted Titus to “straighten out what was left unfinished” when Paul had to leave. These churches needed leadership that could lead and the congregations needed to be the churches of Jesus they were supposed to be as well! Therefore, for productive and proper living Paul related that…
I. Christians need to be doing what is good! (vv. 8 & 14)
1. Goodness is truth and beauty displayed in human behavior! Paul knew that the rest of the world of his day saw Cretans as “liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12) and to overcome this moniker, the Cretan churches and individual believers needed to be about doing good. They needed to prove their neighbors wrong about their false impression of Cretans. This could not be more true than in our day and age as well. Simply ask your unbelieving neighbor what they think of most conservative Christians and you may get an earful of something you may not like. Way back at the beginning of his letter, Pau told Titus that Christian leaders needed to be “one who loves what is good.” As I stated earlier, goodness is to be the outgrowth of godliness. (More about that in a moment.) Goodness is more than feeling good about oneself. Goodness for the believer should not be done out of selfishness to make one feel better about them self. It is done because Christians are called to be and display God’s goodness because he first displayed it for us! Remember Paul wrote that Christians have “been justified by his grace” and are “heirs having the hope of salvation,” Paul knew it was “trustworthy” or rather a dependable faithful truth “that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.” Why? Because Paul knew that “these things are excellent and profitable for everyone” to do! Titus was to promote good works, for they go hand in hand with sound doctrine. If you love God, you will love others and it will be seen in what you do! Christians need to be doing what is good because it displays for the world the outcome of their faith! This is productive and proper living for the believer, Paul would say.
EXAMPLE: Just as the early Pilgrims had to learn productive and proper living, Christians do too. There are so many things as individual believers we can be part of: 1) Adopting a child from a gift tree, 2) provide heat for families with Operation Warm Heart through Clark Public Utilities by designating extra funds to it on our CPU bill, 3) calling Share or Open House Ministries and ask what items are needed during this time of year, 4) simply make a plate full of Christmas goodies for a neighbor, 5) give the same amount spent of gifts to missions or a ministry, or 6) purchase a coat for a child at a low income school or volunteers to read to students or be a mentor. Just go to the office and ask how you could help. Then as you do these “good” things give God the glory and honor for allowing you to serve others in his name. Christians should not be falsely accused of being “liars, evil brutes, or lazy gluttons,” but rather that we are more than willing to do what is good for the Lord.
Now do not make the mistake many do thinking that by doing good things, you are living a godly life. You are not. Godliness is quite different from simply doing or being good. Godliness comes from the inner spiritual quality that has changed your very being. It is an act of your inner nature being changed and then displayed in your character. It is the transforming power of the grace of God lived out in the lives of his people. It is the very reflection of the Lord himself. This is why Paul writes Titus that for productive and proper living…
II. Christians need to be doing what is godly! (vv. 9-11)
1. Worldliness is simply pursuing the activities of your present life with no thought to God! Notice Paul gives some character qualities to Titus for displaying godliness: he relates that Christians should “avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law.” There were those in these churches who wanted to endlessly debate stupid theological issues that were not good for anyone. In our day Paul would say that Christians should “avoid foolish controversies” within the church that would pull the church apart. Godly people do not to get involved in ungodly gossip. They are not to be argumentative or try and find fault with how other people live like those who did in Paul’s day. They held up the law of God instead of the grace of the Lord. Paul told Timothy, “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” (2 Timothy 2:23) He tells Titus they are “unprofitable and useless.” Paul dramatically warned the Ephesian church: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29) Why? Because as a Christian you can “grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption!” (Ephesians 4:30) In fact believers are to practice godliness by being “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) This is why Paul makes the disciplinary statement to Titus that Christian churches should “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.” For productive and proper living Christians need to be doing what is godly.
EXAMPLE: Governor William Bradford was amazed at the miracle that occurred when people were given their own land and taught godliness out of their goodness. He wrote in his book “Of Plymouth Plantation,” “This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.” From the first winter where they had just a few kernels of dried corn each to eat, to a bountiful feast the next year. It was a miracle. So much so that they celebrated several days of thanksgiving to God for His blessing in teaching them to live productive and proper lives. Paul wrote Timothy that productive and proper living takes much more than a relaxed approach: “Exercise [train] yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1 Timothy 4:7). Our bodies and our minds are to be dedicated to God and prepared for His service (Romans 12:1-2). The goal is godliness—a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Paul told Titus to “avoid” ungodly things that were “unprofitable and useless” and to warn those who did not. Paul knew that For productive and proper living Christians need to be doing what is godly.
Conclusion:
For productive and proper living, Christians need to be doing what is right and Christians need to be doing what is godly.
----
This article is copyrighted © 2008 by Lee Hemen and if you reprint it, reproduce it, or want to use it in any way, you must do so in its entirety or get the written permission of its author.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
November 23, 2008 AM
There is s difference between “goodness” and “godliness.” One is defined as the quality of being good, while the other is displaying the divine qualities of God. It is interesting to note that the English term for “goodness” was derived originally from the Old English word “godness,” but there are too many folks in our day that confuse goodness with godliness and there is a danger in doing so. Why? It implies a reward for your actions as in “so be good for goodness sake!” When the first Pilgrims landed on the rocky cold shores of North America they had a truly tough time. Many, over half, died within the first year of exposure, starvation, and disease. They determined from the beginning that since they were in this all together they would share everything they had equally, but there was one problem they forgot to bank on, not everyone in their community was godly, and not everybody would work hard enough to support the concept of goodness. That’s exactly what happens when you give people the choice to allow their sinful nature to rule their lives. It was the first instance of socialism in America, “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” – Karl Marx, and it did not work because folks aren’t inherently good. They had to learn productive and proper living, that goodness comes from godliness.
Paul understood this and wanted Titus to teach the new Cretan Christians that while many did good things in their lives lived before Jesus, their lives in Christ now should make them not just to be good but to be godly as well. Paul would argue that being good may have “some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) In fact, Paul would admonish that Christians should “flee” from pursuing a life lived for oneself and instead “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11) For Paul it was a way to productive and proper living. Let’s find out why…
READ: Titus 3:8-15
My mother used to say that “goodness has its own reward.” Of course she said this in order to get me to be or do good things instead of fighting with my brother, terrorizing the neighbors, or getting into trouble in general. Many believers have forgotten the importance of productive and proper living. Paul returns to the main subject of his letter to Titus. Paul wanted Titus to “straighten out what was left unfinished” when Paul had to leave. These churches needed leadership that could lead and the congregations needed to be the churches of Jesus they were supposed to be as well! Therefore, for productive and proper living Paul related that…
I. Christians need to be doing what is good! (vv. 8 & 14)
1. Goodness is truth and beauty displayed in human behavior! Paul knew that the rest of the world of his day saw Cretans as “liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12) and to overcome this moniker, the Cretan churches and individual believers needed to be about doing good. They needed to prove their neighbors wrong about their false impression of Cretans. This could not be more true than in our day and age as well. Simply ask your unbelieving neighbor what they think of most conservative Christians and you may get an earful of something you may not like. Way back at the beginning of his letter, Pau told Titus that Christian leaders needed to be “one who loves what is good.” As I stated earlier, goodness is to be the outgrowth of godliness. (More about that in a moment.) Goodness is more than feeling good about oneself. Goodness for the believer should not be done out of selfishness to make one feel better about them self. It is done because Christians are called to be and display God’s goodness because he first displayed it for us! Remember Paul wrote that Christians have “been justified by his grace” and are “heirs having the hope of salvation,” Paul knew it was “trustworthy” or rather a dependable faithful truth “that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.” Why? Because Paul knew that “these things are excellent and profitable for everyone” to do! Titus was to promote good works, for they go hand in hand with sound doctrine. If you love God, you will love others and it will be seen in what you do! Christians need to be doing what is good because it displays for the world the outcome of their faith! This is productive and proper living for the believer, Paul would say.
EXAMPLE: Just as the early Pilgrims had to learn productive and proper living, Christians do too. There are so many things as individual believers we can be part of: 1) Adopting a child from a gift tree, 2) provide heat for families with Operation Warm Heart through Clark Public Utilities by designating extra funds to it on our CPU bill, 3) calling Share or Open House Ministries and ask what items are needed during this time of year, 4) simply make a plate full of Christmas goodies for a neighbor, 5) give the same amount spent of gifts to missions or a ministry, or 6) purchase a coat for a child at a low income school or volunteers to read to students or be a mentor. Just go to the office and ask how you could help. Then as you do these “good” things give God the glory and honor for allowing you to serve others in his name. Christians should not be falsely accused of being “liars, evil brutes, or lazy gluttons,” but rather that we are more than willing to do what is good for the Lord.
Now do not make the mistake many do thinking that by doing good things, you are living a godly life. You are not. Godliness is quite different from simply doing or being good. Godliness comes from the inner spiritual quality that has changed your very being. It is an act of your inner nature being changed and then displayed in your character. It is the transforming power of the grace of God lived out in the lives of his people. It is the very reflection of the Lord himself. This is why Paul writes Titus that for productive and proper living…
II. Christians need to be doing what is godly! (vv. 9-11)
1. Worldliness is simply pursuing the activities of your present life with no thought to God! Notice Paul gives some character qualities to Titus for displaying godliness: he relates that Christians should “avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law.” There were those in these churches who wanted to endlessly debate stupid theological issues that were not good for anyone. In our day Paul would say that Christians should “avoid foolish controversies” within the church that would pull the church apart. Godly people do not to get involved in ungodly gossip. They are not to be argumentative or try and find fault with how other people live like those who did in Paul’s day. They held up the law of God instead of the grace of the Lord. Paul told Timothy, “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” (2 Timothy 2:23) He tells Titus they are “unprofitable and useless.” Paul dramatically warned the Ephesian church: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29) Why? Because as a Christian you can “grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption!” (Ephesians 4:30) In fact believers are to practice godliness by being “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) This is why Paul makes the disciplinary statement to Titus that Christian churches should “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.” For productive and proper living Christians need to be doing what is godly.
EXAMPLE: Governor William Bradford was amazed at the miracle that occurred when people were given their own land and taught godliness out of their goodness. He wrote in his book “Of Plymouth Plantation,” “This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.” From the first winter where they had just a few kernels of dried corn each to eat, to a bountiful feast the next year. It was a miracle. So much so that they celebrated several days of thanksgiving to God for His blessing in teaching them to live productive and proper lives. Paul wrote Timothy that productive and proper living takes much more than a relaxed approach: “Exercise [train] yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1 Timothy 4:7). Our bodies and our minds are to be dedicated to God and prepared for His service (Romans 12:1-2). The goal is godliness—a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Paul told Titus to “avoid” ungodly things that were “unprofitable and useless” and to warn those who did not. Paul knew that For productive and proper living Christians need to be doing what is godly.
Conclusion:
For productive and proper living, Christians need to be doing what is right and Christians need to be doing what is godly.
----
This article is copyrighted © 2008 by Lee Hemen and if you reprint it, reproduce it, or want to use it in any way, you must do so in its entirety or get the written permission of its author.
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