Alex Townsend
The Epistle of Paul to Titus
Adorning the Doctrines of God, Part 2
Titus 2:9-10
23 July 2017

If we say that God is our Saviour, we need to demonstrate a saved life. Unless our lives witness to the change in us, the gospel we present will appear very shallow. Having seen this happen in Crete, Paul instructs Timothy how believers are to behave instead.

We are to be submissive (v. 9a). For those who were bondslaves, Paul instructs them to honor their masters in everything, and this extends to the employee-employer relationship. We are to respect and serve our employers so to be a good witness for Christ. We are to be committed to excellence; to be well-pleasing (v. 9b). We are to serve to the best of our ability, not for the sake of reward, but to live in a way pleasing God. We are to be respectful, not argumentative (v. 9c). This means not talking back, or behind others' backs. We are called to be honest, not pilfering (v. 10a). This prohibits stealing goods, but also extends to telling the truth completely, and not wasting company time. We are to be loyal, showing all good faith (v. 10b). Although out of vogue in our culture, loyalty means sacrificing one's desires to stick by, and stay true: to work, family, friends, spouse, and the local church. It means staying where God has planted you.

If we want the gospel to be taken seriously, let us take our public lives seriously. They have more weight than we think.