(Titus 013) Adorning the Gospel for Your Employer -and Everyone Else (Part 3)
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Our theology determines our attitude. Our attitude determines our actions and reactions.
Our theology determines our attitude. Our attitude determines our actions and reactions.
9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
This is going to be difficult for us so let’s start with the why...
1. We must adorn the doctrine of God in everything we do. (vs. 10b)
1. We must adorn the doctrine of God in everything we do. (vs. 10b)
“So that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.”
What does the word “adorn” mean?
to put in order, arrange, make ready, prepare
to ornament, adore
to embellish with honour, gain honour
We must always in everything we do embellish with honour and enhance the already beautiful doctrine of God with the way we live!
We cannot add to or make it better.
We should be living it out the gospel in all its beauty!
Pouring honor on God with our lives.
What is more important?
Your rights or making God look good?
2. We adorn the doctrine of God by submitting to authority. (vs. 9a)
2. We adorn the doctrine of God by submitting to authority. (vs. 9a)
“Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters.”
A doulos or slave is someone who by nature belongs to someone else and not himself. His will is bound up in the will of someone else with no possibility of avoiding the tasks laid on him.
(2)A. Submitting to authority is not an American concept.
(2)A. Submitting to authority is not an American concept.
We talked about the Declaration of Independence.
We are ambassadors for Christ.
This is what matters.
This is the lens that Paul is using as he addresses slaves.
We asked this question...
What is more important to you, your freedom and rights or beautifying the doctrine of God our Savior?
What is more important to you, your freedom and rights or beautifying the doctrine of God our Savior?
9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
(2)B. Submitting to our authority is a biblical command.
(2)B. Submitting to our authority is a biblical command.
Not just submitting to authority, but submission is a biblical command and a Kingdom mindset.
Not just submitting to authority, but submission is a biblical command and a Kingdom mindset.
Submit to God.
Submit to God.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit to others.
Submit to others.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Submit to government.
Submit to government.
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.
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
Submit to Christian leaders.
Submit to Christian leaders.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Submit to authority.
Submit to authority.
(2)B. Submitting to our authority is a biblical command.
(2)B. Submitting to our authority is a biblical command.
The beauty of the gospel is displayed by our consistent submission to authority and others.
This is why I took the time to biblically recalibrate our American thinking.
We need a kingdom mindset of submission.
Let’s look at what Paul presents here.
Slaves are to be submissive.
This isn’t a suggestion or a helpful hint.
Notice there are not qualifications given for the kind of masters that are to be submitted to.
This isn’t just if they are a good master.
If slaves are to be in submission to their masters, it is a clear and obvious application that we are to be in submission to our employer or supervisor.
Not just if they are a good employer or supervisor.
When our theology tells us not buy into what culture is telling us about our rights, it makes it easier to obey this command.
We needed to be reminded that what we think is not always right.
What we have been taught for generations is not always good.
We struggle with submission because of our pride.
We want our own way.
We can do it better.
We think we know more than them. (sometimes we actually do)
The standards they hold you to are not the standards they hold themselves to.
They treat other people better than you but you do most of the work.
The list goes on and on.
So we push back.
We don’t do what we are asked.
Or we do but we complain about it or our boss to those around us.
Recently I’ve had to step back and recalibrate my thinking on the Fire Department.
There are times we are genuinely right, but doing the right thing the wrong way is never right.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
(2)B. Submitting to our authority is a biblical command.
(2)B. Submitting to our authority is a biblical command.
This would be much easier for us if we had the same mind as Jesus and emptied ourselves of us.
I’ve had to take this passage in Titus to heart and make sure I am adorning the gospel not making it look bad.
Our American culture has messed this up for us.
We are taught to pursue our dreams.
Climb the corporate ladder.
Pat’s supervisor told him he would never get anywhere being as nice as he is.
Make as much money as you can.
Your job/career is your life.
Biblically...
Your job is the way God provides for you so you can live on this earth and be an ambassador for Him.
Being and ambassador is your why.
The specific job you have not an accident.
You have been strategically placed their by God to adorn the gospel for your unsaved coworkers.
For many of you, this is your best fishing whole.
When I was bi-vocational I always felt torn.
I wanted to advance in my job because that is natural.
Yet I had ministry as well.
We should always feel that pull.
3. We adorn the doctrine of God by pleasing authority well. (vs. 9b-10a)
3. We adorn the doctrine of God by pleasing authority well. (vs. 9b-10a)
(3)A. Pleasing authority calls for our actions to be different.
(3)A. Pleasing authority calls for our actions to be different.
i. Don’t be defiant.
i. Don’t be defiant.
“Not argumentative” (vs 9)
Arguing with authority.
Making smart comments.
Backbiting
Complaining
Complaining about the pay.
Complaining about the hours.
Complaining about vacation time.
ii. Don’t be dishonest.
ii. Don’t be dishonest.
“Not pilfering.” (vs 10)
Keeping back or stealing.
A slave would often be steward of their master’s finances.
75% of employees have stolen something at least once.
Company theft in America totals $50 billion/year.
The average employee steals 4.5 hours/week totaling 6 full weeks/year
Don’t be dishonest to you boss and don’t be dishonest with your boss.
iii. Be reliable.
iii. Be reliable.
Can your boss expect you to be there on time?
Can your boss expect you to get the job done? Especially without supervision.
When I left Profile “I don’t know what you do every day”.
My goal was to make his job easier.
(3)B. Pleasing authority well calls for our heart to be different.
(3)B. Pleasing authority well calls for our heart to be different.
“Well-pleasing” (vs 9)
Don’t just please them. Don’t do the bear minimum.
Even if they don’t care or their is no reward.
Please them well - this comes from the heart.
The is a desire to adorn the gospel and live on mission.
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
(3)B. Pleasing authority well calls for our heart to be different.
(3)B. Pleasing authority well calls for our heart to be different.
Lazy good for nothing slaves were a part of Cretan culture.
A Christian slave who was well-pleasing would have been immediately noticeable.
Do what they ask as well as you can.
When you can, do more than they asked.
Exceed their expectations.
This also means we don’t get to choose when to submit.
This means you are not doing it for your own gain.
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
(3)B. Pleasing authority well calls for our heart to be different.
(3)B. Pleasing authority well calls for our heart to be different.
So in each and every task we make it a habit to obey those in authority over us.
The goal of the slave was the redemption of their master!
Questions for the week:
Do I willingly submit to others?
Would my employer or supervisor say that I please them well?
What was the most difficult part of this series for me? Why?