Titus 2:6-14

If Paul wrote this letter for the sake of God’s elect, for spiritual maturity and the hope of eternal life, then we should not surprised that self-control is repeatedly mentioned throughout chapter 2. Additionally, we should not be surprised that Paul included every generation. Verses 11-14 help us understand why all ages need to lean into spiritual maturity and the hope of eternal life.

If you’re among the older men or older women, and you’re just hoping to pass the baton to the younger men or younger women ~ I want to remind you that you cannot pass a baton that is not in your hand. Setting the spiritual pace is vital and discipling younger generations is vital. Without those important pieces of the church, the fruit of Titus 2 is a weaker version at best.

Younger men are to pursue a life that compliments the gospel.

Titus 2:6–8 ESV

6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Look at verse 6. Paul told Titus to urge the younger men. It’s a different phrase than for older men and the older women. I think it appropriately assumes certain behaviors from different age groups. As we age, we learn how to be better disciplined in life. That doesn’t mean we become perfect, but it does mean that we outgrow some of the struggles that we had in our earlier years because the Lord has refined us.

Urge is an exhortation that requires action. The action in verse 6 is self-control. What are some areas where younger men could use improved self-control? This is not a complete list. Temper. Lack of patience. Speech. Eating habits. Social drugs and alcohol. Arrogancy. Laziness. Pride. Self-centeredness. Undisciplined finances. Unhealthy desires or motivations. The ability to get out of bed. Spiritual disciplines.

If you are around younger men, you might see some of these struggles and you might see different ones. You might recall a day when you struggled with those things and are thankful that you have outgrown them. If you are a younger man, I encourage to lean into a friendship with an older man who will speak wisdom into your life. It is more helpful if that man is a believer, but I know unbelievers who have better self-control than some Christians.

Here’s an example of what I mean. As a 51 year old man, I intentionally watch men in their 70’s. When I meet a guy that is highly involved in the community, I want his advice on being a high-capacity volunteer in my community. When I meet a fairly healthy retired guy, I want to hear his thoughts on staying mobile, exercise and eating habits. Unfortunately, I also meet men in their 70’s who remind me about the kind of person I don’t want to be when I’m older. At 51, I want my life to compliment the gospel in my 70’s, so I’m looking for wisdom now that will allow me to continue bringing people to Jesus when I’m older.

Paul wrote this letter when Titus was in the “younger men” category. If Paul wanted younger men to form certain habits, he needed Titus to show them how a life that complimented the gospel was possible as they bought into the spiritual pace being set by the older men.

Pursue a life that compliments the gospel.

I stumbled across an article about how Michaelangelo created his famous “David” statue from 1501-1504. He was asked about the carving process and how he was able to create this statue from a block of marble. His response, “I didn't, he was already in there. I just chipped away everything that wasn’t David.”

Pursuing a life that compliments the gospel doesn’t have to be complicating for the believer, because the gospel is already inside of us and is continually working to chip away everything in our life that isn’t the gospel.

Titus, make sure that you show those men that a self-controlled life blossoms into high integrity and the utmost respect.

Titus, show them one more thing. Look at verse 8. The hygiene of our speech is one of our largest assets as believers. Our speech should be obviously different than unbelievers. Sound - Speech that has good spiritual hygiene cannot be condemned and will put an opponent to shame. Who is our opponent? “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” If speech that has good spiritual hygiene quiets the enemy, then our speech matters to our faith. I will go a step further and suggest that the spiritual hygiene of a believer’s speech matters to the faith of every believer. Your speech impacts my ability to proclaim Jesus. My speech impacts your ability to proclaim Jesus. That’s the US in verse 8.

The Jesus that we talk about better match the Jesus that we claim to live for.

Employees are to make the gospel attractive in the workplace

Titus 2:9–10 ESV

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.

Look at verse 9. If you are going to work this week, or school, or giving volunteer hours to an organization, hear verses 9-10. The first step to making the gospel attractive at work is following the rules and the pecking order of your organization because you pursue a life that compliments the gospel. The person you report to should become curious about Jesus because you are there. The person you report to should become curious about Jesus because you give mercy more than you cast judgment.

Colossians 3:23 - “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” The Jewish community understood that work was worship. Everything they did pointed to Jehovah.

Paul said that employees who love Jesus should make the work day a pleasurable experience for their boss. Paul gave two practices for us to put into action.

Verse 9 says don’t be argumentative. Workplace discussions must be had. Situations need to be talked through. Don’t be an antagonizer. Don’t be a tension creator. Titus 2 is clear that self-control matters. If you lose the battle of self-control, the lost the opportunity to proclaim Jesus.

Verse 10 says don’t pilfer. It’s the word we get embezzlement from. It’s not just stealing money. It’s our work ethic. It’s holding back effort or quality during our work day. It’s being lazy on the job. It’s manipulating results to make your performance look better.

The Jesus that we talk about better match the Jesus that we claim to live for.

Why does Titus 2 matter for our lives?

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

For the sake of God’s elect. For spiritual maturity. For the hope of eternal life.

The grace of God…The redemption of mankind…The return of Jesus Christ.

If the grace of God is not doing verse 12 in your life, are you certain you have the grace of God? Verse 14 tells us that part of the answer is a zealous demonstration of good works in your life.