Daily Meditations from John N N Ng'ang'a: Week of 3rd-9th Jan 2011...teach what is in accord with sound doctrine

 

Day 1

 

Titus 2:1

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

 

Paul’s central theme is that when sound doctrine is applied, it results in good works.

To Titus then (v. 1) the primary responsibility was to preach and teach the truth, that which was in accord with sound doctrine.

It is not enough to teach what is practical but we must ask ourselves whether it is in line with sound doctrine

Pragmatism is a good philosophy but it is not Christian.

We need to draw our teaching from God’s word . We therefore will teach some things that look unreasonable but if they are in God’s word they must be taught

Similarly we need to ask ourselves whether our lives are based on sound teaching or just on what we find practical

 
Day 2

 

Tit 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

This is sound doctrine yet practical teachings to aged men (v. 2), who were actually or potentially teachers It should include a way of ensuring that life and doctrine stood together.

I have heard of older people who believe that they have a right to teach the younger without answering the question of whether they themselves actually know the right doctrine. We do not necessarily learn with age. Timothy was young and he being instructed to teach the old. Time will not give you the right doctrine if you do not seek to learn it

 

In fact some older people involved in synctriticism or mixture of traditions and Christianity should not be given a chance to pass it to the young

We also need then to ask ourselves whether our age has helped us to earn respect rather than demand it …..the way we live should show that we are self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

 

Day 3

 

v 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

To aged( but also young) women, considerable emphasis is placed on the foundation of the home. Just like older men , these older women should not assume that age will earn them respect. They need to live in such a way that they will earn respect .

One of the things to avoid if you want to earn respect is alcohol. It seems to remove all inhibitions but in the process will lead you to act dishonorably. Although again Paul is not condemning alcohol, he makes it clear that addiction to it is evil. How do you avoid addcition since you do not know in advance how much alcohol will make you addicted? I suggest avoiding it altogether will help you never to be addicted, There are enough alternative drinks that do not lead to addiction.

Also avoid being slanderous ..saying things that spoil other peoples reputation. You should seek to build peoples esteem rather than spoil it. In this way you help them to live lives that are honorable to God

 

Day 4

 

4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

 

The honor of the Word of God is the supreme sanction for right conduct- so that no one will malign the word of God.

 
Older women must also take teaching the younger ones the right ways as their responsibility. God has allowed them experiences they should have learned from and hence can share with others so that they can avoid doing things inconsistent with Christian doctrine .

A Christian woman will be a good home maker even if in addition she may be a pastor or professor. The details are reminiscent of Prov 31:10-31.

The husband and children will feel the blessing of having a Christian mother or wife in their home .

 
The reason why we must live righteously is not because our family demands it or deserves it but because in the process we shall bring the name of the Lord honor.

Our lives should be lived to honor God if we are his children

The young women must especially be taught to be morally pure given the many temptations of youth.

 

Day 5

 

Titus 2: 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.

 
This is also a clear message to the young men. To young men (vv. 6-8) the key virtue singled out for emphasis is sobermindedness or discretion. During the youth days we tend to be hot blooded and feel that pleasure should guide our decisions. Even in church we tend to seek to entertain youth in order to attract them or even keep them

 

However Paul’s insists that even during youth we must be self controlled and avoid giving vent to our feelings and making decision on basis of pleasure.

God’s honor should guide our every decision and action if we are to be called Christians 

Of course we shall enjoy serving him but our happiness will not be the objective., we shall be happy with what makes God happy. We shall enjoy what prepares us for the joy of eternal heaven

 

Day 6
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us

To Titus himself the apostle gives the appropriate admonition for a young man and minister (Titus 2:7-8). The constant challenge of properly instructing unbelievers is included.

Since all of us are expected to teach, if no one else, at least those we lead to Christ , then we need to take the advise to Timothy for ourselves

 
Teaching must first be by example …. habits are caught not taught. we should therefore know that people will do what we do rather than what we tell them to do.

We must not be surprised by opposition but rather expect it. However if we live right it will embarrass the opposition that whatever they want o condemn us for we are not guilty of it 

Also Christianity is not a joke and hence our worship and teaching should be serious and sound .This does not mean that people should not laugh in church but rather that the speaker should not be an entertainer but rather everything they say should be said in such a way it shows seriousness.

 

Day 7
v9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, v10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive

 

how we behave in our work place is also to be taught in church

 

To servants (vv. 9,10) two common faults are singled out: answering back, contradicting or disputing; and stealing

 

Fidelity is the word frequently used for faith in the New Testament. we should show our supervisors and colleagues that we can be fully trusted. A Christian does not require any supervision

 

Once the job description is clear he can be trusted to do a good job.

 

The motivation for this is ministry through our professions. By how we act at work we are supposed to seek to win them to the kingdom of God..Once they see the gospel as attractive by our work they will want o find out more during work breaks and outside office hours. However for this to be possible we need to volunteer a reason as to why we act the way we do.

 

We should at least try let them know that we are Christians even without using office hours to preach.