Teaching sound doctrine

Titus 2:2-8 (NLT)

Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.   Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.  Instead, they should teach others what is good.  These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.   In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.  And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. 

When I saw the word “older” written in this passage, I was reminded of this funny story: A woman approached a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch.  She said, "I couldn't help noticing how happy you look, what's your secret for a long happy life?"  He replied, "I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day, drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise." "That's amazing," the woman said. "How old are you?' "Twenty-six,"

Titus was a young man who Paul converted to the Christian faith.  We don’t know much about Titus as he is not mentioned in Acts as so many early Christians are.  However, Paul mentions Titus in his letter to the Galatians (2:1-3) and several times in II Corinthians (2:13, 7:6, 7:13-14, 8:5-6; 8:16-24, and 12:18) where it is obvious how important Titus was in ministry.  Paul viewed Titus as someone who could be depended on to accomplish important tasks and was an excellent role model in trying circumstances.  Thus, as Paul writes his letter to his younger colleague, he gives him these instructions for teaching sound doctrine to other people. 

Note what are to be characteristics of “older men”--- self control, worthy of respect, wise living, sound faith, and filled with love and patience.  When you first see the word “older”, you think of someone really old, like in their 80s-90s.  No, old age in ancient Greece was viewed to be 50 and older.  Paul writes in verses 6-8 that even young men are to live wisely just like old men.  Furthermore, mature Christians like Titus are to serve as examples, as Paul teaches, by doing good works, reflecting integrity (purity), sound doctrine, and being truthful so that you are beyond reproach in whatever you say and no one can say anything negative about you.

Paul also gives instructions to older women to serve as examples to younger women by loving your husband, loving your children, live wisely, be pure, work in the home (hmmmm, that will raise eyebrows in today’s society), do good (be kind) and be submissive to your husband (also controversial unless husbands earn such respect via your sacrificial loving attitude and actions toward your wife). 

The encouragement of this passage for older folks reading this is that God gives us a vital ministry regardless how old we are.  If you are over 50, be encouraged that you have a role to play as a mentor and example to younger Christian people, even to those who are not Christian yet.  Old age is not an excuse to retire as a Christian.  Old age is a time for a Christian to influence others in their Christian walk that you could never do as a younger person.  Do not let old age deter you from serving the Lord in special ways and be useful in His kingdom as Paul so clearly points out in this passage to his friend, Titus. 

An unknown author wrote: “Age is a quality of mind.  If you have left your dreams behind, if hope is cold, if you no longer look ahead, if your ambitions' fires are dead---then you are old.  But if from life you take the best, and if in life you keep the zest, if love you hold; no matter how the years go by, no matter how the birthdays fly, you are not old.”

JR Miller (gracegems.org) wrote that “those who are growing old should show the ripest spiritual fruitfulness.  They should do their best work for Christ in the days which remain. They should live their sweetest, gentlest, kindliest, most helpful life in the short time which they have yet to remain in this world. They should make their years of old age—years of quietness and peace, and joy—a holy eventide. But this can be the story of their experiences only if their life be hid with Christ in God.  Apart from Christ, no life can keep its zest or its radiance!”