Men of God - June 27 Readings: Titus 1

Today’s Readings

Context

You may be wondering why we did not continue from 1 Timothy into 2 Timothy. While there is no hard and fast evidence of chronology in the Pastoral Epistles, it is generally believed that 2 Timothy was the last of Paul's letters, so we turn to the letter to Titus.

Titus, not mentioned in Acts, appears in Galatians 2, accompanying Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and seek reconciliation. He was on the island of Crete, leading the church, and this book is filled with Paul's instructions to him about how to lead in the church of Christ. 

Devotional - Men of God

The shocking thing in Paul's description of a church leader - a pastor, elder, overseer - is how completely different the biblical standard is from that which we have adopted in our world. We've brought the corporate model of leadership into the church and demanded that pastors and other leaders be executives, motivational gurus, and promotional experts. But Paul has a completely different idea about what it takes to lead the church.

We tend to base leadership on external factors - talent, charisma, looks. Paul based it on spiritual and moral character. A leader was to be a man "above reproach."

We focus on a man's public image and job performance. Paul focused on his relationship with his wife and the job he did raising his children.

We focus on a man's performance, but Paul focused on his passions.

We often want someone exciting, vibrant, and personally winning. But Paul emphasized self-control.

We want young people who can attract a young, hip crowd. Paul wanted elders - men of maturity and settled character.

Is it any wonder that if we seek character qualities contrary to the biblical standard that our leaders often lead our churches in a direction different than the word of God defines? If we do not hold to biblical truth in selecting leaders it ought not to surprise us if those leaders do not lead us in a biblical direction.

Father, may I be a man such as Paul described here. Build in me the character of a true man of God. 

Think and Pray

Most who read here are not pastors, but the character qualities are not only for pastors, elders or church leaders. They are simply held to a higher standard of accountability for those standards. Compare your life to these biblical qualities and see if you are becoming the kind of man or woman God would have you be.