Devotionals

---

Titus 3:1-2
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
---

You would think that some Christians had never heard Paul or their pastors say anything like this bit of Scripture. Sometimes I wonder if anyone ever bothered to read similar verses like Exodus 22:8, Psalms 140:11, 1st Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 4:31, and James 4:11. Go ahead, look them up. They all say the same thing: don't speak ill of ANYONE, especially not the ones who are in authority over you. And yet we Christians seem to have made a cottage industry out of slandering our President, our Congress, our courts, our state and local authorities, and even our armed forces. We malign them with gossip, with libelous chain mail, and with our general discontent. We buy into every doomsday conspiracy theory around, certain that the end times are here simply because the "wrong people" are in power over us. It happens in every generation, and it has happened that way ever since Jesus died on the Cross. But did our Savior die for us so we could speak ill of our rulers and even our Christian brethren?

There is, unfortunately, remarkably little humility in many churches, remarkably little love, and an abundance of gossip, backbiting, enmity, envy and self-righteousness. "But we're only human!" some will retort. Yes, we are only human, but we are called to live in the spirit, not in the flesh. Our attitude toward those in authority ends up trickling down into our attitude toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we feel justified in speaking ill of our President, calling him the Antichrist or demon-possessed, then we are not afraid to malign others just as badly.

But the very worst is when dear brothers and sisters grumble and complain about their own pastor - the one who has answered God's calling to shepherd and guide them. When people speak badly about their shepherd, never confronting him nor seeking peace, then that creates dissension and discord in the church of Christ itself. We forget this statement, the next thing Paul wrote in this letter to Titus:

---
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
---

Even as we are calling our President or our pastor deceived or ungodly, then we ourselves forget that we were once that way. Even as we rebel against the authorities God has placed over us, we are rebelling against God Himself and the gospel of peace He has given us through Jesus Christ. Even as we pridefully say we could do things better than others, we ignore the humility and obedience that our Savior displayed in taking our sins to the Cross.

Paul sums it up in that simple phrase in verse 2: "showing all humility to all men." He is not telling Titus to teach these people some sort of subjective humility, a false humbleness around some and an arrogance and spitefulness around others. Paul is exhorting them to live lives of integrity, with one humble heart in the presence of all men - and in the omni-presence of God.

---
Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
---

"All humility to all men" is not submissive but respectful, not fearful but cautious, not oppressive but liberating. And humility never includes speaking evil of anyone.

---
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
---

That truly says it all, that we should only speak with love and a desire to help rather than hurt, a desire to teach and guide rather than rebel and revile. Christ Jesus did not go to the Cross in order to free up our tongues for "foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law," because such things are, as Paul notes, "unprofitable and useless." (Titus 3:9) So what IS profitable? What SHOULD we be sharing?

---
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
---

If we are "to be ready for every good work" as Paul writes to Titus in today's verses, then what better way to equip ourselves and others than with the very Word of God?

The next time someone starts maligning someone in authority, the next time you receive one of those incessant emails libeling our President, the next time someone criticizes your boss or your pastor behind his or her back, then gently rebuke them, with "all humility to all men." Remind others that we are to seek goodness and peace with all men, and that the attitude that keeps us together starts with our attitude toward God and the people He has put in authority over us. Jesus truly lived with a life "showing all humility to all men." How can we do any less?

Almighty God, Your ways are not our ways, Your thoughts far higher than our thoughts, and so we submit to Your wisdom. You alone know why we are under the authority of people we find hard to respect, and yet respect them we must, for You are wise and just and good. Teach us the humility of Your blessed Son, His obedience and faithfulness, His love and His righteousness. Guide us to be humble before all men, to serve others and do the good works You have prepared for us to do. And, Dear Father, teach us Your Word so that we may teach it to others with humility and grace. Amen.

© 2010 Glenn A. Pettit-Noel

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE