Titus 4:12-15

Titus 4:12-15 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

Titus 4:12-15 (Amplified Bible) When I send Artemas or [perhaps] Tychicus to you, lose no time but make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your utmost to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they want for (lack) nothing. And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honorable employment), so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives. All who are with me wish to be remembered to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace (God’s favor and blessing) be with you all. Amen (so be it).

Honest labor and honorable employment have always been obligations to those who are Christians. Those who will not work should not eat is a Biblical maxim. Christians should be profitable in their daily lives to further the purposes of Christ. As we discover in the above passage, Titus will be moving on. He will be rejoining Paul; therefore, his position in Crete will be replaced by another worker. He is moving on to further God's work by being with Paul. Zenas and Apollos are also workers in God's harvest. They are not to lack anything in their efforts to spread the Word. In the above passage we see Paul, Titus, Zenas, and Apollos provided for by the church. They are to receive direct material help from the church because they are working in the harvest field. The Bible encourages Christians to seek first the kingdom of God, which I believe not only includes a spiritually focused life, but also a very practically focused life of furthering the kingdom of God through the giving of our material goods.

Sometimes I wonder what people think about seeking first the kingdom of God. Is this kingdom just for ourselves, or is it for others too? God has asked us to be servants. If we are servants, we serve with our whole lives, which also includes our money. How much money? A tenth or the Old Testament tithe? Christians are to be committed wholeheartedly, completely. Their lives have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, so they are no longer their own, especially in the eyes of God. As servants then, we are to facilitate God's message of redemption to a sick and needy world. A servant commits how much to his master? How much of ourselves do we commit? How much of our goods do we wholeheartedly give to God? Each Christian has to decide the level of his servanthood, his/her commitment, but I know that the older I get in Christ, the more I desire to submit to God's will, for that is my reasonable sacrifice. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)

How generous are we as a group of people? I suspect very generous, I hope very generous. If we speak of Christ readily in front of waitresses, then they should know through our tipping that we are a loving and a generous people. Our tips should reflect our hearts. If we portray Christ to people around us, they should know that God is ready to help them through our lives and our commitments. All people should know that we are ready to share our material goods with them if they are in need. Our lives should be read like a book. What we say is what we do. At one time, two of our children worked in a busy restaurant, and it saddened them when the other workers there did not want to be the one to serve a group of church people who came in every Sunday evening but were known for their low tips. Were these believers living sacrifices? I wonder.

Many Christians are working at jobs they dislike, yet they are doing it for Christ's sake. They are doing it to be productive, to provide for their loved ones, and they are doing it for the body of Christ. A Christ-like attitude of giving should be a central focus in everyone's life, for such an attitude brings honor to the Lord. Of course, Christians work for the necessities of life as everyone else does, but their focus in life should always include providing for the body of Christ, the church. If we only do the former and not the latter, we are neglecting the will of God. How productive will our lives be considered when we stand before God in the final judgment. Will we hear, "Enter into my rest, my good and faithful servant," or will we hear, "Depart from me, for your life has been focused on yourself and your needs?" Are our garages a testimony to the latter statement? Have we spent most of our lives collecting "stuff?" As Christians we are to help each other, to serve each other in love. We are to be lovers of people, not things. We are to do the will of God. We are to be what the world needs. If we are focused too much on ourselves, we will not fulfill the purpose God has for our lives: to spread to all people God’s favor and blessing. Today, let God arise and shine his love in your heart, and you will have joy, real joy, wonderful joy.