Becoming Titus 2 - Teaching What Is Good

 

 

Titus 2:3-5

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. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 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.

 

Over at Extravagent Grace we are journeying through Titus 2:3-5, bit by bit and along the journey we are breaking down this verse and learning to apply it to our lives.  "Becoming Titus 2" is not something that we "just do". It is a journey or walk with the Lord as He shows us behavior, character and godly habits that line up with His Word.  Today's section is "to teach what is good."

Last time we went through some things the Titus 2 woman is not to do or be.  She is not to allow things like slander to be a part of her vocabulary.   She is not to be addicted to wine or be bound by things not of the Lord.  So now, moving on we learn that she is to teach what is good.  Hmmm.   

If I can share openly, there are times that I would like to go up to some women that I see hanging around with provocative clothing, a filthy mouth and a disgraceful attitude and teach her a thing or two!  I could certainly show her how to act much better than she is.  But would that be well received from me with a prideful or haughty attitude that thinks I am better than her?  NO. She probably wouldl not learn or want to become anything like me, but despise me for looking down on her.

Every woman of God can look back to the times before the Lord changed her heart and see some unholy behavior.  It is the heart that is grateful for God's grace that helps, heals and motivates one to seek higher ground.  This is the heart of Titus 2 teaching.  We are not perfect, but forgiven and on a journey to holiness, walking with our hand in the Savoir's hand, lest we fall on our own. 

When we grasp what God's grace has done for us and allow Him to work out the things in our lives that are not pleasing to Him, we have a heart ready to receive His teaching and carry it along with us and also extend it to others.  We teach what is good as we journey through our day, in our words, actions and activities.  We show others the good God has done in our lives as we overcome tempation to gossip, choose our priorities wisely, treat our husbands with respect and love and uplift our children.   In the grocery store, at the ball field, in the church nursery, visiting with friends, are all opportunties to teach what is good.  Through our blogs, our Facebook and Twitter status, our email responses there are a multitude of ways to show by example and teaching what is good. 

Some other translations of this portion of this verse are enlightening:

• but to be examples of goodness
• but to be examples of virtue.
• teachers of what is right;

Some commentaries further expound:

• teachers-in private: not in public (1Co 14:34; 1Ti 2:11, 12); influencing for good the younger women by precept and example.
• Teachers of good things. Both by example and precept. How beautiful is an aged Christian woman of saintly life!

What an honor, priviledge and responsibility it is to become a Titus 2 woman!  What a joy it is that we are not doing this alone, but it is the overflowing grace of God that helps us.  May we always seek out and be ready to teach what it good as we go through our day!  Be a blessing!