Titus
On
various occasions Paul returned to Jerusalem where he had attempted to lay
waste to the early church before his conversion. On one of these visits he took
Titus with him. Titus was a Greek whom Paul had led to the Lord. Paul refers to
him as "my own son after the common faith." The reason for this
particular trip to Jerusalem was the discussion as to whether a Gentile had to
become a Jew and go through all the Jewish ceremonies in order to become a
Christian.
Paul
steadfastly resisted the idea and his "Exhibit A" was Titus. Titus
had gone through none of these things and yet there he was: a growing, fruitful
disciple of Christ whom Paul was grooming to take a position of leadership in
the work of Christ. He stood firm for the truth of the gospel. He resisted the
Jewish teachers who tried to bring them back into bondage.
Some
years later Titus shows up with Paul in Ephesus. He is then sent to Corinth to
look into various problems and to initiate the offering for the poor saints in
Jerusalem. “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia. How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality. For to their power, I bear witness, yea, and beyond their power
they were willing of themselves, beseeching us with much entreaty that we would
receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the
saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave themselves to the
Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we besought Titus that, as
he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also." (II
Corinthians 8:1‑6)
The
fact that Titus was chosen to take the gift to Jerusalem and look into the
troublesome situation in Corinth indicates that Paul must have considered him a
capable leader. The next time we hear of him, about seven or eight years later,
is in this letter to Titus; he is in Crete (Titus 1:5).
The
nucleus of the church in Crete was probably started by those from that place
who were converted on the day of Pentecost. From the description of the
Cretians it would appear that Titus had his work cut out for him. "One of
themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The cretans are always liars, evil
beasts, lazy gluttons." (Titus 1:12)
Titus
had a twofold task. One was to "set in order the things that were
wanting." Titus was to look it over and get things on the right track.
His
other job was to appoint good leadership. This is an awesome responsibility. If
the wrong person is put in charge, the work is set back. And you know that it
is much easier to get a man into a place of leadership than to get him out. So
Paul gives Titus a list of spiritual qualifications.
Titus
himself must have been a confident, forceful leader, unlike Timothy who was shy
and retiring.
He
charged him to stay away from vain arguments that lead nowhere. "But avoid
foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law;
for they are unprofitable and vain." (Titus 3:9) And he was to be an
example in good work, sound doctrine, and sound speech. There were many unruly
and vain talkers around and Titus must quiet them down.
His
task was a big one, but Paul writes with the confidence of a trainer of men who
knows his man and knows that he is equal to the task.
Study
Titus to learn how to carry responsibility in a difficult situation.
© Copyright
2002, LeRoy Eims