Titus was placed in an environment that was
hostile to Christianity. False teachings
were rife and the Christian community was in disarray. The nation was infamous for being liars, evil
brutes and lazy gluttons. The Christians
were probably making things difficult for Titus to do his work. However, Paul expressed confidence in Titus
by leaving him in Crete to straighten out the bad situation in the church. He urged Titus to be bold and to persevere
and step out and teach the right doctrines and setting the right example to the
people by being an exemplary role model.
Likewise, here in Singapore, we live in an environment that is not
entirely friendly to Christianity. And Timothy teaches how to endure
opposition. The world is especially
hostile to Christ hence we need endurance and to practise gentleness in the
face of opposition. Just take my family
for instance. One of my sisters is a
Catholic while the sister and my mother are Buddhists. Religion is not important to my nieces and
brother-in-law. There is and always has been resistance to Christianity for as
long as I can remember. However, I must
not give up hope and still continue to share the Good News to my family members
whenever I can although I do feel weary at times. This is especially so when I see no change to
their receptiveness to the Gospel. From
the book of Titus, I am reminded that this hostile environment is not unique to
just my family or to Singapore but to the world at large. The world has been hostile to Jesus since Day
One. The enemy crept in stealthily and
with his lies, ‘stole’ the blessings that God had given man and he is still very
much at his game today. But Scriptures
assure us that God desires for all man to come to know Him and not perish. Therefore, I will not be discouraged even
when faced with objections and resistance but will continue to believe in my
family’s and friends’ salvation.
Many
times, we question the ability of someone young and inexperienced especially at
leadership positions. However, Paul
taught Timothy not to be discouraged or disheartened at remarks that he
(Timothy) was too young but instead he should continue to set himself as a
blameless example for others to see and follow.
The going would be tough, Paul promised, but Timothy was to ‘keep this
command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1
Tim 6:14). This is a lesson for me not
to doubt the young but instead to be an encouragement and help to them. I have to remember that everyone, young or
old, experienced or not, is being appointed by God to serve in the Body of
Christ and as a community, we are to encourage and build each other up. And just as there was a starting point in my
life to learn and grow, so do others.
‘It
gets lonely at the top.” I remember this
punchline from a Svensons advertisement, a hair regrowth brand. A balding man was looking out of his
skyscraper office window at the New York scene outside. Obviously, this man is in an executive
position within the corporation, hence the window view, hence his
loneliness. Paul was acutely aware
leaders can get lonely and discouraged with all the work yet seeing little or
no results. He thus kept reminding
Timothy of his calling and ministry to encourage him and egg him on. It is possible Timothy could have been
feeling down and needed all the encouragement he could have. Likewise, many leaders are alone and have no
one to turn to when they need help so it is important that as church members,
we need to remember them and keep them in prayer to encourage, motivate and
uphold them. Leaders are not super
beings. They are normal people being
placed in positions of responsibility and authority as caretakers in the
different aspects of God’s work. We have
to acknowledge that they too, just like everyone else, need encouragement.
In
our group skit, I played a character who was disgruntled with her lady boss
whom she deemed unfit for her position.
She started to complain and gossip about her at cell group. It is indeed human nature to pick on others’
shortcomings. It is also a common fact
that a complaint may very well continue to grow to become gossip and once
started, it is difficult to stop. That
was not only acting. I am guilty of
complaining and gossiping about people in real life and it is a habit that has
to be stopped because it is like venom that will spread like gangrene not only
within me but that will affect the people around me as well. 1 Tim 4:16 says ‘I need to watch my life and
doctrines closely and to persevere in them because when I do, I will save both
myself and my hearers’ and may I add, watchers and observers as well. So I ask myself, how do I want people to view
me, a disciple of Christ? Do I want to
be criticised for my behaviour and speech or do I want to live a life that will
encourage and lead others to Christ?
People are watching and it seems they are watching Christians
closely. So I have to adopt the right
behaviour at all times, my speech as well – even when no one is looking,
because God is still watching.
Another lesson, not the last, is
about guarding what God has entrusted to my care. The ministries He has placed in my care, am I
looking after them well? The studies He
has called me to, am I working hard at them?
The things He has given me, am I being good steward of them? The family and friends He has placed and is
bringing into my life, how burdened am I for their salvation? Am I doing enough and where can I do
more? The gifts He has given me, am I
hiding them and storing them away? It is
a sobering thought that should I not do His work and His will, He can always
appoint someone else to do that same work.
When that happens, how am I going to give my report on that Day? I truly need to sit down and examine these
seriously.
These
are some lessons and reminders I am taking away from the Pastoral
Epistles. Initially I had thought it is
about pastors and their work. However,
it did not take long to realise the Scriptures apply to every Christian –
pastor, leader, church member young and old, because firstly, all of us are
called to be leaders and secondly, we need to watch our lives so that “in every
way, we will make the teaching of God, our Saviour attractive” (Titus 2:10).
