TITUS: IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT ME
Titus isn’t nearly as well-known as Timothy. He assisted Paul like Timothy did. He also worked behind the scenes. But he wasn’t Paul’s number one troubleshooter. He wasn’t as highly recommended and complimented by Paul. He didn’t have Paul’s love and father-son relationship like Timothy did. He only received one short letter, most of which Paul had already written to Timothy. His gifts and skills aren’t recorded for us. He was just an average person doing his best to serve God any way he could.
We should be able to identify with him. Most of us will never be well-known. We don’t have special skills or gifts given us by God. We won’t pastor large churches or do outstanding things that are recorded and remembered. After we are gone, only a few people will remember us, and when they are gone, that memory will also end. It may be hard for us to identify with Paul, sometimes even Timothy, but Titus is someone we all can look to as an example. He faithfully served God for his whole life.
How could he do that when there wasn’t earthly recognition or reward? What did he get for his life’s labor? He did it for God, out of love and devotion to Jesus. It wasn’t all about Titus, it was all about Jesus. His reward came when he went to heaven, and he is now enjoying it for all eternity. We are rewarded and blessed for all eternity because of our faithfulness, not because of what we produce (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). The world looks at the quantity of what we do, but God looks at the quality of our heart in doing it (1 Corinthians 4:5). We tend to think that bigger is better, so see those who have large ministries or who do great things as more successful in God’s sight. But God doesn’t look at things that way (Psalm 147:10; 44:21; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9). He does not evaluate by outer appearances like we do (1 Samuel 16:7; Isaiah 55:8).
If we want to please Him, we must serve Him for His sake and not for what we get out of it. Our motive can only be love for Him. The church in Ephesus was doing many good, impressive works for God (Revelation 2:2-3, 6). But they weren’t doing it out of love for Jesus (Revelation 2:4). If they continued in that way, God said He would end their ministry (Revelation 2:5), and that is what happened. Don’t let that happen to you and your ministry! (September 18, 2023 Doylestown, PA)
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
1 Samuel 16:7 The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
What would Jesus say about what you are doing for Him? Is it really for Him, or do you have a lot of yourself in your service?
Ask God to show you any wrong motives or selfish desires you have in your service for Him (Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”).
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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