Titus is a book by the Apostle Paul to his young protégé Titus. Its purpose is to guide and instruct Titus, a Christian leader in the early church, on how to oversee and organize the Christian communities on the island of Crete in order to advance God’s kingdom. The letter emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine, good works, the appointment of qualified leaders within the church, and Christlike living. It aims to strengthen the faith and conduct of believers and promote healthy discipleship and godliness in the Christian community.
Titus 3:12-15 paints a picture of sorts for us. Picture yourself in a boat, navigating the choppy waters of life. Sometimes, the journey seems treacherous, filled with storms of doubt and waves of uncertainty. In those moments, we all long for a reliable anchor to keep us steady. Unmistakingly, Christ is our anchor, but He uses our church family to guide and encourage us as believers.
We discover, in Scripture, that the Apostle Paul relied on faithful companions like Titus. We, too, can find strength and support in our Christian community. Titus 3:12-15 highlights the importance of Christian fellowship and partnership in spreading the love and message of Christ.
First, we read in Titus 3:12: “When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.” Paul instructs Titus to come to him. Although an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul was not a one-man army. He needed others. So, do you and me.
Then, we read in Titus 3:13, “Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.” Paul instructs Titus to help Zenas and Apollos. Paul encourages generosity and hospitality towards these fellow servants of Christ. Although Paul had his own mission, his willingness to help was not limited to those in his circle; he looked outside and was willing to help others succeed in what God was calling them to do.
Paul’s final instruction to Titus is found in 3:14, “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” Paul instructs Titus to encourage believers to keep the main thing the main thing: Christ and His kingdom. The call is for the believers to be industrious rather than lazy (Titus 1:12). This will allow them to meet their own needs as well as be able to help others. What would happen if all of our budgets and ministries were evaluated based on the extent to which they produce good works in the world around us, meeting the urgent needs (spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial) of others? This is the church Christ died for. Christ leads us as a Christian community to dare to order our lives around His agenda for us and the world.
Paul closes his letter to Titus with a final greeting and prayer. “All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all” (Titus 3:15). Paul sends greetings from the believers with him to the believers with Titus and offers a short yet powerful prayer. An encouraging greeting is a powerful thing. Never underestimate what a simple note or text can mean to a person. I have the bottom of a cabinet in my office filled with encouragement notes I have received from people over the past thirty-plus years. Bad notes I file in a circular file that’s emptied every day, but the encouragement notes I keep. I have been amazed over the years by how people react when I send a simple encouragement note. It’s like a small hug from God. I believe Titus and the crew received this greeting as a precious gift.
The short yet powerful prayer is that God’s grace will be with them. God’s grace is His unmerited goodness to every one of us. I can’t think of a more meaningful prayer than that the extravagant love of God will envelop your life. Often, when we leave service on Sunday morning, someone sends us with the words go in peace. As we head off into a chaotic world, to have the peace of God spoken over us is no small thing. This dynamic peace is offered to us because of God’s extravagant love. It’s provided to us by the grace of God.
Here’s the overarching point of Titus 3:12-15. As believers, we need Christian fellowship and partnership in living and spreading the love and message of Christ. Think of it this way. Imagine you’re on a challenging hike up a steep and rugged mountain. The path is tough, and the journey is long. You’ve been navigating this treacherous terrain, and at times, it felt almost impossible to continue. But then, as you reach a particularly difficult stretch, you look back and notice something remarkable. You see a group of fellow hikers who have been with you throughout this journey. They’ve encouraged you when you were weary, shared their supplies when you ran low, and even helped you navigate the most treacherous parts of the trail. Together, you’ve faced the trials and triumphs of this climb, and it’s made all the difference. I know this has proven true over and over again in my life. It’s why we here at Crosswinds, in part, encourage one another to be a part of a connect group, care group, or serving group.
We need the Lord and each other. Our faith is not a solitary endeavor. It’s a shared expedition. We are called to encourage one another, share our resources, and help each other navigate life’s difficulties. Together, we can reach new heights in our faith and spread the gospel more effectively. As we conclude our journey through the book of Titus, let us remember the value of Christian community and partnership. Let us continue to walk alongside one another, supporting and uplifting our fellow believers as we navigate the rugged paths of life. Together, we can make a lasting kingdom impact as we live and spread the love and message of Christ to the world around us. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!