The Right Man For A Tough Job - Titus

Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith.

Titus 1:12-13

Ken Carter, a high school basketball coach, made national news in 1999 when he locked out the players from his undefeated and highly ranked Richmond High School varsity basketball team. He canceled all practices and games until his players improved their grades.

What prompted this unusual action? It turned out that a third of Coach Carter’s players had failed to keep up their grades as they had agreed to do early in the basketball season. Although Coach Carter received some criticism, he has also been praised as the right man to handle a difficult, and all too common, situation.

God often calls men of character and commitment to handle his more difficult ministerial assignments. Only such men come prepared to handle them.

Among this group was a young man named Titus, a protégé of the apostle Paul. Paul sent Titus to minister for a time in Crete, a place notorious for its lack of discipline, untruthfulness, excessive gluttony, and cruelty.

This was no assignment for the faint of heart!

Only a man of strong character who could solve problems, confront, and love God and his Word would be qualified for such a charge. Titus walked into this difficult assignment and got the job done!

What kind of “Cretans” lie in your path? How do you respond to others’ habitual lies, laziness, and cruelty? How can you be God’s man in a tough situation, whether at home or at work?

If God calls you to handle a difficult situation, he will equip and empower you to get the job done. Like Titus, you can be eager to depend on God in such situations.