Always Ready To Do What Is Good

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Titus 3:1-2

THROUGHOUT PAUL’S LETTER preparing Titus to lead the churches in Crete, his aim has been that Titus would “teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives” (1:1). The grace that has come to those living on the island of Crete should produce godliness. For the Cretans and for us, that means, “We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God” (2:12).

Paul tells Titus to be clear with the Cretan Christians about what God requires of his people. In the same way, we want to be clear with our children about what it means for us to live in a way that is consistent with what we say we believe. We want to boldly call our children who are in Christ to live godly lives.

Heading the list of traits of godly living is submission to governmental authority. This subjection is further defined by Paul’s instructions to remind the believers on Crete to “not slander anyone” and “avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.” And lest we think this would have somehow been easier in Titus’s day, before cable news and our current contentious political climate, we have to remember that “these were the times of Caesars, occupational armies, and coliseums.”

As we seek to determine what godliness should look like in our own homes, we realize that the laws we obey and the language we use to discuss governmental issues and officials on social media and in our conversations —at church, at work, and around the dinner table —will be impacted if we want to obey Paul’s instruction to “submit to the government and its officers.” It means that we won’t misrepresent any person’s record or motives. We will avoid a quarreling, harsh, and arrogant demeanor, and we will show true humility to everyone.

Lord, we want and need your grace at work in our lives to make us willing to submit to authority and to create in us a commitment to integrity in what we say about other people. Help us as parents to lead the way in treating people with gentleness and humility.