Devoted To Good Works: Living Out Our Faith

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people (Titus 3:8)

How are Christians to conduct themselves in their relationship with one another and with the world? Unfortunately, any message about rules in the Christian walk engenders an accussation of legalism.  However, God’s people are a people called to holiness (1Peter 1:16) and therefore we must know and be instructed how to live.

Titus is is one of Paul’s personal letters to a Pastor, written to give him instructions on leading the church and how believers are conduct themselves (Titus 1:5). Paul calls on Titus to remind believers to devote themselves to good works: “Declare these things” (Titus 2:18), “Remind them”( Titus 3:1) “insist on these things” (Titus 3:8). What is Titus to declare and remind the people of? Good works.

Now the call to good works is a recurring theme in the letter to Titus

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in m the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed o hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to s redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself  a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work (Titus 3:1).

The saying is m trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works (Titus 3:8)

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not y be unfruitful (Titus 3:14).

What is Paul asking Titus to do in these words? That his people will devote themselves to good works. To devote to something is to be committed to, care for, give attention to, be intentional about something. Good works are also simply good deeds, good acts. This means to Devote oneself To Good works is to be committed to or care for or give attention to or be intentional about doing good deeds or acts. Simply, being committed to good deeds. There are believers who resist any call to good works charging advocates of good works legatistic. Once saved, they argue, no laws, no rules. But the believer has actually been called to good works. That is what we are saved for. It is expected

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)

Though important, it must be emphasised that good works doesn’t justify. Before Paul will call the believers to good works, he has pointed out to them their salvation (Titus 3:3-7) Paul traces their salvation to their past and what God did in his grace.

What good works are we to devote ourselves to?

Separation From The World

The clear teaching of Christianity is that believers will be separated from the world. The call to separation is not a call to seclusion from the world but a call to distinction; not indulging in the ungodliness of the world. Christians are called to be unique and different from the world. In Titus 2:11-12; Paul asks believers to renounce ungodliness: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in m the present age”

The beauty in the call to  separation from the world is that the grace of God enabling us. The Grace of God therefore is a teacher, trainer, instructor. God’s grace instructs us how to live. We are to be separated from the world.  Apart from what we don’t do, our separation from the world also includes what we do. We live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age and as a people who look forward to the return of Christ ( 2:13).

Being a Christian affects every area of our lives. In business, in employment, in our interactions with our neighbhours, it must be clear we are Christians. To carry the name of Christ is not only in profession of faith but in living it out.


Submission To Rulers and Authorities

In his instuructions on good works, Paul calls for submission to rulers and authorithy: “Remind them  to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. It is intriguing to speak of submission to rulers and authorities with good works in the same sentence. In the New Testament, it is plain the apostles advicated the responsibility of Christians towards secular rulers and authorities (Romans 13:1-7,1 Peter 2:13-25).  Today, there are believers whose political engagement and criticism of political authority is nothing but Christian in their language. Indeed we can criticise political leadership but must be in a language worthy of a believer.

Now, I don’t think Paul only meant political authority. We experience authority at different levels. For those in the corporate world, it is incumbent we submit to our superiors. Christians obey rules of your nation. Obey rules of your employers. It is good works

Courtesty Towards People

Christians are not to be slanderous, gossipping and disrespectful. Rather, we should display courtesy towards one another:  “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2). A disrespectful Christian is a caricature. A Christian who shows disregard for the dignity of people is no Christian. A Christian who is harsh in their dealings with people should reconsider what it means to be a Christian. Courtesy and respect is also good works.

Generosity.

Now the stronger focus of good works in this letter and what it means is in Chapters 3:8;14. In 3:8, Paul says good works are “excellent and profitable for people.” Then in 3:14, he says good works “help cases of urgent need”. The object of our good works is the good and benefit of people. It means then that good works involves helping others in need, extending hospitality towards them. This will look different in different circumstances. But as believers, we should be generous and look out for those who are in need we can help. Conrad Mbewe in his book God’s Design For the Church, lists what he calls The “One Another Command”. These are responsibilities expected of Christians towards one another.

The New Testament is full of “one another” commands. They are divine and apostolic appeals to Christians which point to the fact that Christians are responsible to act in specific ways toward other believers. Here are some of them: “love one another” John 13:34) “edify one another” Col. 3:16) honor one another” (Rom. 12:10). ” live in harmony with one another (Rom. 12:16) “do not iudge one another (Rom. 14:13). “accept one another” (Rom. 15:7), “agree with one another (1 Cor 1:10), “serve one another in love  (Gal. 5:13), “carry one another’s burdens” (Gal, 6:2), “bear with one another in love Eph. 4:2). “be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph. 4:32a) ” forgive one another” (Eph. 4:32b), speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19), “submit to one another (Eph. 5:21). “encourage one another” (1 Thess. 4:18), “do not slander one another” (James 4:11). “do not grumble against one another? (James 5:9), “confess vour sins to one another” (James 5:16), “pray for one another (James 5:16), and so on. It is such activities that make up the juice of fellowship in the life of the church. Thev show that Christians care for one another and will not allow anything to hinder their relationships.

Christians are expected to be generous, kind and hospitable. Our generosity is our testimony of Christian love and fellowship: “These things are excellent and profitable for people” The importance of good works is clearly brought out by Jesus when he painted a picture of what the day of judgement will look like

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[f] you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40)

We will not be saved by our good works, but our good works is an indication we possess salvation. that we have indeed been saved.

Christians must maintain good works because God expects it. We have been saved for good works ( Titus 2:14). Ponder over these things. What will good works look like in your context? Don’t be unfruitful in your faith walk.