Have you ever heard a cd skipping? A cd skipping? A cd skipping? Something has gone wrong and you get the same little bit of music over and over again, until you give the cd player a dunt, or else move it on to the next song. Or perhaps you’ve heard about someone going on like a record player with the needle stuck. The same thing again and again.
You might be tempted to think that’s what’s happening in our reading tonight. Paul repeats the same thing a couple of times. Can you see it in verse 8 and verse 14? Twice he says ‘to devote themselves to doing what is good.’ Is his needle stuck?
When you’re writing a letter today, paper is relatively cheap. You can pick up a whole pad for a pound, and you could write on that whole pad, pop it in an envelope and post it. That is, of course if you’re still writing letters by hand. Email is even easier. You can type as much as you want; copy and paste and edit as you go, click send, and the message pops into their inbox straight away. But when Paul was writing, papyrus or parchment was more expensive. Every square inch was valuable. Words were carefully chosen. So why does Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) repeat himself on being devoted to doing what is good, twice in quick succession? What’s so good about doing what is good?
If you’ve been with us these Sunday evenings, you’ll maybe be thinking that Paul’s needle got stuck earlier than these last verses in the letter. We’ve already come across the same (or similar) phrase a couple of times. Look back to 2:7, where Titus is to be an example ‘by doing what is good’; and in 2:14, where Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all wickedness ‘and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.’
Well, either Paul’s needle is stuck, or else this is the whole point of the letter. And, just in case you’re in doubt, it’s the second possibility - this is the point of the whole letter - doing what is good; being devoted to doing what is good.
As we’ve seen all through the letter, the message Titus has to teach in the church in Crete is this: what you believe affects how you behave. Right belief must lead to right behaviour. In chapter one, we saw how church leaders must be people who hold to the truth and live it out. In two, the focus shifts to the home, where younger and older men and women and slaves are to live out what is consistent with sound doctrine, adorning the gospel of God’s grace. And now in chapter three, we focus on life in the world, relating to the state and to people around us.
Now, as we jump into the passage tonight, we read these words: ‘This is a trustworthy saying.’ (8) There, Paul is referring to all we looked at last week - the reminder of what the gospel is all about - from v4-7 - how God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. The end result of the gospel is that we are heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Because this is all true, and dependable, Paul wants Titus to ‘stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.’ (8)
Paul is showing us the order that these things come in. The way you do things and the order you do them in can be very important. Just think of the laundry basket. You’ve got some dirty clothes. You wouldn’t iron them, then put them in the tumble drier, then put them in the washing machine, and then wear them straight away. The order is important. So it is here. First of all: ‘those who have trusted in God’ - so you have already done that (it’s in the past tense) - ‘may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.’
Good works won’t bring you to God. But when you have trusted God, then good works are essential. But more than that, they are also ‘excellent and profitable for everyone.’ Doing good is an excellent thing to do; and even more so because it profits everyone. Just think of the benefit to others if you do good rather than evil.
So if you have believed in God; if you’re one of his tonight, then the command is clear - be devoted to doing what is good. It’s not an optional extra; we’re to always be doing good; always looking out for ways to do good. And that word devoted brings to mind a devoted husband or wife; constantly attending to and helping; or think of the devoted football fans, flying from all round the world to be in Russia to cheer on their team.
If there are things that we are devoted to - good works - then there are also things to avoid. Look at verse 9. ‘But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.’ Good works are profitable, helpful, useful; but these quarrels and debates are unprofitable and useless. Plenty of hot air, but not much benefit. Lots of heat, but not much light.
And causing division in the church is a serious business. We’re here for each other, to build up each other; not to start petty divisions over unimportant things. It’s so serious that Titus is told to warn a divisive person once, twice, and then to have nothing more to do with him.
Those verses seem to be clear. Be devoted to doing what is good; and avoid foolish controversies. They’re the main teaching point from the passage. We can all take it on board. From the start of verse 12, you might think that Paul is just winding down. There are some personal remarks that only really have to do with the situation of Titus as he opens the envelope and reads it on that day. What could there possibly be for us, two thousand years later?
But let’s look again. We have our second occurrence of the needle being stuck. In these specifics, we get an example of how being devoted to doing what is good will work in practice. Here’s part of what it will look like to be devoted to good works.
Have you ever seen one of those battlefield maps with the toy soldiers lining up? The commander of the army moves the regiments and plans strategy. Or maybe you play chess. You line up your pieces for maximum advantage to checkmate the opponent. That’s what Paul is doing here. He’s sending Artemas or Tychicus to Crete to replace Titus.
Titus is to move to Nicopolis to be with Paul over the winter. Zenas and Apollos are on Crete, but they are to be sent on their way ‘and see that they have everything they need. Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.’ (13-14)
Being devoted to doing what is good in these verses is all about supporting God’s work of mission. The good works of the church on Crete will be seen as they send Zenas and Apollos, with everything they need. Not everyone will necessarily go away on mission, but we can all give to those who do. So it was good last week to be able to support Alice and Clare and their mission projects.
But being devoted to good works is something that we need to learn. It doesn’t come naturally. But when it comes as a response to all that God has given us; when we realise that it’s all his; and when we realise we can make a difference for others, then how could we not?
As we close, let me ask you this question. What is it you’re devoted to? What is the pattern of your life? Paul urges Titus to insist on being devoted to doing what is good. We all need to learn how to do it. We need to be brought from selfishness to service. This week, ask God to open your eyes to see the ways you can do good, for those near at hand; and for those serving the Lord far from home. It’s not easy. It’ll not come easily. But God gives us something that will help us do it. As Paul closes, he reminds us of the power that God gives us to live for him: ‘Grace be with you all.’ Amen.
This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday evening 24th June 2018.
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