Monday, July 15, 2024

Titus was a pastor from the island of Crete with a congregation of all ages. All churches should strive to be multi-generational; however, serving different age groups can present challenges. Paul wrote encouraging instructions to Titus on how to best pastor these different groups. 

Titus 2:2
Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

While these instructions were written with more experienced men in mind, they apply to any Christ-follower who has a leadership role in their family, business, church, team, or elsewhere.

Leaders must exercise self-control—a fruit of the holy spirit—which grows inside each Christian (Galatians 5:22-23). If a leader doesn’t exercise self-control, their team shouldn’t be expected to be self-controlled and well-disciplined. 

Self-control of the mouth can be especially difficult for many people, myself included, but it is critically important for leaders. Think about it: The words and tone your boss uses when talking to and about you impacts you more than what anyone else says to you at work. The hurtful words of a parent cut deeper and last longer than any other words from our childhood peers. An uncaring tone from a pastor could lead a church member to leave and never return. 

Leaders must live a life worthy of respect. All human beings deserve dignity and to be treated properly. However, not everyone is equally deserving of our respect. Who respects a lazy, cruel boss more than a hard-working boss who cares about the well-being of their team? As leaders, we must live and lead in such a way that, when people observe our lives and are on the receiving end of our leadership, they respect us. We must both talk the talk, and walk the walk. 

Leaders must live wisely. To lead well and to live foolishly are in direct opposition of each other. As we make decisions as leaders and in our personal lives, we should always ask this question first: What is the wise thing to do? Then … actually do that thing!

Finally, leaders must be filled with love and patience. Everything we do as leaders, within our family and workplace, must be done from a place of love for the people we lead. Only then will we be able to truly lead them well. 

Questions: 
In what areas of your life do you have a leadership role?

How do you need to grow in exercising self-control?

How do you need to increase wisdom in your life?

In what ways do you demonstrate living wisely? 

How do you show love and patience for those in your family, workplace, and community? 

Next Steps: 
Identify which of the following areas you need to grow in most as a leader: exercising self-control, leading a life worthy of respect, living wisely, or leading with love.

Talk to a leader you look up to about the area you want to grow in, and ask for their advice on how to do it.

Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, thank you for the leadership opportunities you have given me. Please help me to steward each opportunity well. Help me to grow in the area I have identified I need to work on. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Titus 2:14
“He [Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

Today’s post was written by David Hammack, Jr., a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.