But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. ~Titus 2:1-10 (ESV)
Jesus commissions every one of us who follow him to “Go and make disciples (learners)…baptizing them…teaching them to observe all” that Jesus had commanded his disciples, the apostles (Matthew 28:19). Christians are learners who follow the footsteps of Christ and the example of other faithful followers of Jesus.
A key step in disciple making is to make the message of Jesus understandable and show it to be as attractive as it really is. It’s possible to make anything that is attractive appear ugly by covering up its beauty with filth. Paul, as an apostle, presents an amazing thought for everybody who works: the way we do our work makes Jesus’s teachings attractive.
Chrysostom, a Christian teacher living shortly after Paul, explained this verse by saying that those who don’t know God are not inclined to judge the teaching about Jesus on its own. We can’t expect someone who isn’t a Christian to read and evaluate Christian doctrines independently, he argued. However, we can expect them to judge Christian teaching by observing the lives of Christians especially those they work with or employ. Christians are to work in ways that reveal the splendor of the truth.
What does it mean to “adorn the doctrine” of Jesus? Let’s look at a few other ways this word “adorn” is used:
- The temple in Jerusalem was beautifully adorned. In the same way, workers can make the teachings of Jesus just as attractive (Luke 21:5).
- Employees can emphasize the beauty of the message like godly women do with their modesty and self control. (1 Timothy 2:9)
- Volunteers in school groups, Cub Scouts, and community projects can show the radiance of Christian teaching similar to the way the Holy City, The New Jerusalem, will shine in splendor. (Revelation 21:2,19).
What an awesome opportunity we have to work toward our commission by Jesus! In our jobs, business relationships and volunteer opportunities, we are to live in such a way that the message of Jesus is clearly beautiful and, therefore, something that people will want to listen to.
REFLECT: Review Paul’s examples of temptations in the workplace. Are there any of the following that God is calling you to fight in your daily life: Submission? Not Well-
PRAY: Father in Heaven, give me opportunities this workday to live and relate to my employers, my customers, and coworkers in ways that demonstrate the gospel and make the truth of Christianity more attractive to them. Please use my job and my volunteering to draw people to glorify you. Grant me boldness and open doors in my Monday-through-Friday to explain the truth of Jesus’s work for us, his payment for our sins, and his promise of life in him.
