Introduction to Titus 2:3-5

The following is a Bible study posted on our Bible Study Group.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

As an introduction to Titus 2:3-5, I'd like to take some time to think about what drives us in life.  Why do you do what you do? 

May I quote from Martha Peace's book, Becoming a Titus 2 Woman?

"As a young woman and before I became a Christian, I embraced three philosophies of life.  One was the feminist belief that my identity was caught up in my education and career.  A second was 'eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you may die.'  A third came from the George Burns movie, 'Oh, God!'  In the movie, George Burns (playing God) said, 'Jesus is my son, Mohammed is my son, and Buddha is my son.'  I thought, 'That's it!  This makes sense to me.  There are many ways to God, and it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.'" (p. 1)

I don't know if I could define the philosophies of my life as clearly as Martha Peace does.  But this paragraph really made me think.  When I wake up in the morning, what determines what I will do that day?

(1)  If my identity is caught up in an education and career, then maybe I'll go out to a full-time job, or spend time pursuing more education.

(2)  If I believe I should just eat, drink, and be merry, I would probably switch on the television or go out looking for fun and entertaining things to do.  (No more dishes!  Yahoo!)

(3)  If I believe it doesn't matter what I believe, as long as I'm sincere, I might spend my day doing any number of charitable and good deeds, all in the names of tolerance and good will toward others.

Are any of these things wrong?  Is it wrong for a woman to have a career or to be educated?  Is it wrong to watch television, have fun, or be entertained?  Is it wrong to be tolerant of others' views?

Maybe it would be better to look at it this way.  What is the BEST way to spend my time?  The world holds out a smorgasbord of choices for women today.  How do we know which choices are wise and which ones are empty?  At the end of our lives, how will we know that our lives mattered?

Martha Peace writes, "My new philosophy is Christian.  I now passionately believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father and that my purpose in life and greatest joy is to serve Him and glorify Him.  As I 'delight myself in the Lord,' God gives me the 'desires of my heart' (Psalm 37:4).  Desires which, by the way, He places there.  For example, I remember once praying (because I was afraid I would revert back to my old lifestyle) that God would give me a love for His Word so that no matter how much I learned or knew I would never be satisfied.  Even today after over eighteen years, my God-given desire to know and obey God's Word has not diminished. 

"My new desires include ways to please and serve God.  God's instructions on how a Christian woman can please and serve Him are written out clearly in Titus 2:3-5." (p. 2)

(Of course, as you know, we'll be studying, word by word, through Titus 2:3-5 so that we'll know how we as Christian women can please and serve God. I'm excited!  This has been a life-changing study for me.) 

Before I close today, I'm going to list some Bible verse that show us what God's Word teaches about priorities.  Read through these verses, thinking about how your own life matches up.

Colossians 3:1-2
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1 John 2:15-17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen.

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

Ephesians 5:15-16
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

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Martha Peace encourages us to "write a paragraph describing what you believe to be the role of the Christian woman."  I would love it if you would write a few sentences, using the verses above as a model.  Send your paragraphs to the group so we can all learn.

Older ladies, would you be willing to write a few sentences about how these verses have helped you in your life?  Did any of them help you make a wise decision?  Do you wish, looking back over your life, that you HAD known these verses and made a BETTER decision?  Will you please share?

Finally, would any of you like to share OTHER verses that help you when you make priorities?  Have a favorite verse?  Send it in!

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Next - Titus 2:3 -- Our Goal

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