God’s Leaders – Lover of what is good

The Book of Titus: A Sound Church

Article 3: God’s Leaders – Part 2

Navigate to Page 1 – Page 2 – Page 3 – Page 4

A lover of what is good, sober-minded

Next, in verse 8, we have ” a lover of what is good “. This means that he doesn’t enjoy evil. Of course, he can enjoy a good laugh at funny videos, like me, but he doesn’t find delight in deep-seated wickedness. His heart is drawn to what is good and noble.

Moving on, he’s “sober-minded”, or you could say he’s self-controlled. He thinks clearly and doesn’t let his emotions get the better of him. This means he doesn’t have anger problems or outbursts of wrath; he’s emotionally intelligent, to use modern terms.

The list goes on with “just, holy, self-controlled”. He is an upright and law-abiding person, sincerely devoted to God. He’s not a performer or a professional minister, but a person with genuine devotion to God.

Requirements for a good Christian man

Now, as you look at this list, you might wonder if there’s anything here that distinguishes the character requirements of an elder from the character requirements of any man who is a follower of Christ. The answer is no! Paul is simply describing what a good Christian man looks like. So if you’re thinking of adding a man who doesn’t meet these criteria, what’s the point?

That is why one of the books that encompasses all these qualifications is aptly titled ‘The Measure of a Man’. It’s not just for elders; it’s what every man should aspire to be.

A compliment I received this week was from a man who said, “You know, I enjoyed the sermon on Sunday. I asked him to tell me more; I was interested. He replied, “It was very challenging, especially as a man. It was hard, but it was a positive challenge for me as a man, as a husband, as a father. So that’s the essence of our discussion here – striving to be good men.

It’s also interesting to note what Paul doesn’t talk about. He doesn’t ask about a man’s gifts, charisma or abilities. Instead, he emphasises character. It’s easy to get caught up in someone’s personality, isn’t it? Many churches are built on the foundation of someone’s likeability, charisma or personality, especially in America. However, much of this can be merely a façade. Paul asserts that the real test isn’t how impressive or gifted someone appears, but whether they are truly a good person and trustworthy. That’s what really matters!

So it’s no coincidence that Paul begins by talking about a man’s home life. Is he good there? Then he looks at his broader personality traits, because these traits will manifest themselves not only in the home, but also in the church and in other areas of life. In contrast, false teachers are characterised by being self-willed, controlling, angry and even violent. These are the characteristics of false teachers, according to Paul, we’ll get to that.

Now, it’s important to recognise that no one, including the author of this text, is presenting themselves as a perfect portrait in teaching these standards. Instead, we should continually strive to align our lives with these values and work to eliminate any significant discrepancies.

From verse 9 we talk about the calling of the man. We’re talking about his gifts and abilities. The critical aspect that Paul emphasises is this: Is he faithful to the Bible and can he communicate its teachings effectively? That’s the core of it.

Holding fast the faithful word

He must be faithful in all things, particularly in handling the Bible. He should be a man of the Bible who cherishes it and remains unwavering in its teachings. He doesn’t compromise on doctrine in any area of his life or ministry. He holds fast to the unchanging Word of God and refuses to be swayed by modern trends or popular interpretations. The Word of God endures forever, and he faithfully upholds it.

That he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

He not only keeps the Bible, he shares it. This is remarkable because, as we’ll see, there is one head of the church: Christ. He appoints under shepherds who, guided by the Holy Spirit, lead the congregation by delivering the Word of God into their lives.

Now, let’s revisit one of our values: “we have a strong emphasis on preaching” Our preaching has a purpose – to exalt God, not man. We are here to exalt God. It’s to build up His people, to strengthen your faith and to equip God’s people for the good works He has already prepared for them. We are one body with many members, each gifted, and we should use those gifts.

So the elders are instructed to “hold fast”. It’s an essential term, a military expression, meaning to stand firm in the Word of God. This firm grounding in the Bible enables them to encourage, exhort or even rebuke those who oppose sound doctrine. It takes a complete and healthy person to fulfil this role.

By God’s grace, we can confidently affirm what Jesus said: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”