Theme of the Week: Godly Masculinity
Bible Verse: “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” Titus 2:2
Scripture Reading: Titus 2:1-8
The posts were sunk about 30 inches into the ground. Rocks and sand filled the hole and watered so that it settled. They were solid. I strung wire between them with a turnbuckle and started to tighten. Frustration wasn’t that long in coming. When the wire was taught, I stepped back to look at the grapevine trellis. Both posts leaned sharply! I couldn’t believe it. All the work sinking the posts deeply and setting them. I couldn’t move them by pushing on them, yet this thin wire and tiny turnbuckle seemed to easily pull them out of true.
I know, I probably did something terribly wrong in setting them and you’re welcome to laugh at me or even write me with advice. The point is that the pressure revealed that they were not as sound as I had thought.
Paul’s instructions to Titus about older men insists that they (the older men) must be sound, that is stable, unmoving, in faith, love, and endurance.
Older men are to be doctrinally sound. That is what faith means here. They must know and believe the right things about God. Although the meaning of faith as active trust is also applicable. The older we get and the closer to meeting our maker, the easier it may be to question what we accepted at a younger age.
Men are to be sound in love. This is agape love. The kind of love that is listed in 1 Corinthians 13 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
And sound in endurance. This is faithful to the end. Coasting is one of the greatest temptations men can face. Just letting good enough be enough. Paul calls for striving through to the very end of our race when we finally see our Savior.
Prayer: Jesus, I want to be a sound man. Help me to develop the character traits that mark a sound man. Deepen my faith; help me to love truly; give me the endurance to stay the course.
Reflection: Which trait is the hardest for you: faith, love, or endurance? Why?
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