Learn to Do Good Work, Part One
Tuesday, August 5
I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to stay there for the winter. Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need. Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive. Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all. (Titus 3:12-15)
Doing good works is a recurring theme throughout this short letter. The phrase occurs six times in a letter that is only 46 verses, driving home the point that though we are not saved by faith plus works, we are saved by a faith that does work (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5). The presence and practice of these good works provide the context for the healthy practice of church discipline.
Further, one of those good works we are to be doing is church discipline. What does Paul say here about good works? Good works must not be neglected. Paul reminds Titus of the importance of maintaining good works. He says, “Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others.” “Learn” is another present imperative and is related to our word for discipleship. The idea is that we should learn to maintain a consistent pattern or lifestyle of good works. Good works, including the good works of 3:9-10, are to be our habit of life. They are the norm and not the exception, for to neglect them is to function in a substandard way, below the bar God has set for the church.
It was as if Paul were saying that doing good isn’t something that can just happen. It has to be taught. We must be intentional about it. It is part of the disciplines of grace. Tony Evans once said, “A church that does not practice church discipline of its members is not functioning properly as a church, just as a family that does not discipline is not a fully functioning family.”
Doing the Word
Learn to do good works.
Prayer
Dear Father, teach me to do that which is good in Your sight. Put in me the spirit of love that I may do good to others in meeting their needs. In Jesus’ name, Amen.