Post by JCsMomma on Oct 10, 2005 19:20:50 GMT -5
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5, emphasis added
Older women are instructed in Titus 2 to teach and encourage the younger women. Often, the older women will discern actions or patterns of thinking in the younger women that are sinful or foolish. They will pray for the younger women but do nothing else. Why? A common answer seems to be "If I say anything, she will get mad at me." This reminds me of the line in the song that goes, "Oh, dear, what can the matter be?"
The "matter" is likely due to wrong thinking and responses on the part of the older woman and the younger woman. The older woman may be afraid that something unpleasant might transpire. She probably grew up with the belief that you do not say anything unless the other person asks for help. On the other hand, the younger woman may be proud and become defensive if anyone thinks she is less than perfect. She probably grew up with the belief that if anyone reproves her they are not accepting her as she is, not loving her, and making her feel badly.
Obviously, this is a problem because God intends the older woman to teach and encourage the younger woman. The process should be as natural as slipping your hand into a glove that fits perfectly. If both will do what is right - the older one reaching out in love to the younger and the younger one responding in humility with a teachable heart - God will be glorified, the older woman will overcome her fear, and the younger woman will grow in grace by leaps and bounds.
Instead of complaining about or being afraid of the younger women, the older Christian women should pray for them, involve themselves in their lives, and whether privately or in a classroom setting, teach and encourage the younger women. The rest of this chapter and book explains how.
Teaches What is Good
"Teaches what is good" is a combination of two Greek words resulting in one word. Didaska means "an instructor, theoretical and practical knowledge." We get our English word, didactic, from the Greek word. The second word, kalos means "good, commendable, excellent, honorable, right or sound."
I remember a time when I was a young woman, and as a new Christian I was struggling in a particular area of submission to my husband. I knew I was sinning and I confessed the sin on a regular basis. However, it kept recurring. Finally, I decided to seek help. As I thought about who to ask, I thought of Dori.
Dori was an older woman in my church who knew God's Word well and seemed to me to be a sterling example of a biblically submissive wife. I telelphoned her and asked if I could come to see her. We planned to meet in her home the following Tuesday. It was winter and she had piping hot spiced tea brewing. As we drank our tea, I explained my struggle.
She asked me, "Why did you come to me?" The answer was simple, "Because I knew you would tell me the truth." And she did, lovingly but in a straightforward manner from the Scriptures. The Lord used her in my life to teach me "what was good." She was a wonderful example of the older woman in Titus 2 who was described by Matthew Henry as a woman who "by example and a good life... gives doctrinal instruction at home and in a private way."
How can you become a woman like Dori who teaches what is good? You must begin by -
Studying Sound Doctrine
All Christians are instructed to work hard studying the Scriptures. Paul wrote to Timothy to be...
"...diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
As we said earlier, doctrine is what the Bible teaches about a certain subject. It is so important that women study diligently so that they will not be ashamed and will also not be "carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).
Instead of being "carried about," women should study the passages on women, wives, and mothers, but they should also study the character of God, the doctrine of salvation, and the doctrine of sin. They should in a practical sense know how a Christian is to "put off anger.... and instead be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving" (Ephesians 4:31-32). They should know in detail how to pursue love as "Love is patient, love is kind," etc. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Diligently studying God's Word is a command of God. The Bible is unlike any other book. It is inspired by God in a unique way. It is "alive and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12). It can be used to protect us from the Devil himself. Consider how the Lord Jesus responded to Satan as Satan tempted Him in the wilderness.
It is writeen, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
Also consider Job. Job was a man who longed for GOd as he "treasured the words of His (God's) mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12, adaptation added).
Learning and applying Bible doctrine makes us wise ("Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies..." Psalm 119:98). It is the mark of a true disciple ("Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine...'" John 8:31). It guarantees our complete equipping ("All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine...that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
You must study the Bible and learn to use it rightly in context if you are going to truly teach "what is good." Attend weekly Bible studies that are doctrinally sound and full of meat. Do not waste your energy on shallow share time. Read good, doctrinally sound books. Read the Bible and meditate on what it means.
Thoroughly learn the passages on women and other important doctrines. Until you have them memorized, write a note somewhere in you Bible with references to which you may easily refer as you talk with others. The following is a copy of a page of references I looked up, typed up, and taped to one of the front pages in my first study Bible.
Inspiration of Scripture - 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 5:46-47, John 17:17
The Gospel - Romans 3:23; 6:23, Isaiah 53, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:16-17, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Acts 26:19-20
Assurance of Salvation - 1 John 5:10-13, John 6:47, John 3:16, 18, 36, Romans 10:9, 10, 13, Titus 1:2
Jesus is God - John 14:7, John 10:25-30, Titus 2:13; 3:4, John 1:1, 14
Wives and Submission - Titus 2:3-5, Ephesians 5:22-24, 33, 1 Peter 3:1-7, Colossians 3:18
A Titus 2 woman studies the Word of God diligently. She is like my friend Dori who opened her Bible, instructed me, and explained how I could practically apply doctrine in my life. Dori not only had studied the doctrine and "handled it accurately," she was a model before me of living out the doctrine in her life.
Older women are instructed in Titus 2 to teach and encourage the younger women. Often, the older women will discern actions or patterns of thinking in the younger women that are sinful or foolish. They will pray for the younger women but do nothing else. Why? A common answer seems to be "If I say anything, she will get mad at me." This reminds me of the line in the song that goes, "Oh, dear, what can the matter be?"
The "matter" is likely due to wrong thinking and responses on the part of the older woman and the younger woman. The older woman may be afraid that something unpleasant might transpire. She probably grew up with the belief that you do not say anything unless the other person asks for help. On the other hand, the younger woman may be proud and become defensive if anyone thinks she is less than perfect. She probably grew up with the belief that if anyone reproves her they are not accepting her as she is, not loving her, and making her feel badly.
Obviously, this is a problem because God intends the older woman to teach and encourage the younger woman. The process should be as natural as slipping your hand into a glove that fits perfectly. If both will do what is right - the older one reaching out in love to the younger and the younger one responding in humility with a teachable heart - God will be glorified, the older woman will overcome her fear, and the younger woman will grow in grace by leaps and bounds.
Instead of complaining about or being afraid of the younger women, the older Christian women should pray for them, involve themselves in their lives, and whether privately or in a classroom setting, teach and encourage the younger women. The rest of this chapter and book explains how.
Teaches What is Good
"Teaches what is good" is a combination of two Greek words resulting in one word. Didaska means "an instructor, theoretical and practical knowledge." We get our English word, didactic, from the Greek word. The second word, kalos means "good, commendable, excellent, honorable, right or sound."
I remember a time when I was a young woman, and as a new Christian I was struggling in a particular area of submission to my husband. I knew I was sinning and I confessed the sin on a regular basis. However, it kept recurring. Finally, I decided to seek help. As I thought about who to ask, I thought of Dori.
Dori was an older woman in my church who knew God's Word well and seemed to me to be a sterling example of a biblically submissive wife. I telelphoned her and asked if I could come to see her. We planned to meet in her home the following Tuesday. It was winter and she had piping hot spiced tea brewing. As we drank our tea, I explained my struggle.
She asked me, "Why did you come to me?" The answer was simple, "Because I knew you would tell me the truth." And she did, lovingly but in a straightforward manner from the Scriptures. The Lord used her in my life to teach me "what was good." She was a wonderful example of the older woman in Titus 2 who was described by Matthew Henry as a woman who "by example and a good life... gives doctrinal instruction at home and in a private way."
How can you become a woman like Dori who teaches what is good? You must begin by -
Studying Sound Doctrine
All Christians are instructed to work hard studying the Scriptures. Paul wrote to Timothy to be...
"...diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
As we said earlier, doctrine is what the Bible teaches about a certain subject. It is so important that women study diligently so that they will not be ashamed and will also not be "carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).
Instead of being "carried about," women should study the passages on women, wives, and mothers, but they should also study the character of God, the doctrine of salvation, and the doctrine of sin. They should in a practical sense know how a Christian is to "put off anger.... and instead be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving" (Ephesians 4:31-32). They should know in detail how to pursue love as "Love is patient, love is kind," etc. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Diligently studying God's Word is a command of God. The Bible is unlike any other book. It is inspired by God in a unique way. It is "alive and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12). It can be used to protect us from the Devil himself. Consider how the Lord Jesus responded to Satan as Satan tempted Him in the wilderness.
It is writeen, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
Also consider Job. Job was a man who longed for GOd as he "treasured the words of His (God's) mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12, adaptation added).
Learning and applying Bible doctrine makes us wise ("Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies..." Psalm 119:98). It is the mark of a true disciple ("Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine...'" John 8:31). It guarantees our complete equipping ("All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine...that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
You must study the Bible and learn to use it rightly in context if you are going to truly teach "what is good." Attend weekly Bible studies that are doctrinally sound and full of meat. Do not waste your energy on shallow share time. Read good, doctrinally sound books. Read the Bible and meditate on what it means.
Thoroughly learn the passages on women and other important doctrines. Until you have them memorized, write a note somewhere in you Bible with references to which you may easily refer as you talk with others. The following is a copy of a page of references I looked up, typed up, and taped to one of the front pages in my first study Bible.
Inspiration of Scripture - 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 5:46-47, John 17:17
The Gospel - Romans 3:23; 6:23, Isaiah 53, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:16-17, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Acts 26:19-20
Assurance of Salvation - 1 John 5:10-13, John 6:47, John 3:16, 18, 36, Romans 10:9, 10, 13, Titus 1:2
Jesus is God - John 14:7, John 10:25-30, Titus 2:13; 3:4, John 1:1, 14
Wives and Submission - Titus 2:3-5, Ephesians 5:22-24, 33, 1 Peter 3:1-7, Colossians 3:18
A Titus 2 woman studies the Word of God diligently. She is like my friend Dori who opened her Bible, instructed me, and explained how I could practically apply doctrine in my life. Dori not only had studied the doctrine and "handled it accurately," she was a model before me of living out the doctrine in her life.