Our people … must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good
Summary: The word “devote” could have several meanings. The surprise is that understanding this word leads to an insight into how we can get better at doing good.
When I first read this text in the NIV, I thought there might be some special insight in the Greek. I was especially curious about the word “devote.” As it turns out, I was both right and wrong.
I was wrong because, in my musing, I had speculated that the word “devote” might have a similar type of meaning to its use in the Old Testament. Specifically, I was thinking of Leviticus 27:28, where Scripture says:
“But nothing that a person owns and devotes to the Lord—whether a human being or an animal or family land—may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.”
The footnote in my Bible reads, “The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord.” I wondered if the kind of devotion Paul was referring to involved the same concept.
Nope.
However, I was right because there still is a special insight associated with the Greek. Strong’s Concordance suggests that there is a mastery of a skill involved. It is as if the one who devotes themselves to doing good practices doing good every day. I have the impression that practicing doing good is partly to please God, but mostly to get really, really good at doing good.
Paul makes a great point. We need to work at it. People can “do good” in a clumsy way and end up doing harm instead. Doing good requires more than good intentions. It depends on good timing, the ability to listen, knowing what to say and when, and possessing compassion.
Mastering the skill of doing good requires practice and effort. It also requires courage. Sometimes doing good does not feel good. An example of this is the good that Christ did on the cross. So there is an element of sacrifice in doing good as well as skill. Learning to give sacrificially without complaining is an aspect of this skill that must be learned.
When we learn to devote ourselves to doing good, we set ourselves on a journey that lasts a lifetime. Doing good is a skill. There are things to learn; what to do and what not to do. It is also giving sacrificially. That, too, is something that can be improved with practice.
Application: Make an effort to “do good” every day.
Food for Thought: What kinds of things can we do to get better at doing good?
Very good devotion brother. Thank you.
As you say here, practice makes perfect. So doing good makes us better at doing good. Certainly faith disciplines, such as prayer, being thankful and having the right attitude by reading scripture also helps. These will put us in the right frame of mind to do good. Philippians 4: 4 – 8.
Thank you, Rich.
This entire letter to Titus has been full of surprises for me. Today’s meditation was another one.
What kinds of things can we do to get better at doing good?
All believers were once dead to God as we pursued the ways of this world. We kept our backs to God as we built our own righteousness with works we determined to be Good. In response to Gods great love and mercy for us we have been saved, made alive in Christ the moment we turned from our ways, to Christ as we chose to live in humble obedience to His will over ours.
Being incapable of good works, we have been saved by His Grace, through faith, not by works. We are a work of God, by the power of God, a new creation in Christ to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:1-10
Jesus calls to us to take His yoke and learn from Him, He will bear our burdens and we will find rest for our souls. He tells us there are only two things for us to do. Love God with all our heart, soul and mind. And love our neighbor as ourselves. We accomplish the second as we achieve the first. All power to do good comes from God, through Christ, and as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us, will be our strength. No branch can bear fruit by itself. Neither can we bear fruit unless we remain in Christ.
Matthew 11:28-30, 22:37-40, James 4:8-10
As Christ is our example, we can live our lives putting on the new self which has been created by God.
Keep seeking Gods will over ours as we grow in Christ. Remain focused on living in Gods will every day and turn from everything that would seek to replace Christ in our lives. Live knowing things of this world will for a moment please our flesh while they rob us of precious moments we can be devoting to God. Allow the emotional stability and clarity of thought and continual renewal from the Holy Spirit to rule our lives as we seek to live in truth with all people.
Luke 2:52, Colossians 2:9, Colossians 3, Titus 3:1
As we devote our lives to a closer relationship with God we will find ourselves “effectively” serving in the ministry He has prepared for us before the foundation of the world.
So, Ron …
You’re saying the answer has something to do with Christ???
🙂
Need some Bumper stickers
“CHRIST POWERED”
🙂
Nice! I like it!!