Hospitality, love of good, self control

Text Titus 1:8a Time 19/05/10 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

Last week we began to look at Titus 1:6-9. Titus you remember has been left in Crete to “straighten out” certain things, as Paul puts it following the planting of churches on the island. Especially, there was a need to appoint elders in every town, as Paul had previously directed. This leads Paul to list the qualifications of elders in verses 6-9. It is one of two such lists in the New Testament. The other is in 1 Timothy 3. The list in Titus is really in three or four parts.

First Paul says that (6) An elder must be blameless and a good family man. He must be the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
Then he repeats (7) that Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless – and gives some five negatives and six positives. He must not be overbearing, quick-tempered, given to drunkenness, violent or one who pursues dishonest gain. Rather (8) he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
Finally, he says (9) that He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, the reason being so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

As we said last time when we come to this passage in the Bible there are two obvious ways to use it.

1 Paul is talking about elders and so if you are an elder or would like to be one then here is the standard. It's quite forbidding in some ways but Paul is really not setting the bar at an impossible height given the grace of God. Elders like me should regularly be looking at such a passage – as painful as it is. Those of us who are not elders can also use it to pray for present elders – that they will be as described here and for future elders - that they will attain to what is set down here.

2 As we've said, Paul does not set the bar remarkably high and surely we can all use this verse to examine ourselves, elders or not. Am I in my family setting all I ought to be? Am I seeking to be blameless – not overbearing, quick-tempered, given to drunkenness, violent or one who pursues dishonest gain? Am I seeking to be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined? And may be there are other applications too.

Last week we looked at verses 6 and 7 and we asked two questions

1 What is the situation at home? There are two things. The elder must be

The husband of but one wife. This is against polygamy not being single or a widow or even divorced necessarily. It suggests a strong marriage and precludes an immoral man.

A man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Paul goes further and says that the way a man conducts himself in his home is another clue to whether he is suitable as an elder in the church. Again, the point is not that he must have children but that if he does they must not be obvious rebels who break out in obvious ways.

2 How are you doing in these five areas? An elder is not only like a father over his family but also like a steward or manger over a household. Paul gives five negatives. These point first to something of what the work of an elder involves or of anyone who engages in Christian ministry then negatively the way of holiness for all believers. So we said

1 Consider the matter of authority and the danger of abusing it

Not overbearing – not self-willed, not self-pleasing or arrogant.

2 Consider the matter of frustration and the need to take care over it

Paul goes on not quick-tempered. An elder must not be the sort of person who easily gets angry.

3 Consider the matter of socialising and some of the dangers it can cause

Next we have not given to drunkenness. Later on Paul talks about the importance of being hospitable. That is a part of being an elder. One of the dangers that can bring is the temptation to over indulgence.

4 Consider the matter of opposition and the danger of reacting in the wrong way

The call to not to be violent or not to be a striker may seem a little obvious. Why is it there? Perhaps because of the opposition that inevitably comes to most elders. Violence and intimidation are out of court for any who engage in Christian ministry.

5 Consider the matter of rewards and some of the dangers it can cause.

The call to avoid pursuing dishonest gain.

This week then I want us to come on to verse 8 and I want to ask a further question.

How are you doing these areas?

In contrast to the five negatives Paul lists some six positives. We will consider three tonight.

1. What about hospitality?

Rather he must be hospitable. Hospitality is something that is spoken of very positively throughout the Bible and is something that all Christians are expected to give themselves too, not just elders. Now when we talk about hospitality we tend to think of “inviting someone to your house for a meal”. We also usually mean someone you know and who will probably invite you back. But that is not what the Bible means. The word used here is literally one that refers to love to strangers. It is translated more literally in Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Presumably Paul mentions hospitality here because of the situation at the particular time.

Firstly, there was no modern welfare state in Crete as we have it today. Widows and orphans and other vulnerable members of society were dependent on what charity they could find. Elders, like all believers, should be willing to do what they can to help people in such circumstances.

Then there was also fierce persecution from time time and many believers had to flee from their home towns. Once they reached places of safety they were very much in need of help and sustenance.

Besides, these there were, of course, servants of God – Apostles, evangelists, prophets – who stood in need of financial and other practical help.

Now the situation has changed very much by our day and no doubt it will change again as the years go by. Nevertheless, the principle is clear – the elder must love strangers. Indeed, all Christians should love strangers. As we have said it is a biblical principle. Think of the examples of

Abraham (Genesis 18) receiving and entertaining angels.

The widow at Zarephath who looked after Elijah (1 Kings 17)

Obadiah who hid the hundred prophets in Elijah's day (1 Kings 18)

The Shunammite who urged Elisha to stay for a meal and went on to provide a room for him (2 Kings 4)

Job (29:16; 31:32) I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. ... no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveller -

Onesiphorus 2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

Lydia Acts 16:15 When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.

Ananias and Sapphira Acts 18:26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

See also these Scriptures:

Exodus 22:21, 23:9 Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. ... Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.

Leviticus 19:33, 34, 24:22 When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. ... You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.

Remember Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host, When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Matthew 25:34-40 Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Romans 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

1 Peter 4:4 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling

We need to have the right attitude. We need to be open and ready to speak to strangers, ready to help them if we can. We are not all outgoing by nature but we can all love strangers. We can show hospitality to one another too. Obviously, we have plenty of opportunities to be welcoming to strangers who come into our meetings. We can be friendly and kind in other situations too. Don't forget persecuted believers. What can we do to help them?

2. What about loving what is good?

one who loves what is good
This is very generalised. The actual word Paul uses is only found here but the idea is everywhere in the Bible.

In 1:16 Paul says of false teachers that They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

How did they get into that state? No doubt it bean with a lack of love for what is good. Such an attitude inevitable leads to a love for what is evil. In the end such a person becomes incapable of doing good.

How about you? Do you love what is good? Not – do you try to do ...? But Do you love it? Do you delight in what is right and holy? Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

In 2:7 Paul says to Titus In everything set them an example by doing what is good. Such a thing is impossible if you do not actually love what is good. If you don't love what is good you will become self-conscious and hypocritical just doing what is right to set a good example not because you are genuinely concerned about right and wrong.

Do you have a real heart for what is good? Pray to love the good.

See also 2:14, 3:1, 8, 14 eager to do ... ready to do ... Careful to devote themselves to doing ... must learn to devote themselves to doing ....

None of these things will happen if we do not first love what is good. What are you most eager to do? The things you love doing! People are rarely ready to do something they hate after all. You will certainly never devote yourself to something you hate. Here is the root of it then. Seek to cultivate a love for what is good – it will make you eager, ready and devoted to good.

Good things include Prayer, Bible, good deeds, holy living, kindness, witness, etc.

3. What about self-control?

who is self-controlled
The primary meaning of the word used here is to be sane or in one's right mind. It means to have your faculties under control. It then came to be used for being temperate, self-controlled, sober-minded, having control of one's desires and impulses. Sensible then in the ethical sense.

In Mark 5:15 the word is used and so we read about the demoniac being clothed and in his right mind. In 2 Corinthians 5:13 too Paul talks about being out of his mind and being in our right mind. Usually, however, this word and its related ones is translated self-controlled. Paul uses it quite few times just in this letter. See 2:2, (4) 5, 6, (11), 12. It is also in 1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

We must not give into our desires however legitimate they may be. Rather we must learn self-control. The people God uses are sober, serious, discreet people not those who are light or frivolous. That does not mean that we need to be solemn and boring but we do need to be sober and sensible. Our opinions and actions should be well balanced.

In one place the NIV uses propriety. See 1 Timothy 2:15 But women will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. In Titus 2:4 we have Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children. 2 Timothy 1:7 has For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

The people who God uses then, especially to lead his churches, are those who curb their passions, who know how to control themselves.

What is your self-control like? How much self-discipline is there in your life? There are obvious areas to think about – food, drink, sexual desire, anger, the tongue, TV, computer (internet), money, etc.