I LOVE the book of Titus-especially the second chapter where Paul lays out the standards and behavior of Christians in the church.
He reminds Titus to teach sound doctrine- doctrine that holds up with the rest of God’s Word, not just what was culturally acceptable, and not to allow false doctrine in. He goes through a list of what should be coming out of the lives of the older men who profess Jesus:
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
(Titus 2:2 ESV)
He goes on to talk about the older women: (this is one of my favorite parts! ;)
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
(Titus 2:3-5 ESV)
I love that Paul says the elder women should be training the younger women! I know that might seem funny, but wait until you are raising children, cooking meals, trying to keep a house clean, love your family, serve God, balance the budget and have a never ending list of to-do’s, and still have a smile on your face at the end of the day! J I need training! J We all do! Some of us are blessed enough to get a good training at home from their mothers, and grandmothers before they ever get married. Others of us have grand ideas of what it will be like to run our own homes and have a fabulous husband and amazing children and the dream job! And I am not saying it isn’t the coolest thing in the world to have all that-it is! I would rather be a stay-at home mom with my own home, husband, and kids than anything else in the world! It is a dream! But it is also work and it isn’t easy. It takes determination, skills, intelligence, organization, self-control and love! Hence where Titus 2 comes in…as part of the body of Christ, you have someone you can minister to whether you are 5 or 95! There is always someone younger than you that you can encourage, teach something to, model a characteristic of Christ for and pray for…there is someone that even you can “train.”
But on the flip side of that, we also NEED training! J And who better to receive training from than a godly older woman in your church?!? Whether the problem is a question you have about the Bible, a sin you are struggling with, some advice for a situation you are in, some prayer you need or some tips for keeping your closet organized, there should be a godly woman somewhere that can help you out!
Proverbs 8:17
Our God-given parents are to be our first set of counselors. Even if they don’t believe in Christ or live for Him they way they should, they are still more experienced than you and want what is best for you. Occasionally parents give bad advice but as long as it doesn’t go against God’s Word, God will bless your submission and obedience to them. No body is perfect and they are who God gave you…He knows why and why it is best for you. J
Even still, it is sound wisdom to surround yourself with people who are going to encourage you to go the right direction! With people who will be honest with you and will tell you what is right-even if you don’t always want to hear it. ;)
You will not regret asking for advice and being accountable to someone who loves you and loves the Lord. You just won’t. Godly advice and encouragement saves from a lot of heartbreak and baggage!
I am desperate for more women in my life who will “teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, submissive to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be reviled.”
I have women that I go to for advice, counsel and training from California to North Carolina
1. We are all gifted differently! I might ask one woman for prayer but she wouldn’t be able to help me keep a cleaner house. Or one woman might know my sin issues or background more than another, etc. We all have different talents and gifts to be used in the church. So find different women that can meet different needs!
2. When you have a variety of godly women in your life, it is less likely that you will develop an unhealthy attachment to one woman. You don’t want to put someone in the position where you NEED her and they need to fill the holes in your heart that only Christ can fill. You will drain the life out of her and sooner or later she will let you down because she is only human. It happens. Now, if you don’t have any godly women in your life that can be your advisors/prayer warriors (let’s just call them Titus 2 Women) it is perfectly fine to start with one! Pray about it and get out there! But don’t stop at just one. There are many, many women in the church for a reason. J
3. We live in a very very busy society! It is also a good idea to have a ‘multitude of counselors” or Titus 2 Women because people are busy like never before! I know the Titus 2 Women I can call whenever, the Women I can call in an emergency, or the Women that I can let know I need some help and they would schedule a coffee date or phone call with me in a couple of days.
Now after this I may sound kind of needy! It may sound like I have a hundred or so women in my life at my beck and call! ;) Not exactly the way it works…but it is ok that I need training! God’s Word says so! God does not expect me to be perfect, know everything, and make all the right decisions all the time! He gave us His Word and each other to learn from. And we are fulfilling God’s call when we become Titus 2 Women to the younger ladies in our life! I love that by asking for help and advice, I am allowing an older woman to be a blessing to me and obedient to God! Just good stuff!!!
I also love that I may have experience, advice and encouragement for some of the younger gals in my life that I can use to bless them and be obedient to Him! It is part of what makes being a youth pastor’s wife awesome!!! I LOVE when someone asks me to pray for them or asks for help or advice. It is part of being a Christian and part of the Church. It is FABulous!
Make time to be trained and be a trainer! Make sure your heart is humble enough to seek counsel and then take it if it isn’t what you want to do. Be teachable. Ask God for wisdom-He promises to give wisdom to those who ask for it! Love the younger women in your life-you were once in their shoes! Remember the hard things about that age and stage of life and ask God to help you encourage them.
And always, always be learning and preparing to be a “keeper of the home.” You will be a wife and mother and home-keeper before you know it! Be preparing now. J Don’t forget that I am here to help in any way I can. And most-importantly, be in God’s Word. It is what changes us, cleanses us, gives us wisdom and helps us through every day, triumph and trial. You aren’t going anywhere if you aren’t in His Word.
Love y’all!
Gina
