I’ve been pondering several questions recently. Am I living life in such a way that younger generations are drawn to Jesus? Would someone want to be discipled or mentored by me as they watch my life?
Titus 2:3 reads, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good…”
Paul instructed Titus concerning key qualities of the older women as they encourage younger women in the church in Crete. In the original context, Paul was probably referring to women 50 and older. But all of us are older than someone else. We don’t have to wait till we’re 50 to begin encouraging and building into younger women.
How are we doing in these four areas?
1. Godly behavior: “Reverent in their behavior.” This doesn’t mean we have to be perfect, but that we would show a reverence for God in the way we handle life – the good and the bad. We recognize and deal with our inadequacies and shortcomings in a godly way.
Is my behavior pleasing to God?
2. Guarded Words: “Not malicious gossips.” What do our words reveal about our heart? What are we communicating to the younger generations by what we say? If we’re gossiping, criticizing, tearing apart the body of Christ, the younger generation is not going to be drawn to that.
Am I careful with my words?
3. Self-control: “Not enslaved to much wine.” We can broaden that application. Don’t be enslaved to anything. Maybe your area of self-control isn’t in drinking too much wine, but with food or relationships or material things or spending too much time on social media or watching TV or on anything else that begins to consume your time and hold you captive.
Am I enslaved to something or someone other than Jesus Christ?
4. Solid teaching: “Teaching what is good.” This doesn’t mean we have to have the gift of teaching or need to sit down with a younger woman and teach her in a formal teaching situation. Some of my most productive teaching times have been over a cup of coffee at Starbucks or over lunch at Panera’s or while taking a walk together. Informal teaching times are valuable in building into others’ lives.
Am I sharing with others what God is teaching me from His Word and through my circumstances?
What do people see when they observe our lives? Are they drawn to Jesus or just the opposite?
