Discipleship - Part 3 Series

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."” (1 Cor 3:18-20)

The older man is to be “sound in the faith.” The “faith” is the body of Christian teachings.

But a knowledge of the Bible must be accompanied with other necessary virtues, such as “love for the brethren.” Paul’s command for older men to be “sound in faith, in love, in patience” all go together.

For examples, there are men (and women) in the body who have a lot of Bible knowledge but sadly they are lacking in love for the brethren.

The word “love” (like faith) also comes with the definite article and refers to the love that is produced in the heart of the yielded believer by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The older man must have convictions that agree with the Scriptures and love, which is the fruit of the Spirit.

But Paul lists another characteristic, patience (hupomeno). The older man must not only have convictions that agree with the Word of God and love from the Holy Spirit, he must also be able to “patiently endure” under the trials of life in a way that honors God.

I have come across men who have had boatloads of Bible knowledge; others have had gifts, talents and abilities, but they all never amount to much of anything for God because they had no love for the brethren or were not patient.

We are to love the brethren. 1 John 2 says, "He that saith he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now. He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him."

We are to be patient under trials. The mature Christian came to be mature by learning to wait on the Lord. When things don’t go their way, for the immature Christian, they react in a way that is not loving nor patient. For example:

* A spouse may withhold his or her love and respect

* A child might rebel

* An employee slows down his work

* A Christian slacks up on reading his or her Bible and praying

* A church member stops serving or giving or stays home from church altogether.

A man honors God when he patiently endures a trial with a sense of meekness. Someone has defined this kind of patience as “that temper of spirit in which we accept God’s dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting” (Trench).

It is kind of like having the attitude about life that says when trials come, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) or “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20) or “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15)

“Sound in faith, in love, in patience” all go together.

So Paul writes to Titus, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience…”