The only scheme the New Testament knows for evangelization is personal, apart from the proclamation of God-called and anointed and gifted preachers. Approximately ninety percent of all people surveyed as to how it was that they came to know Jesus Christ pointed to a personal witness, a friend, relative or co-worker, whose life impacted their life. Less than ten percent of the people who come to Christ come because of something other than a personal witness. All the mass media, television, radio; all the mass evangelistic methods; all the crusades; all the musical concerts intended with evangelistic emphasis that move across this country; all of the meetings in civic centers and city auditoriums and convention centers - all of that kind of thing that's going on…(with the millions of dollars, and hundreds of hours spent, don’t come close to the life changing effect that a godly transformed life has. A transformed life points back to the transformer). (https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/56-17/gods-plan-for-employees)
For many Christians today, as throughout church history, the most important and fertile field for evangelism is the place where they work. That is their mission field. As in almost no other place, unbelievers have the opportunity to observe believers in day by day situations and activities. They see whether the believer is patient or impatient, kind or uncaring, selfless or selfish, honest or dishonest, clean or vulgar in speech. They have the opportunity to see how well the Christian lives up to the faith professed and the principles of the Scripture claimed to be held dear. Inviting unsaved friends to church certainly has a place in witnessing for Christ, but it will be useless and even counterproductive if one’s attitude, reliability, and honesty on the job are questionable. An employee-employer relationship is one which we voluntarily enter into and which an employee may terminate when desired. Nevertheless, the principles of conduct laid down here by Paul do apply to us. Titus is to teach the workers of his day how they are to conduct themselves as workers. And we may learn from what is said here how to conduct ourselves as workers in our own day (Campbell, D. (2007). Opening up Titus (p. 68). Leominster: Day One Publications.)
According to the three of the purpose clauses in Titus 2 found in v5, 8, 10 a defective testimony will blaspheme or defame God. Specifically, in regards to the workplace, Paul points out the primary purpose for working hard and for respecting our employer, even more than leading someone to faith, is to bring honor to Christ. And our most important compensation is not the possible praise or increase in pay we may receive from our employer but the assured reward that we will receive from our Lord. He is the One who determines and assures what the eternal compensation will be (cf. Rev. 20:12–13). In Titus 2:9–10 Paul gives five character qualities that should distinguish Bondservants/bond-slaves and every other believer who is employed by someone else. These characteristics are to be genuine and from the heart, and are to be without reservation, not superficial or hypocritical. In other words, workers show the Godly value of work, when their labors are: 1) Submissive (Titus 2:9a), 2) Selfless (Titus 2:9b), not 3) Subjective (Titus 9c) or 4) Stealing (Titus 2:10a) but 5) Steady (Titus 2:10b)
First, workers show the Godly value of work, when their labors are:
1) Submissive (Titus 2:9a)
Titus 2:9-10 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters (in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative. (ESV)
First, Christian workers are to be submissive, subject to their own masters, their own employers. Bondservants/bond-slaves (Douloi) refers to slaves, those who were owned and controlled by their own masters. The Roman Empire depended on bond-slaves for most of its labor, and they were an essential part of society and the economy. Many, if not most, slaves were abused and often brutalized. For even minor infractions, or simply for displeasing their owners in some way, they could be severely beaten or killed. Many of them, however, were given great responsibility and authority in running a household and sometimes a family farm or other business. Some of them—frequently those who were captured in war—were highly educated and cultured, in many cases having superior education to that of their owners. Slaves were allowed to marry and raise their own families, their children becoming slaves like their parents. A slave sometimes was given a small parcel of land on which to grow crops to feed his family and perhaps earn a small income. No hard and fast line can be drawn between the congregation and the household, so long as the congregations met in houses (Marshall, I. H., & Towner, P. H. (2004). A critical and exegetical commentary on the Pastoral Epistles (p. 257). London; New York: T&T Clark International.).
Although the New Testament appears to accept slavery as part of the socioeconomic fabric of its time and does not openly condemn it, it does not sanction slavery as a God-ordained institution. The New Testament does display a much different attitude to slavery from what was common at that time. The Christian gospel offered slaves, as well as freemen, the freedom from sin and its power that all men and women need. Converted slaves were brought into the fellowship of the church as sharing equally in God’s grace as demonstrated in the New Testament “household rules.” These “Household Rules” indicate that Christian masters have certain responsibilities for their slaves (cf. Eph 6:9; Col 4:1). The abolition of cultural, social, and sexual distinctions “in Christ Jesus” stated by Paul in Gal 3:28 and practiced in the churches contained the seed that would finally abolish the institution of slavery. Instead of overtly attacking this unjust yet widespread institution protected by civil authority, the gospel would slowly destroy slavery by its power to change individual lives and attitudes (Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 306). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
• The key to real change is never structure. Reforming political institutions, union-employer contracts, or even church structures never really produces lasting change. But when the Gospel changes people, only then is there real and lasting change in institutions.
Bondservants/bond-slaves are required to be subject to their own masters. To be subject to (Hupotasso ) was often used by the military to designate a soldier’s relationship to his superior officers. The relationship is not conditional or optional but an absolute and inescapable given. In God’s sight, the obligation of Christian workers to their bosses is just as unconditional and universal. To be subject to translates a passive imperative verb, and is therefore a command to submit oneself. The gospel does not advocate revolt but submission to the sovereign of God. … As difficult as it is to submit to such a position, the Christian must be convinced of God’s lordship in all human affairs.( Larson, K. (2000). I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol. 9, p. 364). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
Regardless of how unreasonable a boss may be or how oppressive a work situation may be, the faithful believer willingly submits themselves in everything as long as they are employed in that job. If a situation becomes intolerable, they should look for work elsewhere. Proper submission to authority is essential in a family, in which children are subject to their parents (Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20). It is essential in government, in which citizens are to respect and honor their leaders (Rom. 13:1–7; Titus 3:1). It also is essential in the work place. A Christian worker who is first of all concerned about their personal rights and who participates in noncompliance efforts and work stoppages against their employer dishonors God. It is hardly necessary to add that this phrase “in everything” must not be taken in the absolute sense, as if the apostle meant to say that even then when the master demanded of the slave that he tell a lie or commit thievery, adultery, or murder, the latter must obey (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles (Vol. 4, p. 368). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
Please turn to 1 Peter 2 (p.1015)
Who specifically is this employer? Our text calls them: Masters translates despotes, from which we get the English “despot,” which denotes a person with absolute authority and power. If Bondservants/bond-slaves are obligated to submit to their absolute and often cruel and arbitrary masters, how much more are “free” believers obligated to submit to an employer, even one who is mean, unreasonable, and overbearing.
Peter explains this relationship:
1 Peter 2:13-23 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (ESV)
• Do we find ourselves in a situation of being misrepresented or harassed? V. 15 specifies how the godly lives of believers will put to silence any false charges raised against them. Is our action to just complain or grumble? According to v. 16, our Freedom is not a license to sin (in grumbling or complaining) but to expresses that freedom in devotion to what is good (cf. Gal. 5:13–14). Perhaps our witness to the world is not effective because we have the same demands as the world and respond like the world. According to v. 19-20 the patient endurance of suffering is evidence of God’s grace at work, and will be rewarded by Him.
Illustration: 7473 Beginning That First Drop
Submission to Christ means obedience in every sphere, including at work. Abraham Lincoln used to remark that he could get any number of men who are “willing to shed their last drop of blood.” but he found it difficult to get men to shed their first drop to make a beginning. Don’t talk about what you will do for Jesus by and by. Just begin now to love Him, serve Him, and follow where He may lead (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1630). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.).
Quote: 555 DISTURB US, LORD
Too often we are not well-pleasing to God because we are too well-pleased with ourselves. Sir Francis Drake, explorer and naval pioneer during the Elizabethan era in 1577 said: “Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love”. (Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (p. 307). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Workers show the Godly value of work, when their labors are:
2) Selfless (Titus 2:9b)
Titus 2:9b 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, (not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. (ESV)
Second, a Christian worker should be well-pleasing, committed to excellence in work. Well-pleasing translates euarestos, which, in the New Testament, is almost always used of being acceptable and pleasing to God. Paul urges believers “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:1–2). Later in that letter, he says that whoever has “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit … serves Christ [and] is acceptable to God and approved by men” (Rom. 14:17–18). It was always the apostle’s “ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him [Christ]” (2 Cor. 5:9). It should be the purpose of every Christian “to learn [and to believe and to do] what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:10). Even in the workplace, Christ is our ultimate overseer, and in His Word He makes clear that being well-pleasing to our heavenly Master includes being well-pleasing to our earthly master, or boss.
Please turn to 1 Timothy 6 (p.993)
Some Christians reason that, if their employer is a Christian, they have less obligation to respect and please him, because we “are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). But equality in the spiritual realm does not translate to equality in the earthly:
1 Tim. 6:1–2 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. (ESV)
It is not wrong to work hard, do excellent work, and seek to please our employer in order to advance in a company and increase our income. In the right spirit, those motives are legitimate. But they should never be a Christian’s highest objectives. Above all else—far above all else—should be the sincere desire, even on the job, to do that which is pleasing and acceptable to our Lord.
Workers show the Godly value of work, when their labors are not:
3) Subjective (Titus 9c)
Titus 2:9-10 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative (ESV)
Third, a Christian worker should be respectful to his employer in such a way that he is not argumentative. In being subjective, their views, opinions and methodology reigns supreme to the extenu of speaking against anything that would disagree.
To be argumentative (Antilego ) means literally “to speak against,” in the sense of talking back or contradicting. It carries the ideas of “mouthing off,” of being contentious or obstructionist—at least partly, if not entirely, just for the sake of being disagreeable. Being argumentative is the opposite of being submissive and well-pleasing. Paul used the same verb in 1:9 in regard to church members who want to contradict sound teaching. In Romans 10:21, the word is translated “obstinate.” And in Pisidian Antioch, when Jewish leaders saw that “many of the Jews and of the Godfearing [Gentile] proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas,” and that “nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of God … they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming” (Acts 13:43–45, emphasis added). The noun form (antilogia) of that verb is rendered twice in the book of Hebrews as “dispute” (6:16; 7:7). Later in that letter it is used of the “hostility” that Christ endured “by sinners against Himself” (12:3), and it is used by Jude in referring to the “rebellion of Korah” against Moses (Jude 11; cf. Num. 16). In our day of self-centeredness and self-elevation, being argumentative is almost a way of life for some people, including, unfortunately, some Christians.
The prohibition does not refer to standing up for our convictions, for what we believe is right, proper, and God-honoring, but rather to standing up merely for our own self-interest and preferences. If a worker has opportunity to express his opinions in a proper forum, that is certainly permissible. Workers today obviously have legitimate means for expressing grievances to an employer that slaves of New Testament times could not have imagined. We have many more appropriate means for doing so than workers in free societies even a century ago. But when management makes a final decision, that decision should be accepted and fully complied with by workers, no matter how disappointing and unfair it may appear to be. If a policy or requirement is too onerous, involves doing something immoral or unbiblical, or in any other way is unacceptable to our conscience, the only permissible alternative at that point is to find another place of employment.
Illustration: Years ago Robert Mattox wrote a book, The Christian Employee, in which he suggested that God purposely arranges our lives so that we have to work with non-Christians. We spend about 36 percent of our waking hours at work, which means we are spending a significant amount of our lifetime interacting with non-Christians. Yet sometimes, instead of recognizing that God has arranged our lives so that we can influence them, we complain about the worldly people we have to work with. Christian Business Men’s Committee is a popular ministry that encourages men to get involved in prayer and discipleship in the workforce. CBMC began many years ago as a response to a survey in the Chicago area that revealed business owners were more likely to discuss spiritual things with a fellow businessperson than with a family member or clergyman. It’s not the paid representatives that people believe; it’s satisfied customers. Your job is an opportunity for you to be a missionary. A lot of Christians think that if they were really spiritual they would quit their secular jobs and become full-time missionaries. God does call some people into full-time church work, but he probably has you right where he wants you on the mission field of the marketplace. (Russell, B., & Russell, R. (2007). Titus: The Growing Church (pp. 64–65). Joplin, MO: HeartSpring Publishing.)
Workers show the Godly value of work, when in their labors, they are not:
4) Stealing (Titus 2:10a)
Titus 2:10a 10 not pilfering, (but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior). (ESV)
Fourth, a Christian worker is to show honesty by not pilfering. Pilfering (from nophizo) literally means “to put aside for oneself or misappropriate” and came to be used of stealing by embezzlement. Because household stewards, or business managers, in New Testament times were frequently slaves, they had considerable opportunity to misappropriate money, food, jewelry, or other valuables entrusted to their care. Undoubtedly, the temptation to improve one’s situation in this way was great, and perhaps changes brought about in a Christian household offered more opportunities for theft (cf. Phlm 18). Christian slaves were not to fall to this temptation.( Towner, P. H. (2006). The Letters to Timothy and Titus (p. 737). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
• In modern times, many workers have access to company funds and property that is easily converted to personal use. Many others pilfer by such means as submitting inflated time sheets and expense reports, taking office supplies home for personal use, making unauthorized calls on the office phone, and taking unauthorized trips in the company car.
Please turn to Acts 5 (p.913)
When Christians do such things, their actions not only are unethical and damage their employer financially but also are unspiritual and do damage to the Lord’s name and to their testimony. In effect, Ananias and Sapphira embezzled money that belonged to the church, and therefore to the Lord.
Acts 5:1-11 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things (ESV).
• After selling a piece of property, they gave only part of the proceeds to the apostles but claimed they had given the full amount. As Peter explained to Ananias, they were not obligated to sell the property or to give any of the proceeds to the Lord’s work. But by giving less than they claimed, they lied not only to men but to God (Acts 5:1–4). Their deception amounted to pilfering and was so serious in the Lord’s eyes that it cost the couple their lives and caused “great fear [to] came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things” (vv. 5–11). The Spirit was closely linked to the unity of the fellowship manifested in their sharing. Ananias and Sapphira abused the fellowship through their deception and thereby threatened its unity. God is just as concerned today about the regard for holiness and righteousness in His community. Although He may act in another way today to preserve it, He will not ignore the sin.
Illustration: It’s not just poor slaves who are tempted to steal. “For the most part, thieves run the demographic gamut,” one article reported. One of the researchers said, “It goes all the way to the top. I’ve seen it from corporate vice presidents to janitorial staff.” In fact the higher up the ladder an employee was, the more likely he was to steal a greater amount of money. “The whiter the collar, the bigger the dollar.” If you refuse to steal from your employer, you will be in the extreme minority. Your employer will be grateful and Jesus Christ will get the glory. Remember that as an employee, you can steal money by stealing time. I once heard about three boys who were arguing about whose dad was the fastest. “My dad can run a mile in less than six minutes,” one boy said. “My dad can run a 40-yard dash in less than 5 seconds,” the other said. “That’s nothing,” the third boy said. “My dad gets off work at 4:00 and is home by 3:30!
• If you get paid to work 40 hours and you only work 35, you’re stealing money you didn’t earn. If you purposely loaf on the job and get by with as little work as possible, you’re doing the same thing. Put in an honest day’s work and don’t steal time or money from your employer, so that people around you will be attracted to your Savior.( Russell, B., & Russell, R. (2007). Titus: The Growing Church (p. 67). Joplin, MO: HeartSpring Publishing.)
Finally, workers show the Godly value of work, when their labors are:
5) Steady (Titus 2:10b)
Titus 2:10b (10 not pilfering) but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. (ESV)
Showing all good faith describes that most cherished virtue of loyalty. Pistos can be translated faith, but in this context it seems preferable to render it as “faithfulness,” referring to faithfully doing whatever work a believer is supposed to do. It refers to trustworthiness and reliability, the quality of being utterly dependable, even when one is not being watched by the master or the employer. Showing is from endeiknumi, which means “to show forth for the purpose of demonstrating or proving something.” This term meant to give outward and clear proof of something. Our lives must bring glory to God and evidence of the power of the gospel!( Utley, R. J. (2000). Paul’s Fourth Missionary Journey: I Timothy, Titus, II Timothy (Vol. Volume 9, p. 110). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.)
The Christian employee is not to leave his loyalty in doubt but is to give ample evidence of it. Tragically, good faith loyalty to one’s employer, and to one’s fellow employees, is a common casualty of the modern “work ethic,” even that of some Christians. “Good” naturally excluded any wrongdoing in which their master might order participation (Hiebert, D. E. (1981). Titus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 439). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
The last clause in verse 10 is the third purpose clause in chapter 2 that gives a reason for such a call to holy living and, like the one in verse 5, focuses on honoring and glorifying God’ s Word. Adorn is from kosmeo, from which we get “cosmetics,” the vast array of substances, both natural and artificial, that women (and men) use to make themselves more physically attractive. The root idea of the term is that of arranging something in proper order to give it symmetry, exquisiteness, and beauty. In ancient times it was used of arranging jewels in a brooch, necklace, ring, or crown in a way that best displayed the beauty of the gems. Here, Paul of course, was not speaking about physical and superficial adornment. What makes the church attractive and influential in the world for the Lord is not its strategy or its programs but the virtue and holiness of its people. His people therefore are to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior by their submissiveness, by the excellence of their work, by their respectful attitude, by their honesty, and by their loyal service to their employer—whether the employer is a fellow Christian or a rank pagan, fair or unfair, pleasant or unpleasant, deserving or undeserving. Our supreme message to the unsaved about God is that He is our Savior and desires to be their Savior as well, because He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). We are to let them know—by what we say, by what we do, and by the way we work at our job—that God “is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
Illustration: William Wilberforce (1759–1833) and his friends stood up to, and campaigned against, the slave trade of their day. In 1784 Wilberforce became MP for Yorkshire. His conversion to Christ gave him a dynamic to lead the campaign against slavery, something which he had abominated since the age of fourteen. From 1784 onwards he repeatedly moved parliamentary resolutions against the British slave trade. It was a campaign with much stacked against it. His notions were not welcome to many prominent people. There were vested interests which fought Wilberforce. To finish the slave trade was not economically advantageous. Nevertheless what Wilberforce was seeking to do was right, and that was the main thing. The suppression of the slave trade took nearly twenty years, with its formal abolition being passed in 1807. He then went on to press for a European agreement to prohibit the trade. He used his charm, his tact, his eloquence. He prayed and protested. He has left us a great example of how the giants of injustice and ungodliness in commerce can be overthrown, and Christ can be victorious in the world of business. (Benton, J. (1997). Straightening Out the Self-Centered Church: The Message of Titus (pp. 121–122). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.)
(Format Note: Some base commentary from MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1996). Titus (p. 95-102). Chicago: Moody Press.)
