July 12, 2024
I doubt the title above is very enticing. Nobody wants their life to be shipwrecked. But it happens.
USEFUL VS UNUSABLE
In Paul’s brief letter to Titus, he opens by encouraging his colleague to appoint elders in every city where they have established churches. Most of the chapter describes the 22 character qualities that “must be” true of these leaders, for it is their walk with God that qualifies them to be elders in God’s churches.
In the last few verses, though, he describes men who’ve taken a different route and become completely “worthless for any good deed.” What led them down this path, and how can we avoid it?
To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (Titus 1:15-16)
DENYING GOD
“They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him.” (Titus 1:16)
At their core, these are men who have walked away from God. They say they haven’t, but the fruit of their lives is undeniable proof of a proud, rebellious, Christless life. They have been unwilling to surrender to the Lordship of the Great King and Shepherd of our souls. And everything terrible has resulted.
DEFILED
“Both their mind and their conscience are defiled” (Vs. 15)
To become defiled means to be “unclean, stained, sullied.” This has happened in their minds. They have opened the door of their minds to the world, the flesh, and the devil. They have allowed influences to come in and pollute their thinking, and the result has been a conscience (the part of you designed to discern right from wrong, truth from error) that has become seared and useless. Such a man has lost that tender, vital ability by repeated exposure to all that is immoral and profane.
DETESTABLE
This strong word describes someone who has become utterly displeasing in God's sight. Just as we would detest something horrendous, so does God with His beautiful creatures, fearfully and wonderfully made, who have repeatedly rebelled against Him and refused every offer of grace. Over the years, this man has become so dark that he is offensive to the kingdom.
DISOBEDIENT
Any man who denies God will have no desire to obey God. A man who lives in continued disobedience with a seared conscience can become a great tool in Satan’s hands in opposing God and all He desires. His disobedience increases over the years until he is capable of almost any foul act.
WORTHLESS FOR ANY GOOD DEED
Because of his continued, chosen path, he has lost the ability to do anything good, honorable, pure, and valuable. Everything he puts his hand to is soiled with that which comes from his unclean life. And Paul says such a man is “worthless for any good deed.”
This spiraling progression begins with unbelief—the arrogant thoughts of a man who thinks he knows better than God about everything and, therefore, refuses to humble himself before the Lord and serve Him. In time, he reaps the tragic results of an unbelieving life. May it be a warning to us all.
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