Salt And Light In The Families Of Ancient Crete (Part 4) (Titus 2:1-15, Proverbs 3:1-35)
Rev. Tim Leslie, September 10, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
According to the Paul Burstyn, writing in the Christian Herald, First Century myths live on in the Twenty First Century, and mythology affects reality in terms of values and behavior. Many of today's video games are based in mythology. In ancient Crete, people believed that people could become gods. Zeus was a human who became the chief of the gods. Paul's letter to Titus in Chapter 2 concerned marriage/family and business/work. These concerns appear often in scripture. They are the building blocks of society, and they were ordained by God before sin entered into the world. The Church was to restore these ordinances to their proper form. Capitalism is grounded in Biblical principles, with the conscience of God. In the family, the building block of sound doctrine is the "salt." Sound doctrine brings with it spiritual, physical and family/whole person soundness. Proverbs 3 is a summary of the teaching for the individual/family throughout all of scripture. Salt can be troublesome in excess, or ineffective where not used correctly. To preserve it must penetrate. The salt of sound doctrine in God's Word is an affront to sinners. Sound doctrine leads to sound living. Everyone is responsible to live rightly. Light in the family context is sound faith. Paul exhorts Titus to encourage wholesome, informed overseers of the family and of the flock, the church. Older, wise men work to restore soundness in doctrine and faith, overcoming what is lost in sin. Older women in the family must teach what is good by applying sound doctrine. They are to arrange things in order. Wives are often the managers of the household, and they bear the adornment of the Word of God. The Church was to actually invade the world of sin in Crete and in our time also. We are to be invaders also, being self-controlled and thinking sensibly. Jesus was an invader of the world in His time. Young men, taught well, must display what is good. In the ancient world, slavery was part of business. Business was to be conducted with sound doctrine and faith as well, so as to adorn the Gospel. Grace is illuminating and "salty." The apostles taught and lived the Gospel. By this means, the Church is made God's personal possession, forgiven and owned, for God's glory.
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| « Salt And Light In Crete (Part 3) | None | Salt And Light From Kindness And Love In Ancient Crete (Part 5) » |
Titus 2 (Listen)
2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 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.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
(ESV)
Proverbs 3 (Listen)
3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace.
(ESV)