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Titus 3:13
13 Bring [propempo] Zenas [Zenas] the lawyer [nomikos] and [kai] Apollos [Apollos] on their journey [propempo] diligently [spoudaios], that [hina] nothing [medeis] be wanting [leipo] unto them [autos]. KJV-Interlinear
13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. NASB
Zenas means living, and Apollos means destroyer.
Both men were well versed in the scriptures. And although nothing is known about Zenas, other than what is mentioned here, his being a lawyer, just what kind of law practice isn’t made clear. More than likely he was one who was well versed in the Levitical Laws and that is probably what is meant here.
If he were a civil lawyer or a criminal lawyer, then he probably would not be traveling with Paul and others for the purpose of spreading the scriptures. But then, he could very well be a retired lawyer and was traveling in that capacity.
But no matter. What is clear is the meaning of his name, which is ‘living.’ So he was certainly a born again Christian, and the life of the gospel and doctrine were within him. He was likely spiritually mature.
As for Apollos, his name means destroyer, but his nature is described in several passages, Acts 18:24, 1 Cor. 1:12, 3:5-6, 4:6. Apollos seems to have been quite the dynamic orator, able to crush any argument that was presented to him. Powerful in the scriptures (Old Testament), as described in Acts, and well versed in doctrine.
When folks traveled in the ancient world, they were treated as guests and all their expenses (usually room and board) were paid for them by their host. That is what ‘nothing is lacking for them,’ means.
And so what does all of this have to do with you?
Well, more than likely you are an obscure person with respect to this world. As far as this world goes, no one knows you. But in heaven, God knows you and God takes care of all your needs, and that is all that matters in life.
As far as this world goes, you are powerless. But as far as doctrine goes, when you advance in your spiritual life, then you become powerful, a destroyer, as it were.
When anyone looks at you, they most likely will not even see you. You are unassuming and common as far as the world goes, but the cover does not reflect the content of the book in the case of the silent warrior in the Christian. If you have seen that video of the woman in Britain, singing, then you’ll understand this principle.
You do not have to be a dynamic and extraverted individual in order to be great or have a great life. Most people in this world, are not. But God levels the paying field for everyone, and is able to craft each one of us into phenomenal individuals, with doctrine.
The subject of the Book of Titus is discernment, insight, perspicacity. The ability to distinguish between the true realities of life from the false. The ability to make good decisions.
If you were standing at the bottom of a tall building, and someone pushed a piano off the roof, falling right down toward you, and you look up and see it coming, do you wait for a voice from heaven to shout, ‘Get out of the way, stupid!’?
No, you possess some degree of common sense and know when it is time to move from danger. God gave you that common sense, through doctrine. Some people use their heads, but most folks do not.
Bible doctrine provides you with clarity of thought. God is not going to think for you, and there won’t be any voices from heaven, or dreams from heaven, but God will through doctrine, give you a bit more insight as to how you can use the mental capabilities you already possess.
Look around you, you have options. Titus was instructed to observe and listen to the folks he was recruiting for making the local churches stable and long lasting.
Was Titus going to be perfect in his choices? No. But he would use his abilities of observation, combined with the principles of life that he had learned from his doctrinal studies, to help him make better choices than he otherwise might have made.
You are not a dummy. You have options in life. Figure them out, write them down, make a list, do whatever it is that you need to do in order to make your life better, and pursue your life. Do not abandon doctrine. Do not fade away from your daily study. That is the foundation of your life, and the access source through which all, repeat, all blessings from God, come to you.
Have a good life now? Then thank God for giving the pathetic you, what you have.
Have a bad life now? Then thank God for giving you the doctrine with which you can survive your ordeal, and by which you can escape it.
God brings no difficulty into the life of any individual, which is greater than they are able to bear. And believe me, people are well able to bear a lot. History has proven that over and over again.
But God did not place you in this world to suffer and have a miserable life. God put you here to have a phenomenal life. God always provides a way out of your difficulty, and doctrine is that way out, or better stated, doctrine is the doorway, through which you can discover your way out (daily study, learning, application to your daily life, obedience to Gods mandates). Obedience is usually the falling down area in the spiritual life.
Somewhere on the web site I have a spiritual life check list. You might want to find it and re-read it.
Unfortunately, too many folks simply do not walk through that door, and that is the great failure of anyone's life.
Without doctrine all you have is the jungle, and the jungle is good to no one, brutal to all.
