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Titus 3:8
8 This is a faithful [pistos] saying [logos], and [kai] these things [peri] [touton] I will [boulomai] that thou [se] affirm constantly [diabebaioomai], that [hina] they which have believed [pisteuo] in God [theos] might be careful [phrontizo] to maintain [proistemi] good [kalos] works [ergon]. These things [tauta] are [esti] good [kalos] and [kai] profitable [ophelimos] unto men [anthropos]. KJV-Interlinear
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. NASB
The world is full of living examples of Gods faithfulness. As we end this Easter celebration, we have seen on the news, the brilliant rescue and bravery of a ships captain half way around the world. And the repercussions of pirates (three of them at least), who are now seeing the truth for what it really is. Facing Jesus in terrible embarrassment, or worse, depending on their spiritual state for this life.
It is often the times of harsh realities of life, that force people to turn to God, whereas they might otherwise not give God much thought, and therefore ending their life in terrible error and disgrace and failure.
The pirates lost their effort in crime and degenerate pursuit of life, but then far more people ignore God, and though they are law abiding, they too will lose out in life.
With all of the teaching in the scriptures, people cannot be forced to listen or even to learn Gods instruction, which is unfortunate. It is often too bad that folks will read the news and get all upset over some unconfirmed reporting of a problem with food or a product, and yet their life and their entire future is ignored, by ignoring the scriptures, as though it has no value.
Paul ends this verse with the comment, ‘good and profitable.’
But what does that really mean?
Well the first part of the verse says it all. What you hear from the teaching of the Bible, is good for you. Unfortunately to many folks simply do not believe that. And those who say they believe, don’t adopt it into the daily practice of their life.
In this life you learn, or should learn, that there are many things that are good for you. Things like an education, a good diet, exercise, honesty, etc., etc., etc. And most folks generally look to those things in life, in order to get by.
But for all that we are exposed to in this life, none of them are of any value, if we lose out on our spiritual life.
Our spiritual life sets the stage for our eternal existence, which by the way, is a far greater time span (infinite), than any lifespan you will have on this earth.
You are to listen, to learn, and to grow up, such that you will engage in ‘good deeds.’ What is that? Well, anything that you do while living within the fellowship sphere of your spiritual life.
All of your thinking produces something within your soul.
When functioning within your spiritual life, then your production is described as gold, silver, and precious stones. When you are out of fellowship, then your production is described as wood, hay and stubble. And these latter three are rotten wood, rotten hay, and rotten stubble, or absolutely worthless things.
Now, if you were wealthy, would you invest in a deteriorating business, which has no prospects of a future? No.
Wouldn’t you be better off in investing in a producing and productive gold mine?
So, good works is your function, while actively operating within your spiritual life.
While in fellowship, God the Holy Spirit, controls your soul, and when in control, He uses His power to reinforce, through doctrine, your soul. In Ephesians it is called edifying, or building a powerful spiritual complex within your soul.
And to what end? So that you will have a fantastic eternal life. One greater than you can possibly imagine.
Concerning these things, things that have already been mentioned, as the promises of God, are why you need to focus on the important things in life (your spiritual life), and disregard the unimportant things in life (worldly issues).
What is important? Doctrine, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and out of these come responsibility, honesty, integrity, but more important, spiritual growth.
What is unimportant? Nearly every issue of this world, that you make an issue, presumably to make this world into a better world, or to cut a little something out for yourself. And there is nothing (except doctrine) that can make this world better than it is.
But then, our inheritance is not this world anyway, but the next world. And by the way, God is not going to allow this world to be destroyed, until human history has run its full course. And then it will be God who will destroy it, in an instant, and then replace everything.
There are many pressures, troubles, and controversies in life. Whether political, social, economic, personal, or whatever, makes no difference. None of them will improve your life in the way that Bible doctrine will.
So, learn to focus on doctrine, and learn to let the controversies of the world be dealt with by God. For it is He who ultimately controls history and your life.
‘Stop worrying about anything, but in everything through prayer and supplication (requests), let your needs, desires, wishes, be made known unto God.
For it is of the Lord mercies (grace (favor) in action), which are new every morning, that shall sustain you. He will never suffer the righteous (the spiritually motivated person), to be moved (to fail).
Cast (slam) all your cares on Him, for He cares for you (far more than you realize).
Study (listen, learn, apply) to show yourself approved (mature) unto God, a workman (that is you), that need not be ashamed (but confident), by rightly dividing the word of truth (learning so that you can discern between truth and false).
For of Him (Christ), and to Him (Christ), and through Him (Christ), are all things, to whom be glory, dominion, and power forever and ever (which you are going to jointly inherit). Amen.’
