Titus 3:14
Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
Good News Translation
Our people must learn to spend their time doing good, in order to provide for real needs; they should not live useless lives.
Amplified Bible
Our people must learn to do good deeds to meet necessary demands [whatever the occasion may require], so that they will not be unproductive.
Contemporary English Version
Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile.
Closing remarks of Paul’s letter to Titus has this verse that we are focusing on today. Apostle Paul tells Titus to emphasize that church members should live productive lives. If you belong to the church, your daily life should be productive. What does it mean to live a productive life?
The text tells us that a productive life does that which is good. Engaged in good activities. There are activities which are not good because they consume money and they also affect our character. Drug abuse is not good. Crime is not good. Immoral living is not good. Promoting hate and divisions is not good. A productive life engages in that which is good. This is what productive people do!
It is good to attend worship. It is good to go to school. It is good to read books that improve our lives. It is good to participate in safe leisure activities. It is good to engage in business and multiply income. It is good to be employed. It is good to be part of a games team or choir or any group that is progress-oriented. A productive life engages in that which is essentially good. This is what productive people do!
A productive life provides for urgent needs. If you have resources to address urgent needs, it means you have savings. Regular expenses are budgeted for regularly. Urgent needs were unplanned and we have no time to waste except spend on them. Anyone who can spend on such urgent needs is a person who saves money for a rainy day. This is what productive people do!
A productive life provides for real needs. Real needs suggest that these are needs without which life would be impossible. Maybe this is what we can refer to as basic needs. A productive person has got their basic needs covered. They have made sure they have a reliable house, a consistent food supply, and clothes, among other things. This is what productive people do!
May we resolve to live productive lives in Jesus’ name, Amen!
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