Titus 2:4-5 “That they may teach the young women”
Introduction: In this passage, God gave the aged women a great responsibility to teach the younger women, to be a pattern of good works. The aged women must teach the younger women by example and testimony. This implies that the aged women need to know and live these things first in order to be able to teach the younger women the same things. Once the aged women know these things, you teach the younger women with scripture and by example. This process takes place in the home and in the church, from one Christian woman to another. So, here’s the point: the young women in our church have an opportunity to learn the ways of the world or to learn what the aged women here teach them. They can either go the way of the world or the way of God. Let’s see the contrast between what the Bible commands the aged women to teach the younger women and what the world teaches.
1. “to be sober” Vs 4 (To be regular, temperate, calm, not under the influence of passion). They say in the military to always be Calm, Cool, and Collected no matter the situation. The only way to stay in that state of mind is to be sober.
World Teaches- “Women have a right to get fired up too”. “Women can stand up for themselves”. The world empowers women.
Bible Teaches- Romans 12:1-3– “for I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”.
You see the contrast made here. The Apostle Paul says to a person not to think more highly that he/she ought to think but instead to think soberly. A woman that is passionate about something is a woman that can think more highly of herself than she should. A woman in this situation may not maintain her calm spirit but instead may want to speak her mind even to her own hurt. (the hurt of a ruined testimony). She is puffed up.
2. “to love their husbands” vs 4
World Teaches- “If you can fall in Love, then you can fall out of Love.” In other words, if you fall in love get married, if you fall out of love, get a divorce and be happy. That is something a selfish person that loves herself does- II Timothy 3:1-2– “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves”.
Bible Teaches- Love is a walk, the closer you walk to each other the stronger the love. I John 3:18- “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
Don’t just tell your husband you love him, show him, prove it. Be sacrificial, be unselfish, be giving, be affectionate, be tender, have commitment. Perhaps in your wedding vows you said, “Till death do us part”. ILLUSTRATION– Pastor Joe Taylor, had surgery on a tumor in his head, then two strokes and still in the hospital and his wife is bathing him, feeding him, right by his bedside.
3. “to love their children”. vs 3
World Teaches- “give your children anything they want. “I want my kids to have a better life than what I had”. This is not love, this is hating and spoiling them.
Bible Teaches- II Timothy 1:1-5 “when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also”.
The best way for a mother and father to show love to their children is to preach the gospel to their children and to show them the ways of the Lord.
4. “to be discreet”. vs 5- “Prudent; wise in avoiding errors or evil, circumspect, not rash”
World Teaches- Regarding evil: have no fear in anything or anyone, just go for it. Say what you want to say, don’t hold back.
Bible Teaches- Fear God and consider everything you do. Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 22:3- “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A woman that is discreet will foresee the evil in different situation of life and will hide herself in other words, she will not partake in those things. In contrast, a woman that is not discreet about certain matters will pass on, or partake in those evil things and will be punished, or suffer the consequences.
5. “chaste” vs 5- “to be pure morally and sexually. To be pure in thought and act. To be pure before marriage and to stay faithful to her husband during marriage.
World Teaches- If you love each other live together for a couple years before getting married and give the relationship a try. Of if your married, it teaches that stepping out on your husband is not that bad, your justified in doing so.
Bible Teaches- I Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication”.
Hebrews 13:4- “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”.
In this immoral world that were living in today, it is acceptable and even condoned to be sexually immoral before marriage and during marriage. Those things are contrary to God Words and should not be learned or done. What should be learned is the exact opposite, God will bless a young woman that stays pure for her husband and will bless a marriage where the husband and wife stay faithful to one another and don’t step out in the relationship. Don’t go looking for another man’s physical, emotional, or spiritual filling, “drink waters out of thine own cistern” Proverbs 5:15.
6. “keepers at home” vs 5- One who cares for or has the custody of the home.
World Teaches- “to be a busybody”. Do what you want, when you want, no matter if the home is in complete disarray. The world teaches that the keeping of the home should not be a full-time job, it should just be done IF you have time. Have the husband do the chores, take care of the kids, and whatever else is the responsibility of the woman.
Bible Teaches– A women has a full time job in keeping the home. Proverbs 31. Specifically, Proverbs 31:27 “she looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”
A house is not a home, the woman makes the home. She is the one that makes it cozy, warm, clean, makes it smell good, and cooks the good foods, makes sure the kids are well dressed, speaks well of her husband to their kids and other people. The young women ought to learn that the home is their place to keep up with however, men are not to take advantage of that. Women are keepers of the home not workers of the home, as translated in modern bibles.
7. “Good” vs 5- To be pure and clean of the highest character. She is kind, good natured, and caring.
World Teaches- That women that are busybodies, gossipers, backbiters, murmurers, complainers, unholy, false accusers are okay.
Bible Teaches- III John 1:11 “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
It is in our old nature to be bad. “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light”. Romans 13:12
8. “Obedient to their own husbands” vs 5
World Teaches- The woman has equal rights than the men. The women should get an education because if she marries and doesn’t like what he says or does, she can leave him and still have a great career. In other words, she doesn’t have to put up with him regarding his biblical decisions.
Bible Teaches- Ephesians 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body”.
The young women may not understand the reason why the husband is making certain decisions regarding life however, she needs to trust God and be obedient to her own husband.
Conclusion: The aged women in our church have a great opportunity to be a blessing to the younger women in our church, if we do the things we talked about today. These young women can have years of happiness instead of years of misery if they learn from the aged women. If the aged women don’t take the time to teach these younger women, we are only hurting ourselves. These younger women are the next generation of Christians, so be a good Stewart of the young women God has given our church.