Learning to Be Teachers of Good Things

“That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate,
sound in faith, in charity, in patience
The aged women likewise.
that they be in behavior as becometh holiness,
not false accusers, not given to much wine,
teachers of good things;”
Titus 2:2-3

It’s hard to believe we are wrapping presents and wrapping up another year. For good or bad, better or worse, here we are again. This year presented many blessings, challenges and lessons. It grew me. How about you? As we come to the end of this year and this study in Titus 2, I’m praying that we will not leave the lessons learned behind. My heart is filled with a renewed desire to be a “teacher of good things.” Let’s finish by reviewing what that means.

Teaching younger women good things is a clear, God-given responsibility for older women who choose to live holy lives. None of us are excluded since we are all older than someone.

God gives us specific directions on what to teach. We can’t wing this or teach from our own experiences, emotions, education, or efforts. Look at how the phrase, “teacher of good things” is defined in the Greek:

Teacher of Good Things – Greek #2567 – kalodidaskalos
From G2570 and G1320; a teacher of the right: –

Greek #2570 – kalos,
of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous…:–

Greek #1320 – didaskalos
from 1321; an instructor (genitive case or specially):–
(Strong’s Concordance)

Godly teachers teach what is right by being what is right. We are to be “instructors” who teach properly, beautiful, (literal and moral) good that is valuable or virtuous.

Teaching Valuable Good

What we teach should be valuable to our Creator, and those in our circles of influence. Notice what it means to be “valuable:”

Valuable – adjective

1. Having value or worth; having some good qualities which are useful and esteemed; precious;
   (Webster’s 1928 American Dictionary of the American Language)

When we teach younger women “good things” we are sharing qualities with them that will be “useful, esteemed, and precious.” Titus 2 says we are to teach them to:

• be sober
• love their husbands
• love their children
• be discreet
• be chaste
• be keepers at home
• good
• obedient to their own husbands

We may not be well trained in or master these qualities, but we are to do our best to be examples of these valuable behaviors. Our actions and attitudes teach others what is right.

Teaching Virtuous Good

Now, let’s look at what virtuous means:

Virtuous – adjective
1. Morally good; acting in conformity to the moral law;
    practicing the moral duties, and abstaining from vice;
2. Being in conformity to the moral or divine law;
3. Chaste;
(Webster’s 1928 American Dictionary of the American Language)

God’s standards of good have nothing to do with our personal or cultural preferences. Our virtuous qualities should measure up to His divine morality.

As Christian women, we are to be valuable and virtuous patterns of what God wants us to teach. This isn’t an optional “things to do” list that we accomplish when and how we feel like it. If we choose to opt out, we not only disobey God, we lead the next generation to disobey God too. I’m sure that’s not our desire, so let’s make next year the year we put Titus 2 to practice and anticipate the fruit it could yield.

Bring It Home
Are you excited about teaching good things next year?

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC