Women, Teach What is Good

​Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Titus 2:3-5

Within 24 hours I had three separate women bring up the topic of Titus 2:3-5 to me at three separate times.  When repetition like this occurs, I pay attention.  What is going on that the Lord has the minds of these Christian women thinking along the same pathways?  It displays a need, a longing for God’s Word to be acted upon in this area.  This should not surprise believers in the least.  We are told that the same Spirit dwells in each of us.  When we participate with the Spirit we are united “by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Phil. 2:2. Yeah, that is awesome.

So, Christian women, dwell on these verses with me.  Are they alive and active in your life today? Are you in a relationship of teaching and learning?  Do you have a spiritual mother-daughter relationship to turn to for guidance and godly counsel?  I really hope so.  This is how the Church should look. 

The above verses were given to Titus from Paul. Paul was instructing Titus on how to put in order a church structure that would bring about proper teaching and instruction in the Lord. This structure of older women teaching the younger women was one of those important structures.  We have strayed far from this in our modern churches. We are content to know that other women are Christians and they will understand eventually. They will struggle, but they will get it if they keep coming to church.

This is not what God has instructed of us!  Older women are to  be actively involved in the godly growth of the younger women of the church.  I would even use the heavy word “responsible” here.  Did you read that list above?  These are serious life issues!  We are dealing with: behavior, slandering, drinking, marriage, parenting, self-control, purity, work, kindness, and our heart attitude in submission.  Paul is nailing the life of a woman here and he was a single man (another proof of the Godly inspiration of scripture!). 

Oh, how I longed to have someone in my life that would pour godly truths into me when I was younger.  Do you have this same longing now?  Or has God brought you through life circumstances and provided you with wisdom that you could be sharing with others?  You are never given wisdom that is not meant to be shared.  Neither are you ever brought through fire that is not meant to also help someone other than you.

So my encouragement today is to seek it and be it.  Younger women, seek out a godly influence in your life from an older Christian woman.  Be bold and ask them directly to help you figure out what it looks like to serve God well as a woman.

Older woman, be that wisdom-giving mother that so many young Christians long for.  You may not have all the answers, but you know the One who does.  Share what God has given you freely.  Keep this in mind - every Christian woman is an “older woman” to someone.  This may be a daughter, a niece, or other young girls in the church.  Make it a habit now to teach them about Jesus and how to live for him.

Have we failed at this?  Yes, many of us have and I put myself at the front of that line.  However, our failures never negate God’s faithfulness.  His instructions remain, so start now.  Seek out those relationships and teach what is good and learn what is good.  Why?  The same scripture gives the answer: “that the word of God may not be reviled.”  That is what all good teaching comes down to - God’s word is true and good and it is the textbook for our lives.  Obey his word and thrive.  Go now be mothers, go now and be daughters.