Titus' Milestones To Maturity, Part 1
PJ Smyth
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Ever wondered how Titus went from zero to hero—from an unknown nobody to one of the most respected apostolic figures in the New Testament? I can spot three distinct milestones that he passed that we can imitate.
Milestone 1: Show Up and Be Willing
Titus first appears in scripture in Galatians 2:1 as the tag-on team member to Jerusalem. Paul introduces Titus saying, "Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me." Titus is not the main guy. He is not even the number two guy. He is the tag-on guy. Not George Michael but, uh, the other one.
Titus got involved because Paul asked him to join in, and Titus said yes. Isn't this usually how it all starts, with our attachment being more to the leader than to God? "Sure, I will help you put out the chairs" or "Lead a small group? I'll give it a go but please help me!" Milestone 1 is simply to show up and be willing. Good things begin to happen to people who faithfully show up.
Milestone 2: Serve, Serve, Serve
It seems that Titus acquitted himself well on the trip to Jerusalem, so now Paul begins to push his buttons to see if he is willing to serve. The second time that we encounter Titus is when he is mentioned as the one that Paul asked to carry a letter to Corinth (2 Corinthians 7), a letter that scholars refer to as "the severe letter." He was the postman to Corinth carrying unpopular cargo—welcome to step two: willingness to do menial tasks.
Not being in the limelight tests whether we will represent our leader faithfully. Would the church in Corinth shoot the messenger? Would Titus distance himself from Paul's letter or represent him faithfully? The second milestone is the Copernican revolution that moves self away from the center of our universe and into service. Good things begin to happen to people who faithfully serve.
To be continued.
