Jump Start # 3187

 Titus 3:14 “And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin has an enrollment of 1,500 students. Of that number, 52% of the student body has signed up to take one particular class. It’s the most popular class in the school’s history. The class is entitled, “Do nothing.” More than half of the university wants to learn how to “Do Nothing.”

There are so many layers of questions and concerns that comes to my mind. How can there be homework in a class called, “Do nothing?” Is it possible to flunk “Do nothing?” How does one teach, “Do nothing?” It seems that if there was one thing our culture understand perfectly, it is how to do nothing. A parent walks in a room and his teens are glued to their phones. Dad says, “What’s going on?” You know the answer, “Nothin’.”Why is a university teaching young people how to do nothing? Maybe they ought to teach them how to excel. Maybe they ought to teach them how to achieve. Do nothing leads to indifference and laziness.

The one talent man in Matthew 25 did just that, nothing. He buried his talent in the ground. The master called him wicked, lazy and worthless. What he had was taken from him. He was cast into the outer darkness of punishment.

In our passage today, the apostle tells the Titus, “let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs.” Doing nothing isn’t in the vocabulary of a disciple of Jesus. We need to be busy busting it for the kingdom. Hard working preachers, busy in the church shepherds, diligent deacons, Bible class teachers who are going out of their way, members who are engaged in serving others—that’s the heart of our fellowship and what makes our connections so powerful.

Engaging in good deeds is something that we need to learn. This is something that needs to be taught. We need to be studying how to do good deeds not how to do nothing. It’s easy to do nothing. Nothing is required to do nothing. But to do good deeds you have to think of others. You have to make plans and find ways to lift the burdens of others.

Here are some thoughts:

First, as disciples of Jesus, doing nothing ought never be said of us. We don’t all preach nor need to preach. We can’t all shepherd. We are all public teachers. But there are many other wonderful and powerful things that can be done. Taking food, giving rides, calling, texting, writing others, being a fresh air of encouragement to others—these are the things that truly make a difference.

In the hymn, “I gave My life for thee,” the chorus pointedly asks, “What hast thou giv’n for Me?” And, how would we answer that question? “Nothing.” Have we done any more than just show up for worship? Our people must learn to engage in good deeds. Get busy. Find your talent.

Second, it seems that everyone is afraid of the younger generation and they are catering to their selfish ways. Rather than do nothing, I think of the woman who anointed Jesus and the Lord said, “She has done what she could.” Doing what you can do, would be a much better class to offer. Do nothing will not help society. Do nothing will not make families stronger. Do nothing won’t build business. Do nothing is the death of a church. Won’t anyone stand up and scream, “Enough!” Won’t anyone be brave enough to say, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” Won’t anyone declare, when you come into this congregation, here is what is expected of you? A culture of do nothing Christians leads to indifference in the Lord.

Third, how can we as disciples do nothing when we look to our Savior who did so much. But there are some things that Jesus won’t do. You have to do them. Jesus won’t give you faith. He will give you the reasons to believe, but belief is something that comes from us. Jesus won’t live your life for you. You have to make the choices that reflect faith in the Lord. Jesus shows us why we ought to follow Him. He shows us the consequences if we don’t follow Him. But, in the end, each of us must decide that for ourselves. Jesus won’t pick you up out of bed on Sunday morning and carry you down to the church house. You have to do that. Jesus won’t make you worship. You have to do that.

Have you ever noticed that in the Gospels you never find a verse that reads, “Today, Jesus did nothing.” On this day, Jesus took the day off, and nothing was accomplished. Nope. You won’t find anything like that. Always teaching. Always on the move. Always helping. Always being the Savior. Always.

And, as His people, we must work until He stops us. If you want to retire from your secular job, great. Don’t even think about retiring from what you can do in the kingdom. Maybe time and age keeps you from doing some things, but there is always something you can do for the Lord. Always.

A class on Do Nothing. Next there will be a college degree in “Doing Nothing.” The times we live in sure are messed up. Come, Lord Jesus!

Roger

Jump Start # 1363

Titus 3:14 “Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.”

This is one of the last things Paul wrote in his words to Titus. It was something for Titus to put on his “To-Do” list. This is what the people need. This is something that must be done.

There are a few thoughts here:

First, Paul refers to the brethren as “Our people.” That is a special and unique expression. Peter often used the word, “Beloved.” The term “brethren” is used numerous times in Scriptures. But “Our People,” has a special ring to it. We belong to one another. We are connected. We might say, “Our house.” We often pray, bless  “Our daily bread.” Our time. Our work. Our. Brethren are our people. I like that. We understand “our people,” regionally. People from different regions often have a hard time understanding the way people talk and their mannerisms. Here in Indiana, we speak a form of “Hoosier hick.” We have our expressions that are understood by Hoosiers but if you are not from here, they don’t make much sense. All regions are like that. I’ve been to Texas several times. Will be traveling there again very soon. In Texas, a person can say, “Bless your heart,” and then say whatever they feel like. For instance, in Texas, you could say, “Bless your heart, you were just born ugly weren’t you?” Not only will the person not be offended, most times, he’d agree with you. He’d reply, “I sure was.” “Bless your heart, you married ugly didn’t you.” The reply, “Yep, she’s ugly clear to the bone.” Say those things in Indiana and you best be running because someone is going to hit you.

Our brethren—that’s us. We are the spiritual family of Christ. Sure we have warts and scars and we can be a bit odd but these are our people. We love them to death. They are the best people on the face of the earth. We understand each other, like each other, and wouldn’t have it any other way. Our people!

Second, there are pressing needs that only good deeds can take care of. Our people have pressing needs. The idea of pressing means important. These are not things that can be put on the back burner. These are not the things that we hope to get around too sooner or later. No, they are pressing. They are priority one. They need to be attended to immediately. Paul doesn’t tell us what those pressing needs are. We can understand from our times and our people what some might be.

A discouraged heart needs attention or it will quit.

A troubled marriage needs attention or it will end.

A broken heart needs attention or it will be crushed with pain.

A prodigal coming home needs attention or he might return to the far county.

A question needs attention or a person might feel that they do not matter.

A troubled teen needs attention or he might go off the deep end.

When there was a complaint among the disciples in Acts 6, the apostles looked into the matter. They came up with a solution. It wasn’t ignored. It wasn’t tossed to the side. Jesus was often interrupted with pressing matters. A dying girl. A leprous hand. A stormy journey across the sea. Jesus never said, “Quit bothering Me.” He looked into pressing matters.

Congregations have pressing matters. It frustrates “our people,” when those things are not dealt with. Some folks move slow. Some folks think slow. Some folks don’t understand “pressing.” Leadership must take charge and deal with pressing matters.

Third, these pressing matters would be taken care of by “good deeds.” Our brethren were the ones who were doing the good deeds. The passage ends with a reminder that we are not to be unfruitful. In John’s Gospel, Jesus said that the branch that did not bear fruit was cut off and thrown into the fire. It was expected to bear fruit. In the parable of the talents, the one talent man got into trouble because he had only buried what was given to him. He had not done anything. God expects His children, our people, to be fruitful. The discouraged needs the encourager. Those with questions need those with answers. Those that are hurting need those who can heal. Those that are troubled need those who can see better days ahead. Busy doing good deeds. Busy serving others. Busy helping our people.

Now, to do this well, one must be willing to give up some of his time. He must be willing to think about others and not just himself. He must use what he can to help others.

Fourth, our people must be taught to engage in good deeds. This tells us that these things are not natural. These things do not just happen. We must learn. We learn by looking at Jesus, the one who truly had the heart of a servant. We learn by studying Scriptures. We learn by looking at others.

I wonder how many congregations have set aside a series of classes to teach others how to engage in good deeds? We may think that people will just know. They don’t. They must be taught. They have to learn. It may be that some pressing needs are not met because others are not doing good deeds because they don’t know what to do. What do you say to someone who has lost a loved one? What do you say to a young mother whose husband has left her? What do you say to someone who is thinking about quitting? Do you shout at them? Do you pound Scriptures down them? Do you hand them a sermon CD? Do you run and tell the shepherds? What do you do? Learn. Be taught. Understand.

Hebrews tells us that we need to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. There is that phrase again, “good deeds.” Stimulate one another. Teach one another. Our people need some help here. Our people will get it once they understand.

Much to chew on in this one simple passage. How are you doing with it? Are you meeting the pressing needs of others?

Roger