Daily Devotional – Thursday, February 2, 2023
And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
Titus 3:14 (Berean Standard Bible)
Critics of Christianity often argue that Christianity is not a practical religion. They opine that all Christians do is pray and do nothing practical about life. As if anticipating such censure, Apostle Paul taught how to be a fruitful Christian to the early church members.
Productive Believers
In concluding the Epistle to Titus, the apostle instructs this church leader, “Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.” (Titus 3:13). Paul expects Titus and his church to take care of the needs of the two servants of God.
In both Judaism and Christianity, it was the responsibility of ordinary worshippers to give tithes and offerings to support God’s work. Consequently, personnel in fulltime service of God would lack nothing. This gave them time to work fully in the ministry.
Dynamic Followers
How were the believers in Crete, where Titus ministered, to achieve this ideal? Paul provided the solution and it involved a change in attitude. He wrote to Titus, “And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3:14).
The solution lay in engagement in diligent, noble and honest work. As the verse suggests, this was not a common practice among the Cretans. From now henceforth, they would choose their trades carefully and devote themselves wholeheartedly in earning an honest living.
Representing Jesus at Work
Doing so would ensure they would give generously to aid gospel work, including the pressing needs of church ministers and needy believers. That was Paul’s definition of fruitfulness in the context of spreading the Good News.
Like the Cretans, modern Christians have a duty to represent Jesus through their occupations and businesses. Honest labour in a God-sanctioned profession is a practical demonstration of the saving grace of God working in our lives.
How to be a Fruitful Christian
Because God blesses the works of our hands, we will use the proceeds of our labours to support local church projects, evangelism, needy people, and missionary work. That is God’s counsel on how to be a fruitful Christian.
Can you define yourself as a productive Christian? Would you be comfortable and happy if Jesus came to your workplace for a day? Do you support the work of God with your material wealth and other resources like time?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to be fruitful in the work you have given me and in supporting the advancement of Your kingdom in the world.
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Amen ..To bear fruits we must be connected to Jesus the true Vine.
He says “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit” John 15:5
May God help me to abide in Him and He in me,so I can bear much fruits in everything I do.
Good prayer, Doc. May God hear you.