Legacy Building
“Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.”
Instant gratification has become a driver of our culture. Post a picture and instantly pull to refresh for likes and comments. Snaps, Tweets and all social media has built this instantaneous need for affirmation and gratification. Same is true with our diet culture, the need for instant results, weight loss in days not weeks or months. I could go on, and on but I think you get the point. The challenge is, when it come to true change, lasting change, we never see sustainable long lasting change from short term thinking. We might need a quick burst of motivation and energy towards addressing a situation, but the quick burst must be partnered with a long term and sustainable plan to see real and lasting results.
Paul, as he is directing and guiding Titus he understands this principle. You see, the culture in Crete was absolutely horrific. Paul recognized for real change to happen, for this city and group of people to really experience true change a focus on the long game was needed. Check out how Paul approaches this with Titus:
“You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” - Titus 2:1-10 NIV
The first thing we read is absolutely critical as a leader, it goes back to sound doctrine. We as leaders must build our leadership and principles on Christ, and let all areas we lead receive the light of Christ through us. Are we modeling it?
Next, we see this powerful legacy leaving approach from Paul. See the approach of teaching the older and wiser men and women of the community. Paul specifically uses the word “Teach” when he addresses the older men and women because pressing Gods word into these older people will build the right culture of replication. Teaching the older, and then pressing into them to reproduce themselves and teach others. This long game, legacy building approach is the only way to see long term results in a city and community.
We see Paul call this out, being a model of the Gospel in verse 7.
“In everything set them an example by doing what is good...” - Titus 2:7a NIV
This really hits home to me. I understand words mean a lot when it comes to teaching...being grounded in God’s word and pouring into others with wise words and council. However, I have learned over the years that my actions, and the example I set by how I live, what I do day in and day out speaks monumentally more. In fact, all the words and teaching that comes out can be undone immediately by my actions not reflecting my words. As leaders, it’s mission critical to understand that everything we do is being observed and processed so we must set th right example.
Then, Paul changes direction in verse 11. A single sentence to summarize the Gospel, and guides toward the truth of Christ.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” - Titus 2:11 NIV
Titus chapter 2 is a wonderful teaching and model for leadership...a leadership that is focused on legacy building and being focused on the long game of sustainable transformation. Leadership that is build on the Gospel, that is fueled by the Gospel and modeled by the Gospel. Dive into Titus 2 today...it’s powerful.