The title of our study comes from the pen of James. It is found in chapter 1, verse 22. We have been comparing what Paul wrote to Titus concerning “good deeds” to what James wrote. We will take an in-depth look at James 1 a little later in our study. As said in the previous two articles, Paul stresses “good deeds” six times in his brief letter to Titus. One of those is a negative stated this way: “worthless for any good deed” (1:16). The first of the five positives is seen in 2:7: “in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds.” The second example is found in 2:14. Paul writes this of Jesus: “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, ZEALOUS FOR GOOD DEEDS” (emphasis mine, LF). Zealous is a word found a number of times in the Bible. It means a “fervent active interest” in being a doer of the Word. I would strongly encourage you to read from verse 11 of chapter 2 through verse 15. Paul plainly states that salvation is available to all through the grace of God as seen in Jesus giving Himself for us. It ought to be that we say NO to ungodliness and worldly desires and YES to living sensibly, righteously and godly because we have been redeemed. We belong to Jesus and that is seen in our lives by our fervent active interest in doing good deeds.
To be redeemed means that we have become a Christian, a disciple, a follower of Christ. The Word of God has the power to create faith (Romans 10:17). Faith then leads one to repent, to confess Jesus as God’s Son, and to be buried with Him by baptism into His death (Romans 6:3-5). The baptized one is then raised to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), becoming a part of “a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” (Titus. 2:14).
Does that describe me? What about you? If not, why not? If you want to be involved, there is always a place, a role, an opportunity for you to be “a doer of the word, zealous for good deeds.” Retirement time is a major player in our world. But let us understand we never retire from being a Christian. And if a Christian, a doer of the word and zealous in that. I well know that those “golden years” often bring lots of difficulties which tend to slow us down. But even then there are ways to be involved. A sister in Christ who lives in another county in Mississippi wrote about making a phone call. She titled it: “A Phone Call.” Call and say, “I love you.” Call and say, “I care.” Call and say “I’m thinking of you.” Call and say, “I’ll be there.” Call when you are lonely. Call when you are blue. Call and say, “Is there anything I can do?” I will finish that listing in next week’s article, Lord willing. But certainly we should see there is something every one of us can do.
An example of good deeds! Zealous for good deeds! Or worthless for any good deed! Which of those statements describe me? What about you? Deliberation should help us focus on a priority check. May we be encouraged to be “doers of the word!”
— Les Ferguson Sr., South Huntington Church of Christ
