Titus 2:2-"Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance."
I've been reading in the tiny book of Titus. This morning, I came across the above verse and just thought about it for a long while. Hopefully I'm not the only person who fixates on particular points in Scripture, but I couldn't get away from wondering why Paul listed so many things to teach to the older men. I wonder what age group would constitute being an older man? I know that Paul is giving instructions for Titus as he oversees and teaches in the churches that were planted. As I read further, I realized that Paul also gave instructions for teaching the younger men as well, but the only character point on his scope and sequence for the younger men was self-control, which is very important and very difficult to master. I'm guessing that if the younger men can exercise self-control, then the other character points will be more attainable as they age. But, how do you teach an older man to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled and sound in faith, love, and endurance? Doesn't it take years to work those things into the fabric of your being? So I began thinking of my own life, and the life of the "older" man I live with--the man I am honored to call my husband and the man my kids call dad.
My mind has wandered this week to all of the wonderful things my husband has done over the years for his family and I've been so grateful to God for giving him to me over 26 years ago. I understand that none of us are ever perfect and our lives are journeys of growth and we will never achieve any kind of perfection on this side of eternity. So let me be clear--I am not idolizing my husband. I just want to honor him for walking with Jesus all of these years and allowing the Holy Spirit to work those character traits in the above text into his life. When I think of someone who is temperate, it's him. Does he lose his temper? At times. Can he be opinionated? Can't we all? But he is moderate in this area. So, temperate...check. When I think of someone worthy of respect, it's him. He has managed to grow a family of 3 boys who respect him immensely. He has walked his talk for years and has been one of the most intentional fathers I have ever known. His sons go to him for advice and actually respect him enough to actually listen to him. We all esteem him for being excellent in his role as a father and a husband. So, worthy of respect...check. When I think of someone who is self-controlled and sound in faith, love, and endurance, it's definitely him. He has never been excessive in any area. And when it comes to being sound in his faith, I have seen him weather some of the most frightful storms in life. I know this because I have been beside him and weathered them as well. But instead of losing his faith and walking away, he has held hard to the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Sound in faith...check. Over the years, he has been sound in his love for his Savior, his wife, and his kids. It's a challenge to love people at times. There are different sides to us all and it can be difficult to love all of them. But, we all have to choose to love and that's what he has done. He has loved me through many of my most unloving behaviors. He has loved his boys through toddlerhood, adolescence, and into their adult lives like a champ. Sound in love...check. And finally he has been sound in enduring, it's him again. It takes determination and a strong will to endure and not give up when the going gets tough. When it would have been easier to throw in the towel and walk away, he has chosen to stay and persevere. When it would have been easier to shift blame to something or someone else, he has chosen to accept responsibility, even for things that weren't always his fault. He calls it "falling on his sword". When it may have been easier to bend the rules and get ahead in business, he has chosen to remain truthful and honest. Sound in endurance...check.
So, I honor my husband and the father of my children in my heart today. Thank you for emulating the qualities Paul spoke of in Titus 2:2 and for being the patriarch of our family through thick and thin all of these years. Lance Welch, you are my treasure.
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