But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
Titus 3:9
It doesn’t matter whatever you buy, if it has a manual, then the first section is always what not to do. It lists all the things that you shouldn’t do with it. There will be great big warning (⚠) and not (X) symbols with long lists of things that you should never, ever do with it.
This first came to my attention not long after we moved to Connecticut. Our property had lots of trees on it and I got the idea in my head that I could cut some down and warm the house with them. So, to be more efficient and manly, I bought a chainsaw.
Now it should be mentioned right up front that I’m a city kid. I was raised on the streets and sidewalks of Baltimore. I avoided walking on grass or dirt at all costs. And the idea of driving on something other than a paved street was just out of the question. To this day, I’ll park far away and walk just so I can put the car on a paved surface of concrete or asphalt. After all, I wouldn’t want to get dirt or grass on my tires.
Anyway, I bought this frightening piece of technology against my better judgement. So, the first thing I did was to sit down with this thing that people used in horror movies and read the instruction manual. I figured that the best way to avoid cutting my leg off was to read about the right way to use it.
As I sat down with the Operator’s Manual[1], I was speechless. I tried to count all the warnings but got lost in an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. Was there any way to use this thing without hurting someone? The rules for how to drop a tree required advanced degrees in math and physics.
So, with this deep sense of frustration and fear, I took the chainsaw out and cut down a tree. I have to tell you that I still hold the world record for the longest amount of time to cut down a tree. A record that I’m not very proud of, but I did walk away with all my limbs and fingers.
Like the chainsaw manual, Paul tells Titus that there are some things to avoid. When he sees these things, Titus is commanded to turn away from them. His life is to be one of constantly avoiding these four things.
And why? Because these four things are foolish. They bring no value or help to life. They are like a dull knife – all you’ll do is waste your very limited and valuable time and energy. Since arguing about these four things are stupid to begin with, wasting time and energy quarrelling about these things will make you stupid too.
Controversies. These are meaningless questions that aren’t important at all. It’s arguing and debating just for the purpose of talking. There’s no value of changing of a life from these questions.
Genealogies. While tracing your ancestry can be interesting, it doesn’t make you any better or worse. It’s not important who your relative were in the past, but what kind of a person you are right now.
Arguments. Certain people just like to “stir the pot” when it comes to certain topics. They live with their hand on the arguing button of life. They just love to agitate people, getting everyone angry and frustrated.
Quarrels about the law. These people don’t just use words, they actually want to fight about something. They’re not happy unless some blood is spilt over something.
So, why does Paul tell Titus and us to avoid arguing about these things? Because it’s a complete waste of time. It has no real purpose other than to stir people up. The end results are unprofitable and useless. Nothing gets accomplished. No one leaves their life of rebellion against God and turns to him through Jesus. No lives are changed.
I think we’d all agree that there’s not enough time in the day to do all the things that we want to do. There’s lots of pressure to get so many things done, but there’s not enough hours in the day to accomplish them.
Since we can’t make more hours in the day, the first thing we need to do is admit that we’re not going to get everything done that we want. The only alternative is to eliminate things from our list of things to do. We need to cut things out of our schedule.
And for some people like me, we need to admit to God and ourselves that we’ve made accomplishing things into a god. That we’ve turned away from the God who love us and towards a god that we can impress by how much we do. I have a long history of worshiping at the alter to this false god. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to get down on my knees and confess this great sin against God.
But the really good news is that God is faithful. He forgives and washes me clean through the blood of Jesus[2]. His loving forgiveness makes me want to follow him more closely each and every day. And avoiding these things is near the top of the list for me. Is it for you?
Noodling Questions
Do you run towards or away from warnings? Why?
Which of the four foolish things cause the greatest trouble in life? Explain.
How can admitting our failure and sin empower us to live for God?
[2] 1 John 1:9
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