The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
Titus 1:5
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I really hate unfinished business. I was taught that you never finish a job without finishing it. The job is never done until you put everything away that you got out for any particular job.
Next time you come over to our house and I cook, just watch. I get everything out and cook up a storm. But that’s only half the job. There’s not just washing up the pots, pans, dishes, and silverware. Oh no. It doesn’t stop till everything’s put back where it came from.
If there was a camera where you could watch me write this daily devotional, you’d see this in action again. Yes, I get up and down. Yes, I go get more coffee. Yes, I moved clothes from the washer to the dryer. Yes, I let the dog out to do her business.
But I’m always hovering around my office. I keep coming back. Back to my laptop. As I’m doing something else, thoughts come racing into my mind like a rainstorm. I just can’t help myself. I’ve got to keep coming back until it’s finished. Until there’s nothing else left to do.
For some reason, Paul had to leave the island of Crete. But there was stuff that still needed to get done. There were things to do. There was unfinished business. Yes, Paul had to go, but he was going to make sure that the really important stuff got done.
When Paul left, not everything had been put in order. Not everything was in its proper place. Some things hadn’t been set up. There were things that needed to be straightened out. There were things to do so that the young church could grow and thrive.
That’s why Paul left Titus in Crete. There was work to be done. But not just anyone could do it. He couldn’t call in a church consultant to do it. HE also couldn’t just set up a social media group for people to sign up to get it done. It required someone who’d been around. Who knew the ropes. Someone who was experienced and mature in their faith.
And what’s the main thing that needed to be done? What’s the most important unfinished business that Paul wants Titus to complete? It’s not to build churches in every town. It’s not for every church to have a website. It’s not for each church to have a social media presence. It’s not even for every church to have a show on a Christian cable network.
I know it sounds boring and unimportant, but the single most important thing that Paul wants Titus to do is to appoint elders in every town. Did I just hear you yawn? Did you reach for your phone to check your social media feeds?
This doesn’t sound exciting in the least. Appointing elders sounds like picking up teams at the neighborhood basketball court. This guy looks good, I’ll pick him. I’ve seen this one shoot the lights out, they’re for me. And why do we pick the people we do? Because they help us win! To have bragging rights.
But Paul knows something that we either don’t know or just ignore it. Each church of Jesus Christ is just a short time away from extinction. If you just leave it alone, it will die. If you don’t feed and take care of it, each church will curl up in a ball, shrivel up, and die.
Each church needs local leadership and leaders to guide it. Take care of it. To make decisions and give directions. Live a life that’s an example to the church and the community. Feed the people God’s word and how to live it. Reach out to the community. Welcome new believers and bring them up in the faith.
And part of what leaders do is to make sure that the only kind of teaching that goes on inside the church is consistent with who Jesus is and God’s word. They are to make sure that no false teaching is there to poison the hearts and minds of the people they are responsible for.
These leaders need to be looked at closely. What do they believe? What do they teach? And then the biggie: does their life reflect who Jesus is? Do their words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes look and sound like Jesus has really invaded their life? Are they changed by God? Are they still being changed by God?
Leaders are people that lead. And to lead, they have to be in front of people. They have to speak up so others can hear. They have to be seen to lead. Their words must have the weight of authority. They have to sound like they’re worthy of following.
Which brings up the question, what unfinished business does God have for you? What are the things that God wants to build into your life so that you’re in a position to help others come to Jesus? To follow Jesus all the days of their lives. Now, that’s some unfinished business.
Noodling Questions
Give three examples where you have unfinished business.
Why is selecting and establishing leaders so important in Jesus’ church?
Describe two good church leaders that you know. What made them good?
Comments