Christmas Day, 2019, my wife and I were driving around for a late night dinner date in the Miami suburbs. That was, until a drunk driver rear-ended us.
(But don’t worry, we were fine)
Oddly enough, one cop did not seem ok.
The officer looked like a man counting down the minutes until freedom. When I asked about his retirement, he didn’t hesitate: “Five years couldn’t come fast enough!”
It’s easy to judge that bitterness, yet many of us approach our vocations with a similar spirit. We treat work as a sentence to be served rather than a mission to be lived. Our logic is simple:
- Secure the paycheck (the higher, the better).
- Apply the skills (as long as it’s tolerable).
This sergeant is a cautionary tale. He chose the “security” of a job he hated over the adventure of God’s purpose, and now he is paying for that security with his joy.
As a young believer considering full-time missions, I remember experiencing a kind of decision paralysis. I felt the weight of my entire life’s course rushed upon one decision in my 20s. And if I got that wrong, I’d somehow let God down.
To help break us of this kind of thinking, I want to look at the life of Titus as a missionary biographical case study for considering role changes in God’s mission. God has preserved a surprising account of these movements in Scripture.
My aim is to shift our thinking from fixating on one missionary job to cultivating our traits and gifts so we can discover many doors God might open for us in the mission.
Considering Titus
There is not a lot out there on Titus.
But there is a surprising amount of moments he is mentioned in the New Testament.
What’s notable for us to see is that we can actually identify several of Titus’ missionary jobs and see how God uses our traits to unleash us to serve in multiple ways.
Role 1: The Learner
Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem
with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
Galatians 2:1
I use the word “Learner” here for a reason. Following God’s mission might look like following someone else’s mission (like Paul) for a time.
Think about it.
While it was likely Paul’s custom to hand select guys like Titus (see Acts 16:3), Titus chose to graft himself into Paul’s mission. Paul’s lifework was explicitly from Jesus, and affirmed by the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15-16; 26:17-18; Galatians 1:15-16; Ephesians 3). This mission is so often associated with Paul (which of course is right and true). But here we see Titus being welcomed into Paul’s work.
If we follow the pronouns in Galatians 2:1-5, we see that Paul’s work became Titus’ work. Here’s the pattern we see: John had followers. Jesus had followers. Paul has his own followers. But we will see just how God will direct Titus in this work.
Don’t be afraid to trust God even if you don’t feel like you’ll be doing this exact work in ten years. Be content to be someone’s “plus one” as you begin your missions journey.
Role 2: The News-Bearer
But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he received from you.
He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow, and your zeal for me,
so that I rejoiced even more.
2 Corinthians 7:6-7
Titus was sent to Macedonia to bring news that refreshed Paul’s spirit. He wasn’t preaching to thousands; he was a “cup of cold water” to a tired leader.
Titus’ second job was the “I showed up with some good news” job. Consider the context. Paul had delivered a severe letter to the Corinthians. He was awaiting news of their response. This news was completely in Titus’ hands. Titus was the go-between between Paul and the Corinthians.
Notice, two things comforted Paul:
- Titus, by himself, brought Paul comfort.
- The news also comforted Titus.
This might have been, perhaps, the news and visit Paul longed for from Titus back in Troas (2 Corinthians 2:13).
Consider this: God comforted Paul and his team by Titus’ arrival. Being useful to God in the kingdom isn’t dependent on a job. It’s determined by serving specific needs.
Role 3: The Logistics Specialist
So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you…Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice.
2 Corinthians 8:6, 16-17
Titus served here as a fund-collector.
There was a need which arose in Macedonia and the Corinthians had previously committed to stepping up with finances to help.
Titus’ task was to be the go-between. He’d collect the funds from the Corinthians and bring them to Macedonia.
He and another arose to this need.
I see two things God does that resemble Titus’ life here. God puts people on our hearts (2 Corinthians 8:16) along with clear opportunities to embrace missions, in particular, not general.
Next, we come to a tall order from Paul to Titus.
Role 4: Church Establisher in Crete
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.
Titus 1:5
Titus’ fourth major role was to establish the church in Crete (which we see is spread out in various towns).
Crete was in chaos. Without elders established, the church needed some structure. Notice, nowhere does it ever say Titus or Timothy were ever Pastors themselves. Here we see again, a need arose, and someone trustworthy to the veteran missionary was found skillful, worthy, and wise enough to handle such a task.
Titus would now be entrusted with putting a system in place for the church. This would have included expectations for roles and behaviors.
As we build trust in the mission, God gives us the right amount of ministry we can dependently handle.
Role 5: The Partner
When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
Titus 3:12
Notice that Paul didn’t expect Titus to be in the church-establisher role forever. There would at least be some kind of break to jump into a role like number 5.
Without any explanation, Paul desired his co-laborer, Titus, to join him. We can assume Artemas or Tychicus would have supplied what was lacking in Crete while Titus would have been absent.
Be careful not to belittle mere requests or invitations from missionaries to join them in their fields.
The Pattern
When we peel back the layers of missionary movement, we notice a pattern:
1. God
God is responsible for granting us our interests and love for certain things or people (2 Corinthians 8:16).
He works through you (2 Corinthians 7:6). And he works through the direction set by leaders you trust to follow.
2. Missional Mentors
What don’t find in the New Testament are young people signing up to go to the nations. We do find them being faithful and fruitful locally first. Then we see other missionaries taking notice and urging them to join their work (Titus 3:12; 2 Corinthians 8:2; 12:18).
Missional mentors take you places (Galatians 2:1), they are involved in sending you and giving ministry directions (Titus 3:12). They might leave you somewhere to do a work without them present (Titus 1:5).
3. Yourself
Paul viewed Titus as a partner, co-worker, helper, and family member (2 Corinthians 8:23; Titus 1:4). Titus’s value in filling these five roles stemmed primarily from his ability to partner with Paul as a shadow worker, closely following Paul’s example.
Be a trustworthy worker and a lover of people.
Embrace your sovereignly embedded gifts.
Follow the leaders (Galatians 2:1). Accept their offers and choose the work (2 Corinthians 8:17). Follow their input and advice. Work the plan you are currently in. Embrace the tasks and projects as they come.
What’s underneath these roles?
Given this overview of Titus’ mission movements, what should you focus on?
- Take comfort that your mission work will shift.
- Follow the input and open doors that naturally open through the needs presented.
- Cultivate God’s gifts he’s given you. Titus’ name means “nurse.” He acted as such, as a go-between churches and Paul and Paul to churches!
- Be a trustworthy worker, a beloved partner, and a lover of people
- Acknowledge God as the one who puts your love for others in your heart.
At the end of the day, I see two kinds of kingdom people. The first rides the wave of God’s mission; they get bumped around and redirected, but they are alive in the movement. The second suffers from decision paralysis that eventually costs them their joy.
Both will face a “car crash” one day; a moment where their plans are rear-ended by reality. But while one is phased by the wreck (because it’s all he has), the other isn’t shaken. Like Titus, they know that when one role ends, the Great Sovereign simply has another door waiting to be opened.
