Man Up!
- Paul Venturo
- Jan 15
- 2 min read
One of the joys of our backpacking trips (see here, here, here, here, and here) is studying a book of the Bible together. On a recent trip to Joshua Tree National Park, we studied the book of Titus. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to “put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town” (1:5). After giving qualifications for elders in Chapter 1, Paul turns his attention to instruction that Titus was to provide to other members of the church. Paul divides the church into four groups: older men, older women, young men, and young women. He gives a list of exhortations for each group except for young men.
For young men he gives only one admonition — to be “sober-minded" (2:6 KJV). Why only one? Is it because young men can only focus on one thing at a time? Maybe. Or maybe it’s that if young men can get this one thing right, then everything else will fall into place.
So what does it mean to be sober-minded? An illustration from the life of Jesus may help. In Luke 8:26-39, Jesus meets a man possessed by a legion of demons. The man was living in the graveyard with no clothes. He would break the shackles placed on him and run into the wilderness. He was completely out of his mind, out of control. Jesus sends the demons out of the man into a herd of pigs that immediately run into the river and kill themselves.
When the townspeople come to see what is going on, they find the man “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind” (Luke 8:35). Instead of being out of control, the man was in complete control of himself. The phrase “in his right mind” is the same Greek word found in Titus 2:5 translated as "sober-minded," or, as other translations put it, “self controlled."
So the singular command for young men in Titus 2 is to be in control of their lives. To live intentional, purposeful lives. To keep their bodies, minds, spirit, and ambitions in control.
Young men are so often out of control, giving in to the lust of their flesh, neglecting responsibilities for fun, allowing evil to go on, or chasing many other foolish things. The apostle Paul said that when he became a man he put away childish things (I Corinthians 13:11). It’s time to stop acting like boys. Take control of yourself and act like men!
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked "KJV" are from the King James Version of the Bible.
