Titus 1:1 KJV
[1] “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
Paul throws us into deep waters right at the beginning of this epistle. He knew Titus personally as a friend and professionally as an apostle. As the servant of God, his goal is threefold in this verse. He wants to further the faith of God’s elect, promote the acknowledging of the truth, and produce true godliness.
The spirit of helping others is woven throughout the entire Christian life. God never intended for believers to walk alone in this world. Every Christian is both a recipient and a channel of grace. The encouragement we receive from God is meant to overflow into the lives of others. Sometimes the greatest help we can offer others is simply pointing them to Jesus.
We can’t solve every problem or remove hardships, but we can remind people of God’s faithfulness. We can remind those who are discouraged that God has not abandoned them. We can testify that His grace is sufficient even in weakness.
Helping others along life’s way does not require perfection. Many believers hesitate to encourage others because they feel inadequate themselves. Yet God frequently uses imperfect people to strengthen one another. Paul openly acknowledged his weakness and struggles. He constantly reminded others of his dependence upon God’s grace. He allowed others to see that the power was never in himself. The power to help others was in Christ working through a surrendered life.
We may never fully know on this side of eternity how much our encouragement mattered to someone who was close to giving up. A kind word, a faithful prayer, or a listening ear can help someone make it further down the road of life. We must live by example to help strengthen the brother or sister who may be struggling today.