Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

When I see this verse I think differently than the editors of scriptures. That’s me, I think differently. Every translation says either aged men or old me. I on the other hand know men that have just come to the Lord in their 70’s and 80’s. So this is how I look at this verse.

Aged steaks have nothing to do with how old the cow was at the time of its butchering. It has everything to do with what you do to the meat after the death of the cow.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The cow is dead but the steak is new and needs to be aged. So we, having died with Christ, are become new and need to begin the aging process. That is why everyone born again, regardless of age, begin as babes in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

There are some that resent being talked to like they are babies. That is a sign for a need for maturity. Paul speaks to them in the only terms they understand, carnal. We. Like the new born, may receive and feel the love, but have not learned yet how to give love in return.

Like a new born those first moments of rebirth are all about learning what it means to be alive.

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

We recently had a man leave our church with this explanation. “You have no room for my ministry.” He was absolutely right. He would not heed our warnings, would not receive instruction, and lacked Godly wisdom. He sought promotion based on self-interest. This passage above says “that we may present”. The meaning may not be perfectly clear but the idea is promotion.

It is our duty to the ministry to raise up Godly men to take over the work of the ministry because we grow older and need to make preparations for our end of service. The ministry will go on, but in the best interests of the congregation, men need to be prepared and presented that are mature and Godly.

Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

His workings, meaning God at work. The work of the ministry is done by God not by self-seeking men who refuse to grow in the Lord.

Did that man belong to the Lord? That is not for me to say, but if we cannot see God at work in him, then promotion had to be withheld.

Here is a hint about desire: Old Testament men used mightily of God didn’t want to do it. Moses, Gideon, and Jonah all had to be convinced one way or another to serve God.

Your service to God will often begin with a reluctant thought. I can’t. I don’t want to. I am not ready. All these thoughts and more have come to mind in men and women who I have seen serve with joy and effectiveness as they grow in Christ and are readied for promotion.