Marsha's Musings: Why Is Sound Doctrine Important? (Titus 2:1-5 NKJV)

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. (Titus 2:1-5 NKJV)

So here is one answer to why sound doctrine is important.  It has to do with how we live and treat others.

As a result of sound doctrine, here are some things that should happen:

Older men will be

1. sober

2. reverent

3. sound in faith

4. sound in love

5. sound in patience

Older women will be

1. all of the above

2. reverent in behavoir

3. not slanderers

4. not given to much wine

5. teachers of good things

6. love their husbands

7. love their children

8. be descreet

9. be chaste

10. be homemakers

11. be good

12. be obedient to their own husbands

13. teach the younger women the things above.

Goodness!  The list for the women is so much longer!  Why do you suppose it is?

In observing my own weaknesses and sins, I think I see why the list for us women is longer.  We have difficulty with out tongues.  Reverence is ruined if our tongues are wagging in slander.  If we are nagging our husbands and children, is this showing our love for them, or is it showing our irritation that they have crossed up our convinience?  How do we dress and carry ourselves in public? Are we drawing attention to ourselves in the way we dress or talk?  Homemaking often goes lacking.  Why?  We find too many other things to do and our homes suffer.  I am guilty as charged.  Obedience to our husbands is an area that women's lib has effectivily brainwashed us to not do.  Do we check with our husbands before making a decision that might affect him even indirectly?  How often do we just go off deciding to get involved in this or that with no thought of what our husbands might think about it?  Ouch.  This hurts.

I can hear someone saying, "But you don't know my husband!  He is unreasonable.  He is lazy and won't do anything. Why should I obey him or ask him what his opionion is and if I should do such and such?"  

Why?  So that the word of God will not be blasphemed.