For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time, in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope — the appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us to purchase our freedom from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people who should be specially His own, zealous for doing good works. Titus 2:11-14
“Now we also confess that God exists, but that He is One, the Creator, and Maker, and Fashioner of this universe; and we know that all things are arranged by His providence, but by Him alone. And we have learned a holy law; but we have as lawgiver Him who is really God, who teaches us to act righteously, and to be pious, and to do good.”
Theophilus of Antioch (c. 120-183) in Theophilus to Autolycus 3.10. Theophilus was bishop and overseer of the Christian Church in Antioch in the second century. Remember Antioch was the place Luke recounts that disciples of Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26).
Theophilus ministered in a time when pagans either credited a pantheon of gods for various aspects of life or they refused to believe in the existence of a God who created and sustains everything through His providence. Again, not much has changed in 18 centuries!
So why explore providence and its connection to generosity? Only after we grasp that God has a design for all things, do we find our place in His plan. We get to trust in His providence and then (as Theophilus put it) act righteously, be pious, and do good.
To act righteously is to take our place as conduits of truth and love, grace and kindness. To be pious is to live with purity and devotion. To do good is to exhibit generosity through doing countercultural Christian deeds everywhere we go. And this perspective echoes Paul’s exhortation to Titus for the Christians in Crete.
God, as we start a new year, help us have eyes to see how Your providence sustains everything, including us. We resolve to act righteously, to be pious, and to do good wherever you lead and guide us this year so that our lives bring you glory and show your love to our neighbors and the whole world. Amen.