Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. Titus 3:14
“Let every one of you, brethren, give thanks to God in his own order, living in all good conscience, with becoming gravity, and not going beyond the rule of the ministry prescribed to him.”
Clement of Rome (c. 90) in 1 Clement 41:1 (Roberts-Donaldson translation).
For the coming weeks we will explore gratitude in the Apostolic Fathers and early Christian writings. Today the bishop of the church in Rome teaches us how gratitude shapes our service.
Clement and Paul were contemporaries. Paul teaches us in today’s Scripture, which he wrote to Titus, that God’s people need to learn to do what is good. Productive and generous service is part of our Christian growth.
Clement proclaims a similar message to the church in Rome. When we give thanks to God, this gratitude propels us to plays our part in the body of Christ “with becoming gravity” or with appropriate commitment.
This is doing good with gravitas. So, in plain terms, in gratitude to God for all He has done for us, let us serve God and others in 2023 with seriousness, by doing good and playing our part on the body of Christ with intentionality.