Teach the Older Women – Titus 2:3

One reason I like this verse is because it supports the idea of being lifelong learners as we grow in faith. The writer, an older leader, is instructing a younger leader to teach older women to teach younger ones how to behave as followers of Jesus. He says,

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.” Titus 2:3 NIV

My children agree I qualify as an older woman. I’m also a woman who needs to be taught. I want to live reverently (the dictionary says reverence means showing respect) and learn better how to do that, but convincing me to avoid addiction to wine would be a waste of a teacher’s effort. I’ve never had an interest in drinking alcohol to excess.

As for suggesting changing how I talk about others – that’s another matter.

Would you have difficulty teaching an older woman to watch her tongue? Would you be willing to try? Tricky business there. However, if we’re effective she might take over teaching that lesson herself.

I’d like to think this older woman would.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis