Finish Your Assignments!

Paul provided Titus with a clear summary of his assignment. He had been left in Crete to “set right what was left undone” and “appoint elders in every town.” This was not a new assignment. In fact, Paul already had “directed” him to do these things.

We can speculate why Paul felt this reminder was necessary. Perhaps Titus had forgotten or become distracted. Perhaps he did not want to deal with these issues. It is possible that Titus did not want to confront prominent people in these churches. Perhaps he did not feel he received the necessary respect. But Paul encouraged him, “Let no one disregard you” (2:15).

Regardless of the cause, Titus needed to stay focused and persistent in order to accomplish his mission.

Throughout his letters, Paul made clear that it was important for believers to understand their God-given calling and then focus on completing those tasks. Paul himself was confident that he had been faithful. He wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Each of us faces many possible distractions and excuses, personal interests and desires, things we like to do, or avoid. Many roadblocks might appear along the way. It is critical that we follow Paul’s advice to remember our assignments and seek to complete them, not giving in to excuses or distractions. Never leave anything undone!