The Necessity of Redwoods (Titus 2:2)

So what does a tree have to do with the local church? Nothing! But, recently, I likened godly older men in the church to Redwoods. Redwoods are massive trees which are known for their height, shade, and resistance to decay. So as Paul instructs Titus to call older men in the church to be "temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance" (Titus 2:2), the picture that came to my mind was Redwoods.

Let me explain. As Paul begins chapter 2, he turns Titus' attention to his responsibilty to "speak the things fitting for sound doctrine", which reminds Titus to make sure the individuals of the local congregations are living out the sound doctrine that they believe. They must not only talk the talk, but they must also walk the walk. The gospel is the message that is to be believed, and that belief is to effect behavior. So Paul gives advice and encouragement to Titus to address various groups within the church; the first of which is the "older men."

Clearly, there is a priority here. These 'greyhaired' brothers in their pursuit and attainment of godliness are to be the examples to others of the flock. And so, as a Redwood is a symbol of strength, stability, and longevity, so too are the older men of a local church. In many respects, these men serve as the spiritual 'fathers' (cf. 1 Tim. 5:1) of a church, and are necessary to the well-orderedness of a congregation. They should be respected, honored, and appreciated as good gifts from the Lord, not set aside and dismissed as fossils from an earlier generation.

Any Pastor with even a little bit of spiritual sense will cultivate deep relationships with the older men of his congregation. And if he is blessed to have older men who are thriving and clearly manifesting the virtues as presented in this text by Paul, he should bless the Lord for these expressions of God's grace. So for all you leaders out there, rest in the shade of godly older men, lean on their branches for strength, and solicit their counsel; trust me, they know more than you.