God created us for His own glory (Isaiah 43:7, 21). The theme of the entire Bible is, “The salvation of man, through Christ, to God’s glory.” How can we fulfill our purpose and glorify Him? “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Our godly lives and good works turn the spotlight on our Father.

Paul gives more specific instructions about the kind of lives that glorify God based on both gender and chronology (Titus 2:2–9). The cycle of life from birth to death is often compared to the cycle of nature from spring to winter, so we’ll discuss two genders and four seasons. Chronologically, Paul goes in reverse order so we’ll follow his lead.

What kind of behavior would glorify my God at my stage in life?

Older men[1]: The tendency is probably to think of “old men” to be someone much older than us, but the apostle only lists two types—old and young. If we no longer fall into the latter, then we are in the former. In our culture this would probably refer to those who are mid-forties and above.[2] What kind of traits would one in this category need in order to glorify God?

•    Sober—vigilant, abstinent in respect to wine, watchful. This man watches out for his soul, and the souls around him—especially his family. Job is an example of this (Job 1:5).

•    Grave—serious deportment, dignified, possessing self-respect, a serious man in his family (see 1 Timothy 3:4); free from levity of character, and from frivolity and fickleness. It does not mean that he should be severe, stern, morose—traits often mistaken for gravity.[3] This is the kind of man who keeps his word, always shows up to work on time, and does not allow just any excuse to keep him away from the public services of the church (e.g., he does not fail to stop to worship God while traveling on the Lord’s day).

•    Temperate—prudent; one who follows sound reason, and who is not under the control of passion. When tempted, this man does not allow himself to be drawn into an illicit relationship that would embarrass his family, break up his marriage, shame the church, and destroy his soul. When provoked, does not lash out with words or fists.

•    Sound in faith—he understands the Bible because he spends time reading, studying, and mediating on it. He does not get caught up in false teaching because he has a firm grasp of the basic doctrines of the Bible.

•    In charity—Albert Barnes comment on this word is good: “An old man should evince love for all, especially for those who are good. He should have overcome, at this time of life, all the fiery, impetuous, envious, wrathful passions of his early years, and his mind should be subdued into sweet benevolence to all mankind.”

•    In patience—he does not complain or allow difficulties to cause him to overreact. When he has health, family, or financial problems, it does not shake his faith in God or become an excuse to keep him away from his spiritual duties.

Older women: Again, we like to keep ourselves in the young category until past retirement age, but biblically we pass into this stage about the time our children reach adulthood. What characteristics do older women need to glorify God?

 •    Behaviour as becometh holiness. The word translated “behavior” is only found here in the Bible and taken literally means “holy women.” It means that she sees her daily activities as being “engaged in sacred duties.”[4] Clarke expands the idea to say her “dress, gait, and general deportment, such as [a] holy calling requires; that [she] be not like the world, but like the Church, decent without, and adorned with holiness within.” You would not catch this woman in immodest clothes at the local Wal-Mart because she “just ran in for a minute.” You would not overhear her using questionable language at a nearby restaurant table. You would overhear her saying something good about the church or the elders. You might catch her at the Wal-Mart picking up some groceries for the weekend’s youth devotional.

•    Not false accusers—This phrase translates the word diabolos, which taken literally would be “she devils.” The devil is the chief slanderer (Ephesians 6:11), and when one slanders another she is acting like Satan. This woman checks her facts before passing along what she heard to her social circle. Even when the facts check out, she checks her motives by asking, “Should I say this? Would it be better to leave it alone?”

•    Not given to much wine—literally, “enslaved to much wine” (Romans 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19). Both among the Greeks (cf. Titus 1:12) and Romans, old women were generally reputed to be fond of wine. Should women drink alcohol in moderation, as long as they don’t become addicts? No, other Bible principles forbid it (Matthew 5:13–16; Romans 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Ephesians 4:27). Suffice it to say, you will not see this woman sipping a glass of wine at a fancy restaurant or see a six pack in her refrigerator.

•    Teachers of good things . . . that they may teach the young women—The first phrase comes from a compound word (bona docents) which means “teaching good and beautiful things.” Older women are to see themselves as coaches or mentors of younger women. Their first students are their own children, and later their daughters-in-law and grandchildren. They also take such opportunities as they can find to teach other young women in the congregation, whether informally by example and in conversation, or formally by instruction in a girls’ or young women’s class.