Faith should produce faithful service to God. The writer of Hebrews says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6, NKJV). In addition to this, James writes, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Likewise, the apostle Paul portrays saving faith as “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6). True, confident trust in God and His word leads to faithful obedience to His instruction.

The Bible is filled with examples of individuals, both old and young, who exhibited obedient faith in God. Abraham followed through in heeding God’s command to travel to Canaan when he was “seventy-five years old” (Gen. 12:4). Regarding his aged wife, the Bible says, “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (Heb. 11:11). On the other hand, Joseph was only “seventeen years old” when his brothers sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:2), and was still a very young man when he refused to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife (39:7-10). Luke describes Anna as a woman “of a great age” who “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Lk. 2:36, 37). However, Mary was still a young virgin when she responded to the angel’s message concerning her future role as the mother of the Savior, saying, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (1:38). Paul, still serving God though confined in Rome, refers to himself as, “Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Philem. 9). Scripture consistently shows that God expects His people to faithfully serve Him at every stage and age of life.

Paul described how Christians of all ages, whether male or female, are to faithfully serve God in his letter to Titus, saying, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things -- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:1-8).

Based on Paul’s instruction to Titus, please consider the following with regard to how children of God of every age are to faithfully serve Him:

1 Older Men. The apostle points out that “the older men” are to “be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience” (Titus 2:2). Faithful older men serve God by abstaining from intoxicants, by taking seriously their respectful submission to God’s instruction, by controlling their tempers, by looking out for the best interests of others, and by their steadfast endurance. Older men should be models of mature and faithful service to God in their own examples, attitudes, and behavior.

2. Older women. Concerning the “older women,” Paul instructs that “they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things” and “that they admonish the young women,” in particular (Titus 2:3-4). Faithful older women serve God by living in a way that is set apart from worldliness, by refraining from destructive speech, by refusing to have their senses dulled by intoxicating drink, and by actively teaching the younger women the will of God by word and by their own example. Older women should exhibit faithful and godly service to the Lord in their own words, conduct, and example.

3. Younger women. In application of what they have been taught by the older women, Paul writes that the “young women” are “to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:4-5). Faithful young women serve God by lovingly carrying out their roles in the home, by living morally pure lives, and by obeying God’s instruction to the extent that they honor Him rather than cause His word to be blasphemed by those who observe their behavior. Younger women should demonstrate faithful service to God by being busy in doing those things that are in pleasing to Him.

4. Younger men. Paul states that “the young men” are “to be sober-minded,” and in writing to one who fell into this particular category, he instructs Titus to prove himself “to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility” and to use “sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:6-8). Faithful young men serve God by controlling their desires and impulses and exercising self-control, and by being careful to act and speak in a way that exalts truth, honesty, and godliness, rather than carelessness and worldliness. Younger men show their faithful service to God by rejecting worldly lusts and pursuing uprightness.

Conclusion: The ability and expectation to faithfully follow Christ are not restricted to either men or women, to certain age groups, or to certain stages of life. Whether male or female, whether older or younger, all of God’s children are expected to wholeheartedly serve Him in faithful obedience to His instruction while “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). May we never forget, as John the apostle reports, that those who faithfully serve the Lord in this life will find themselves “before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them” (Rev. 7:15). Will you faithfully serve Him here so that you can be among those who will serve Him hereafter?