Show Consideration for Others

Note from today’s Bible reading: Titus 3; Philemon 1

Paul told Titus about certain reminders he was to give the brethren. He wrote, “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men” (Titus 3:1-2).

When Paul said that Christians are to show “consideration” for others, what did he mean? Interestingly, this word was also used in the passage in which Paul described the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). In that passage, this word was translated gentleness.

Paul was teaching that we are to act with gentleness toward those around us. We are to be aware of others without focusing only on ourselves. We are to be mindful of their needs and not just our own. We are to be intentional about doing good for them, even when it is not always convenient for us to do so.

To explain why we are to act this way toward others, Paul reminded these brethren that they were also once lost in sin but have now been saved by God (Titus 3:3-5). The implication is that by showing consideration to others, we put ourselves in a position to influence them for good and (hopefully) help lead them to the truth.

So show consideration for others. We are to put others ahead of ourselves just as Jesus did for us. This is not always easy to do – hence the reminder that Titus was to give his brethren – but we need to be mindful of others and be intentional about putting their interests ahead of our own.