Jump Start # 956

2 Corinthians 7:6 “But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”

A friend sent me a message this week letting me know that he was in the area. We met for lunch. He’s incredible. We went to school together and our paths have crisscrossed several times since. We both preached in a lectureship in Dallas this summer. Although we haven’t spent a lot of time together, he is one of the special people in my life. There is a rich goodness about him. He’s an amazing preacher that is passionate and kind in heart. Our lunch went too quickly and we parted. I’m not sure when we will see each other again, but I hope it’s soon. We all have people that come and go in our lives. There are people that remain, we call them friends. Then there are those few who are very special to us. They bring out the best in us. They help us spiritually and keep us connected with the Lord.

Our passage today reminds us of three powerful truths.

First, God’s people get depressed. Paul put himself in that category. Depression isn’t something that happens only to the weak of faith. Here, an apostle admitted that he was depressed. Paul had a lot on his mind and heart. The Corinthians were not doing well. Many were questioning Paul’s authority and right as an apostle. At Ephesus, Paul fought wild beasts, most likely, describing persecutors. At Thessalonica, Paul had to sneak out of town in the night to escape persecutors. There were some who were denying the resurrection of Christ. Some were living immorally. Some were trying to tie the old law to the gospel of Christ. It seems everywhere there were things that were not right and people who were not getting it. Paul wondered out loud if his work was useless. There was enough to depress Paul.

We need to recognize something about Paul’s depression. I understand there is such a thing as clinical depression where a person has a chemical imbalance and they need prescriptions to help with that balance. We may think our hope and salvation is in a pill. It’s not. A pill may set your moods in order, but they do not remove the problems that put you there. Pills do not take away problems. Paul was depressed, but he didn’t quit. Too many use depression as a reason for not attending worship, for not continuing their walk with God, for a quick exit out of the Christian life. Not Paul. Depressed, yes. Quitting? Never!

Second, God comforts. God understands. God is the help. Paul was not alone with his burdens. God was there. What turned Paul around was God. When we run from God when we are depressed, we are running from the very source that can help us. God recognized Paul’s troubles. Paul was not threatened by God. Paul was comforted by God. Depressed times are times for prayer, soul searching and reading God’s word. Too many hang their hat on the expression, “I don’t feel like it.” Maybe you don’t. You probably don’t. We have learned that we have to do things that we don’t like. Many would like to stay in bed half the day, but they can’t. They go to work when they don’t feel like it. Many parents don’t feel like being a parent on some days. They continue on. There are days when Christians may not want to let their light shine, but they do. I don’t feel like it, isn’t a reason to quit. Onward we must go.

Third, God’s comfort to Paul was not in removing all his stress. It was not in removing all his problems. It came in the form of Titus, a person. We may wonder why God doesn’t help us and that help is often standing right in front of us, in the form of a Christian. We miss that because we aren’t looking for that form of help. We want problems removed. We want problems solved. We don’t need people. We need solutions to problems. That’s how we think. God knows. God sent Titus. Titus was better than a pill. Titus brought good news to Paul. The brethren were starting to turn around. Paul’s letters and teachings were beginning to take shape. Good news brought by a good friend—that’s enough to turn the depressed around.

This shows us one of the benefits of our worship. We have each other. There is something about seeing each other. Presence matters. There is encouragement, hope and reminders when we see each other. There is a positive peer pressure when we see each other. We are reminded that we are not alone when we see each other. My good friend Bill is full of cancer. I walked into the church building with him last night. That was such a boast and thrill to my heart to see him out worshipping the Lord he loves. Some look for the first and easiest excuse to miss. Their hearts are not right. Bill, having every reason to stay home, didn’t. Bill is a Titus to me. His smile, his great spirit and his overall goodness turns the darkest day to sunshine.

What happens when we stay home or stay away from other Christians? What happens when we do not include them in our lives? In Paul’s case, as well as ours, we would remain depressed. We wonder why God doesn’t answer our prayers. We wonder why God isn’t doing anything to help us, when the help is there, we just fail to recognize it. We stay home, singing, “gloom, despair and misery on me,” while our Titus is at the church building, sent by God, looking for us, ready to comfort us, and no connection is made.  God sent Titus. God’s comfort was in the form of Titus.

Do you have a Titus in your life? Preachers need them. If apostles get depressed, I’m certain preachers get depressed. Often our buckets get empty. We are there for others, but who is there for us? Titus is. You need to meet that Christian friend for lunch. You need a Bill in your life, who with all his health issues, is a fountain of joy for others. You need others. You need that Christian who will be honest with you. You need that Christian who recognizes when you are slipping. You need that Christian who is there for you.

God sent Titus to Paul. Comfort was given. I have so many Titus’ in my life. Some do not live very close to me, but they are always there for me, just a phone call away. Wonderful memories, strong encouragement, helpful comfort is what they provide. I think of a retired school principle by the name of Jim. He’s a Titus to me. I think of friends like Rickie J. and Don, powerful Titus’ to me. I think of four wonderful kids who look at me as dad. They are a Titus to me. There are layers and layers of dear, dear people that God has put in my life. I am not unique. Many of you can say the same. We would not be the same without these people. God has helped us by sending quality people into our lives.

For those who do not have a Titus in your life. He’s out there. He’s there to help you. He’s strong, spiritual and Heaven sent. Include Titus in your life. Let him be God’s comfort to you. This is what Biblical fellowship is all about. It’s not hotdogs and games. It’s hearts connecting. It’s care and love. It’s support and friendship. It’s meaningful time with quality people.

I have found that my list of Titus’ continues to grow. I found some new ones recently in Minnesota. Who would have thought that there would have been a Titus way up there. But there was. New friendships. New memories. Great hope. Great comfort.

Thank you, Lord for my friends who mean so much to me. Thank you for the comfort you give me through them. Thank you, for lunch with spiritual giants, like Kenny. It didn’t make my day, it made my week!

And lest we forget, you need to be a Titus to someone else. You may be God’s answer to someone’s depressed heart. You may be the very comfort that someone is needing. Take time. Allow your schedule to be interrupted. Connect. Be there. Listen. Share. Lift the hearts of others.

Titus was a key part of Paul being Paul.

Roger