Titus 3:14, "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”

Interesting points:
1. In this verse Paul adds a plea to his instruction that the churches of Crete should assist and care for Zenas and Apollos on their mission trip: Christians should be diligent in doing what is good (including both good works and living righteously), something he had already underlined in Titus 1:16, 2:7, 2:14, 3:5 and 3:8.

2. The rationale Paul offers for doing what is good is “to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives”, implying three things:
a) good works result in spiritual fruit: they are not a religious, liturgical attempt to earn God’s favor. Instead, their natural consequence is they build the kingdom and point to God’s glory.
b) the body of Christ must wisely prioritize urgent needs and meet dire and time-sensitive cases efficiently. Not every request is a priority nor even a valid requirement the Church must/should address!
c) the proper prioritization of needs and focused good works to address them results in spiritually productive lives that both boosts the believer’s spiritual growth and makes an impact on others as much as it testifies to the power of God and His glory in transforming sinners into people called by His name.

Application.
Brothers, this verse really speaks to the attitude of our hearts. Is it our joy (devotion) to “do[ing] what is good” – both living righteously and doing good works? The answer to this question reveals whether we have made Christ the foundation and filter for how we see and interact with the world or whether we choose to maintain control in setting priorities and engaging when it suits us.
Paul says that we must “learn” to devote ourselves to doing what is good which helps us understand that this is not natural for us! We must be taught and trained to do so, meaning that the Holy Spirit must be actively working in us as we apply what we study in the Word. The body of Christ and Church leaders have an important role in equipping each believer, discerning priorities and directing good works so that urgent needs are met efficiently and adequately.
May we each encourage one another as we learn to do what is good so that we can provide for urgent needs and live spiritually productive lives!