The power of a REAL woman is significant, but that power does not come from being beautiful and sexy. REAL women help. The world wants women to focus on the external, but God wants women to focus on the internal. He wants women to be just like Him—a HELPER!

REAL Women Demonstrate Godliness

You are on the right path to being a REAL Woman if you want to live with God’s Word as your guide and foundation. God designed a woman and has defined the qualities, values, and actions that He desires of godly women. God perfectly designed you to fit your role and everything He asks you to do.

Go back to the way God designed you. Look again at Genesis 2:18.

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” – Genesis 2:18

The critical elements of your design are “helper” and “comparable” (or suitable). Do not forget that the word “helper” is an elevated term, because it is used primarily of God. It does not mean that you are somehow less than a man. Remember,

And remember – men and women are equal in value – different in design and role.

God wants you to be a HELPER, just like He is our Helper. He also wants you to be T.O.U.G.H. That does not sound very feminine, but it actually is extremely feminine, because it stands for…

Before talking about the details of being TOUGH, do not forget that Paul is telling you in Titus 2 that all of this information is about SOUND DOCTRINE!

So that you do not have to go back, I will restate it again. Paul says in verse 1.

…speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:  – Titus 2:1

God tells REAL Men and REAL Women something extremely important: sound doctrine is about how you live! The truism “actions denote character” is what God is talking about. REAL Men and Women do not just know what the Lord is asking of them, they DO IT! Actions will eventually show who you really are on the inside – what you know becomes what you show.

It is not improper to state REAL Men = Sound Doctrine and REAL Women = Sound Doctrine.

Titus 2 tells you how you can become T.O.U.G.H.

…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. – Titus 2:1, 3-5

God’s Desire for Older Women

The passage asks an unstated question – Are you an older or younger woman? The distinction may be about physical age or spiritual maturity, but instead of trying to follow that trail consider this simple question – Are you willing to teach God’s Word to other women? If so, then you may fit in the older woman category.

Before you can make a final decision, here is another question for you – Does your life demonstrate what is listed in the young women category? Reread the list because some of the items are more difficult for a woman, especially with what the world tells you. It is only possible to do those things when you walk with and rely on the Spirit of the Lord.

God does not ask you to do those things perfectly, but are those words foundational elements in your life as a woman? If that answer is yes, then continue your learning process and be ready to help other women apply these critical elements to their lives also.

God desires older women be examples for younger women. He wants you to act based on your Godly values, to take your “gentle and quiet spirit”, what is on the inside and display it to other women, especially young women.

As you age it is so easy to think about retiring or I like to call it “sliding for home”. Please reconsider that and think about how you could serve others instead of making life more about yourself (Flashing ME?). You have the amazing opportunity to help young women see how life works best! There is no better way to help someone than to encourage them to be choosing God’s ways.

If you are physically older, generally the home requires less attention than before, which leaves more time to help outside your home. While the help you see in Titus 2 is primarily mentoring, one-on-one relationships with young women, there are multiple ways you can help young women – even babysitting the kids from time-to-time is a great help.

Overall, Titus tells you through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that an older woman helps in the community (especially in her church) in 3 ways; she is reverent, self-controlled and a teacher.

Reverent

How could you be an example to others without behavior that is reverent? Well, maybe reverent is not a good word for you, so how about “showing profound respect, especially for God.” Does that help?

As an older woman your “reverent behavior” is highly respected. I see reverence to both a humility and faith component. If you are “showing profound respect, especially for God” that implies you know Him enough to not only have faith that His ways are best, but also and more importantly, you fear Him which produces humility. You know that He is much higher than you and you only have worth because of His provision of His Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.

You may have noted that God desires reverence of both older women and older men. As an older woman, you are asked to display decency and decorum in your outward conduct, clothing, actions, looks, and speech. Of course, the immediate implication is that outward conduct is driven from inward Godly principles such as:

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. – Philippians 4:8

Now what do you think about the immediate next item that Titus lists – not slanderers? You have just been provided the first criteria of a godly older woman which is “reverent in behavior” and that is followed with “not slanderers”. God states things in exactly the way He wants us to read it. Think about what Jesus said to the Pharisees –

Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. – Matthew 12:34

You may believe that you have reverent behavior, but if you are slandering others, that’s evidence that you do not. A godly older woman does not sow discord, falsely accuse, backbite, or speak badly of people.

Do you want to know something very disturbing? If you are a slanderer, you are being equated with Satan. “Slanderer” is the same name God uses of Satan! That means as a slanderer you are doing the devil’s work. A slanderer’s tongue is set on fire by the Satan himself. The fire can be kindled from various slimy things like hatred, envy, or comparison. What a contrast to reverent behavior! Even more contrast is that true reverent behavior would be exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Since you are a Godly older woman, God asks you to let His Spirit control you, not your sin nature.