Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith. But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

2 Timothy 2:16-19

I have a preteen daughter – thank you in advance for your prayers – and man oh man, does this “but God” moment in 2nd Timothy hit us right where we are.

Remember middle school?

Ugh. The gossip. The drama. The lies. The backbiting.

I thought middle school was a social nightmare back in the early 90s, and from walking my daughter through it now, I can see that it has not improved.

I imagine middle school wasn’t a thing when Paul wrote his letter to young Timothy about avoiding worthless, foolish talk, but sweet friends, 2nd Timothy 2:16-19 is one of my go-tos when I’m counseling my daughter on how to handle her tongue at school and with her friends outside of school.

Granted, Paul was talking about false teaching, but the truth he shares applies to any situation. Whether it’s false teaching or gossiping or backbiting, any kind of worthless, foolish talk spreads like cancer (especially on social media) and soon, even if it was not their intent, more and more people are caught up in godless talk or godless behavior (v. 16-18).

With so much of it going on around us, how do we know if talk is worthless or foolish?

We hold it up to the truth of God’s Word. We look at Jesus’ example.

Check out our “but God” moment in verse 19…

But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

God’s truth – oh my heart how I love the absolute nature of God’s truth – God’s truth stands like a firm foundation!

Gossip, backbiting, lies, rumors – what does God say about them?

Psalm 15:2-3 says that the righteous speak truth; they do not slander others, do not wrong their neighbors (which is everyone we meet according to Jesus), and they not speak badly of others.

These verses go right along with Paul’s advice to Timothy in verse 19 that the Lord knows who are His and He expects His children to turn away from evil, including evil talk.

God’s truth keeps us from being infected with the cancer of worthless, foolish talk. It helps us know what is right to say and what is not. It reminds us that when others gossip about us or say hurtful things to us or about us, we don’t have to fall in with that foolishness and strike back (Romans 12:17-21). We don’t even have to defend ourselves because God is our defense (Psalm 18:2)!

Praise God for the firm foundation of His truth! What a blessing, what a comfort to know that He has given us a way to be free of the consequences of worthless, foolish talk and the godless behavior that it brings!

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