“Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene…
“Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will…
“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people….
“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work…
“The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. But as for you, always be sober-minded.” 2 Timothy 2:14-17,22-26; 3:2-5,14-17; 4:3-5a
Paul’s loving letter to Timothy charges him to rightly handle and proclaim God’s truth. Life father, like spiritual son. He must remind his fellow believers to do the same to avert wandering off into the many prevailing untruths, myths, and false teachings that fueled irreverence, quarrels, and disobedience. The antidote? God’s living, powerfully-working word.
Popular culture presents a tangle of practices, ideas, controversies, and whims for us to fondle and espouse. Emotions and opinions lead us astray from what is good, and disrupt the best of relationships and clearest of teaching. Without being led by God and His word, we easily veer from His path into many a downward, destructive mindset and ugly habit. (Psalm 119:105)
It’s important to recognize what actually leads us to think and behave as we do. It is easy to keep in motion, physically or mentally, continuing in natural (and worldly) progression without considering our impetus. Ungrounded and misdirected, words and passions breed disordered loves and increasing ungodliness.
How do we redirect with the rightful Leader? Know, handle, and embrace the word of truth! Avoid caustic talk, flee temptation, and run after all that is good and holy!
Alongside whom are we pursuing purity, kindness, and godliness? What habitual spiritually-detrimental practices need to cease? How will we pursue loving God more than self? God’s word keeps us sober-minded and wise.
Lord, lead me in truth and righteousness, to your honor.
