September 23, 2026 | Be Connected
The Weightiness of Words
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-19(NIV)
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
Devotional
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
How often do we tell our children this? How often do we wish this was really true? Words do matter. Words do hurt. Words can be used for good or bad. It’s more often the bad that get remembered. I’ve read that it takes 17 good compliments to erase one negative insult.
This is true of God’s words also. We often get caught up in the different Bible versions asking which is more accurate, which is more truthful, which is a more accurate translation of the words in the Bible. Sometimes in our disagreements we miss the truth of the God’s Word.
It is more important that we teach the truth than teach false truth. We have all been part of rumor mills that spread like wildfire. Rumors and false truth tend to spread faster than truth. Rumors and false truths are often more interesting than truth. Although what is more interesting than God’s truth?
Spreading untruths about God and faith has greater consequences. It will spread, and like the telephone game will become more and more wrong.
God’s word is strong. God’s word is the foundation upon which all beliefs and truths lie. It is vital that what we share is correct and that we do not focus on or get distracted by lies.
This passage challenges me to step away from the water cooler office gossip. It challenges me to think before I speak to others, my family, myself. Does this comment speak truth to the conversation. Does this comment lift this person up or knock them down?
How can this passage challenge you?
