4 Ways to Handle Words Well

You can get reelected with the right words, go to jail for the wrong words and get remembered for something you said twenty years ago. That’s because words aren’t just words! They actually do things in our lives. Words matter!

When writing to a young pastor named Timothy, the apostle Paul shared some direction for how to use words well and what words watch out for. From 2 Timothy 2:14–19 here are four encouragements worth considering:

1. Avoid the Weeds of Empty Words

Marketers often use something called “weasel words.” These are words that make claims that, upon first look, appear substantial, but upon further analysis turn out to be meaningless. Some examples include phrases like virtually, better, can help and up to. While these words work well for marketing, we need to be wary of empty words in our lives.

In verse 14 Paul writes:

^“Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.”

There are people in the church who are getting stuck in the weeds, carrying on nuanced arguments that are not the focal point of faith in Christ Jesus. Paul warns against pious nitpicking and empty arguments. In the midst of disagreements within the church, we can use words that serve to separate rather than show compassion. We need to remember that God never told us to win arguments, but to win people.

To achieve an opposite result, we can heed Paul’s advice in Ephesians 4:29:

^“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

2. Ward Off Wounding Words

In verses 16–18, Paul warns:

^“Avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.”

What the two false teachers are spreading is most likely a form of Gnosticism, which was a popular belief system that moved through Jewish and Christian culture in the First Century. A part of that belief is that the material universe is evil and unsalvageable. Only the spiritual can be good. So these two teachers are likely claiming the resurrection amounts to an enlightenment of the spirit, but does not include a future, eternal, physical resurrection.

This teaching is spreading like gangrene throughout the body of Christ—the Church! Gangrene eats away and kills the flesh it reaches. It’s not a pretty sight when a part of the body is cut off from the life-giving blood and nutrition of the rest of the body!

We need to be wary of words that promise a better way than the way of Christ. They will guarantee better living even while cutting off life-giving community and leaving you wounded, if not worse.

To ward off wounding words:

• Get into the Bible regularly.
• Seek God in prayer.
• Stay connected to a community of believers.

3. Handle God’s Word Well

Right in between the two verse where Paul warns Timothy against some words, he encourages Timothy with what he should do. Take a look at verse 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.”

If you’re a quarterback, here are two errors you might make:

1. Holding the ball too loosely.
2. Being reluctant to pass it forward.

These are two mistakes we can also make when handling scripture:

1. We can hold scripture too loosely by failing to regard it with the respect and authority God’s Word deserves. God’s Truth has eternal implications, without it you’re going to fumble through life looking for purpose that is waiting within scriptures’ pages.

2. We can be reluctant to pass God’s truth forward to others. We need to follow Jesus’ command to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” There’s this popular quote by St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” I want to suggest that in our world today, the clarity of earnest and compassionate words describing the good news of Jesus Christ is

Proverbs 4:20–21 encourages us:

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart.”

4. Remember: God’s Word Will Not Pass Away

In 2 Timothy 2:19, rather than dwell on the negative effects of false teachers, Paul turns the focus toward what will endure:

^“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.’”

God’s word is immovable. So…

Your neighbor puts up a sign you disagree with…

You are concerned about the messages in a TV show or movie…

You feel anxious about the new law that’s passed…

…Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm.

We serve a God who told us in Matthew 24:35,

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Paul says the inscription on God’s solid foundation is that God knows who are his and they turn away from wickedness.

This passage acknowledges that there are many words you could choose to believe, but your belief does not affect the truth of God’s Word. God doesn’t need us to follow him for his solid foundation to stand firm. But the amazing thing is that despite our flaws and failures, God wants us. He wants to know us. And he wants us to know him. And he wants to guide us away from wickedness and toward full life—a resurrection that is yet to come.