Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

What has been entrusted to Timothy’s care? … the Word of God, and the Truth and teaching therein.  Has that not also been entrusted to us?  What does it mean to “care” for the Word of God?  The next sentence clarifies: “turn away from godless chatter.” When you think of what is most opposite of the Word of God, it would be “chatter” (with no basis in truth or value) and “godless” speech (either opposes God, or speaks of no God).

And what’s worse, this godless chatter is “falsely called knowledge.”  It is interesting that those who we often regard as the most learned and astute can propose ideas that oppose God’s Truth.  Further, those ideas – often untested and unproven – are then taken to be knowledge.  But we could ask – what value is knowledge if it is false?  The Apostle Paul explains what the value of false knowledge is: it causes some to “depart from the faith.”

You and I are urged by Scripture to “turn away” from theories and false knowledge that are opposed to God, because they are ultimately useless chatter, which opposes God and can cause people to reject faith in God.

We pray: Lord – Please guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and give us a  hunger and thirst for your Truth!  Amen.