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Boswell relates that Dr. Johnson told him that when his father's workshop, which was a detached building, had partly fallen down for want of being repaired, he was no less diligent to lock the door every night, though he saw that anybody might walk in at the back. Even so do many persons, guarding themselves against one approach of sin only, while they are exposed to danger from some other point, vainly suppose themselves safe from their spiritual foes.

(R. Brewin.)

I. MEN ARE NOTHING OF THEMSELVES.

1. The gifts of God, whether of nature or grace, are not ours, but God's.

2. In the use of these gifts the best fall far short of what they ought to be (1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Corinthians 8:2).

II. THOUGH MEN ARE NOTHING, YET THEY SEEM TO BE SOMETHING, and that of themselves. This arises from —

(1)  Pride;

(2)  the excessive consideration of our good things;

(3)  the comparing of ourselves with the infirmities of others;

(4)  the flattery of men.

III. IN SO DOING, MEN DECEIVE THEMSELVES. Self-deception is

(1)  The worst deception (James 1:22, 26);

(2)  the most dangerous deception;

(3)  self-degradation;

(4)  spiritual impotence. Conceit is fatal to the duty of burdenbearing, for it is the death of love.

IV. THE REMEDIES AGAINST THE OVERWEENING OF OURSELVES.

1. To look ourselves in the glass of the law (1 Corinthians 3:18).

2. To remember that the gifts on which we pride ourselves are ours only for a time (Luke 16:2), and for the use of them we shall be held responsible.

3. To compare ourselves with God's majesty (Psalm 8:4).

(R. Cudworth.)

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KJV: For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

WEB: For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.