1 Corinthians 10:12 Why let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. I. WHAT IT IS THIS HEED REFERS TO, OR WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE DUTY TO WHICH MY TEXT DIRECTS. It denotes that heedfulness and circumspection a person would show who apprehended anger to be near. More particularly this circumspection relates — 1. To a man's outward circumstances and calling in life. Choose rather to be called unneighbourly, stiff, precise, and what not, than to sacrifice religion and conscience for a little worldly pelf, or a mere empty compliment. 2. This circumspection and care relates to a man's heart. God complains of Israel, that His heart was divided (Hosea 10:2). The true fear of God has always its seat in the heart (Jeremiah 31:33). Hypocrisy seeks a cover, but truth and sincerity begin here; if this be rotten, all your faith is vain, your hope is vain, ye are yet in your sins. It is an awful word in Hosea 7:16, and yet it is a true representation of every man's heart: "They return, but not to the Most High; they are like a deceitful bow." Alas! how ellen do our hearts fail us when we have thought we took them with us at the beginning of a duty? Take heed to your hearts, if you would stand your ground against the evil one. 3. This circumspection and care relates to the way in which our enemies are opposed and resisted by us. Take heed how you walk, if you would stand your ground; how you fight, if you would keep the field. You have the great law of arms set down (Ephesians 6:10). 4. This circumspection and care relates to a believer's life and conversation after such a conquest; take heed to your walk after any advantages you have gained against your enemy. It is Peter's advice, and his experience cost him dear (1 Peter 5:8). Pride and self-applause are apt to shove themselves in, though our own arm hath not gotten us the victory. Paul's thorn in the flesh was given to keep him humble. Take heed of a vain, wandering, loose conversation after sweet communion; pray that you may not fall from your steadfastness. II. WHO ARE THE PERSONS THE DUTY IS DIRECTED TO? In general, it is to them that think they stand, them whose fall is least expected. Paul gives this special direction to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:16). Ministers may soon pull down in their life and conversation what they are building up in their doctrine. Some that have stood it out manfully against the storms of persecution, have been easily drawn aside from their steadfastness in a calm of liberty. III. WHY SUCH AS THINK THEMSELVES MOST SAFE AS TO THEIR STATE SHOULD TAKE HEED LEST THEY FALL; or what are those motives and arguments contained in the term "wherefore." 1. Because many have so fallen (see ver 5). Where there are many cautions and memorandums there must be great danger; here a post and there a pillar to give warning; sure there must be some pits in the way which we are not well aware of. It is reported of a Grecian commander that wherever he went, though he was alone, he was still considering all the places he passed by, how an enemy might possess them, and lay ambushes in them to his disadvantage, should he command an army there. Oh! that Christians were half so cautious! "A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself." 2. Because there is nothing in your circumstances, gifts, station of life, experience, or attainments, that will of itself keep you from falling. Corrupt nature is corrupt nature in one as well as another. Temptation meeting with approbation and acceptance in the heart, like a violent land-flood rushing down a steep place, carries all before it. When sin is committed a man wonders he should be so overtaken, so sadly soiled; he can scarcely believe that it is he that has sinned. 3. Sin, when it is committed, hardens, whoever be the person sinning (Hebrews 3:13). 4. Should you be restored after your falls the fruit of sin will be exceeding bitter.Inferences: 1. If the heedful are in so much danger, what must become of poor heedless souls! 2. Is he that thinketh he standeth in danger lest he fall? How humble should this make us in our own eyes! how pitiful and tender towards them that are fallen? 3. What a blessing is the care and watch of a gospel-church, when so many are our temptations, so great our dangers. (J. Hill.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.WEB: Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall. |
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