1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you. I. I shall EXPLAIN THE ADMONITION, "Take heed to thyself." 1. The object of your solicitude, this will be yourself. It is your soul — a man's soul is himself. What is the garment to the body which it clothes? What is the body to the soul which inhabits it? 2. The manner in which this solicitude for the soul is expressed — "Take heed." How often is that admonition repeated in Scripture; and generally to some subject connected with man's spiritual and eternal interests I Man is heedful enough in reference to his worldly concerns, but he is the most heedless being in reference to his spiritual interests. Salvation is not a trifling work; religion is not an insignificant matter; — it requires that we "take heed." II. I am TO ENFORCE THIS ADMONITION. And here the motives are so numerous that selection is more difficult than enumeration. 1. But, in the first place, I would remind you of the inconceivable value and infinite importance of that for which your solicitude is demanded. 2. Take heed to the soul, for the soul's salvation is the most rational, the most befitting exercise of that self-love which our Creator has implanted in our nature as our impetus to happiness. There is a great difference between selfishness and self-love. It cannot be vicious for a man to desire to be happy, nor is there any virtue in it. It is only an instinct of nature, but then it is a most important one; and the man that is not taking heed to his soul is acting in opposition to this self-love — this instinct of his nature after happiness. 3. But I observe there is another motive to take heed to thyself — it is the command of God. If it were only advice on the part of the Creator — since He knows the whole of the case, since His eye looks onward to eternity, since He comprehends the whole range of being, since He knows what is destined for the righteous and the wicked in another world — the creature must be under the influence of a total disregard to his own happiness, who refuses the counsel of the Almighty. 4. I remark, that if we do not take heed to ourselves, all the solicitudes which others may have cherished, or may still feel for us, will be all in vain. 5. I urge this admonition to take heed to yourselves by the consideration that it is indispensably necessary — you cannot be saved without it. There are difficulties connected with salvation. If you are saved, there must be striving, watching, and praying. Can all this be done without taking heed to your souls? 6. I admonish you to take heed to yourselves, by showing you that all the solicitude you may feel, or profess to feel for others, cannot be accepted in you for solicitude for yourselves. 7. I urge this on you from the consideration, that so far from interfering with or injuring your doings for the benefit of others, the more heed you take to yourselves, the better qualified will you be to take heed to others. There is nothing in a strict attention to your own personal salvation, incompatible with the salvation of others.And now permit me, in conclusion, to take up the subject — 1. By way of examination. 2. Let me take up the subject by way of expostulation, what have you taken heed to if you have not taken heed to yourselves?How has your time been occupied? How have your faculties been employed? What have you found more valuable than your soul, more important than salvation, more endurable than eternity, more desirable than heaven? (J . A. James.) Parallel Verses KJV: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. |
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