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I. WHAT THE TEXT FORBIDS.

1. Negatively. Not proper self-attention, which reason and Scripture combine to enforce. You may, and aright, look on your own things —

(1) As to the soul. This is the one thing needful.

(2) As to your bodily health, which is to be valued not only for enjoyment, but for usefulness. "Life is yours"; therefore take care of it.

(3) As to your reputation. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches," and a Christian cannot afford to be indifferent to it.

(4) As to the welfare of your family, otherwise you are "worse than an infidel."(5) As to your secular affairs. Idleness is condemned. "If any would not work, neither should he eat"; "not slothful in business."

2. Positively. Look not exclusively. "Also on the things of others"; "No man liveth unto himself"; "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

II. WHAT IT ENJOINS.

1. How are we to look on the things of others?

(1)  Not inquisitively;

(2)  nor enviously;

(3)  nor unconcernedly;

(4)  but so as to have an interest in them by sympathy.

2. Why are we to look?

(1)  Because God commands it;

(2)  because of our mutual need;

(3)  the pleasures of beneficence;

(4)  the reward of benevolence;

(5)  the example of Christ.

(W. Jay.)

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KJV: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

WEB: each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.