2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have worked, but that we receive a full reward. It will not do for the sailor, however many dangers he may have passed safely through, or however far he may have advanced upon the voyage, to become unwatchful. While he is upon the sea he is in peril. So is it with the Christian, who is called so to pass through the waves of this troublesome world. It will not do for him to furl his sails, to neglect his compass, or to drop his hold upon the helm. I. "Look to yourselves." There is a looking to ourselves that is wrong, which we are to be careful to avoid, and which we are bound to overcome. Selfishness — the looking to ourselves, keeping always in view what we think is for our own personal interest or advantage — is one of the surest signs of a worldly and unbelieving mind. There is also a looking to ourselves in carnal confidence — putting confidence in our own goodness. What, then, are we to understand by "looking to ourselves?" When a man is going upon a dangerous journey, in which he may be very apt to make a false step or a slip — and that slip may cost him his life — you would naturally say to him, "Look to yourself." "Do not," you would say, "let your attention be distracted, or taken up by the things you see upon the road; do not let anything carry you out of your way, but 'look to yourself'; see that you are going right, see that you do not get betrayed into an unexpected snare, where you may lose yourself." Pay perpetual attention to the motives by which you are governed — to the ends you have in view, to the plans you are laying — see that they are all in accordance with God's truth and will; see that they are such as become the disciples of Christ; see that you are "walking worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called." Do not suppose it is all right with you, because you are comfortable and at ease, but suspect yourselves. We look at others often when we are hearing God's Word, and think how suitable the word is to such and such an individual, and how exactly it fits the case of another. But are we looking to ourselves? II. Note how beautifully this venerable and ripened servant of God, who stood prominent among the twelve, and who was now, we have every reason to suppose, a hoary-headed soldier in the army of Christ; look how he, with all humility, brings in himself; how he slips out of the address to others into an address that includes himself. At first he says, "Look to yourselves"; but he adds, "that we lose not the things which we have wrought." What are we to understand by "the things which we have wrought"? and what by "losing those things which we have wrought "? By "those things which we have wrought" is meant that work which through God's grace has been accomplished in us and by us, in the times that are gone past. Is there any Christian that has not a recollection of this? Yet all need to have their recollection revived and refreshed. To look back upon your high privileges: you have been taught from your earliest days that you ought to be "born again"; you can recollect when God led you to know and see the way of reconciliation for your sin, and to find your peace in the righteousness of Christ your Saviour. What holy thankfulness! What fervour of first love filled your hearts! You can recollect how careful and anxious you were not to offend — how you studied to know the will of God in all things. Consider the things that you wrought in former days. Where are they now? Are they still with you, or have they passed away? They may be lost. Can any man in a world like ours, with a mind like ours, and Satan's machinations ever against him, declare he is not in danger "of losing what he hath wrought"? III. And let us take heed for others, because if we lose the "things which we have wrought" we shall also fail in the "recompense of the reward." "That we receive a full reward." It is called a reward in this sense because, though it is the free gift of God, it pleased God to ordain that in this world and in the world to come it should be proportionate to a man's diligence, and to the fruits he brings forth. We are judged solely with regard to our works; and the measure of our fidelity will be the measure of our "recompense of reward." And this is true in this present world. "Every one that hath," says Christ, "is to make more of the talent that is given to him, whether it be money or diligence, and he shall have more." "He that is a righteous man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger." Such an one "shall be as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." What a sad thing to have laboured in vain! What a sad thing for the Christian to lose the ground he has gained! Just as in the "Pilgrim's Progress," where the traveller Zion-ward is toiling up the hill to reach the City of Life. With many a weary step and many a straining muscle he has reached high upon the hill; but becoming weary or languid, or amusing himself with the landscape around him, or beguiled by the conversation of his fellow-pilgrims, or looking anxiously back at something left behind at the bottom of the mountain, he begins to slip backwards — he slips backwards unawares, step by step, till he finds himself not midway but wholly down at the bottom where he started from. What a sad and bitter thought — "I have lost all.! I had just got up high; I have to go through all the mire and dust again! I have to begin again!" "Wherefore the rather, give diligence to make your calling and election sure," and do not lose the things which you have wrought; but rather go on from grace to grace and from strength to strength. (H. Stowell, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. |
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