"TAKE HEED TO THYSELF"

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Few people today understand they have a personal responsibility
      for their own souls. Matt. 16:26
   B. They diligently care for themselves physically, but not        
      spiritually.
      1. First and foremost, we should be concerned about our own
         souls.
      2. "Take heed to thyself" was a commandment given to the
         Ephesian elders and to Timothy, the evangelist. Acts 20:28;
         1 Tim. 4:16
         a. Notice the spiritual responsibilities in these verses.
   C. Let us consider some responsibilities to ourselves.

I. FIRST, WE NEED TO KNOW OURSELVES.
   A. If one does not understand himself, how can he understand
      others?
      1. One young person said he was trying to find himself. We ask,
         "How will he find himself when he doesn't know what he is
         looking for?"
      2. To truly know one's own heart is not an easy task. Jer.     
         17:9; Prov. 4:23
      3. Due to peer pressure, we often play many different roles
         around different people.
      4. Andrea Miller, in her book, The Single Woman, wrote an
         interesting confession that describes a modern day          
         hypocrite. She said that she realized she was in reality    
         living several lives. One was that of a young executive in a
         company, wearing professional clothes that made her look    
         like a business woman. In the evenings and on the weekends, 
         she redid her hair and dressed to acquire the "swinging     
         singles" look. She would go to the singles' bars, and do the
         things the swinging singles did. However, when she would    
         write home to her parents she took on another personality.  
         To them, she was still that good little girl, being nice,   
         and working hard.
      5. Remember, we might be able to deceive other people, but
         not God. 
   B. Some think they know their own hearts, but in reality they     
      don't. 2 Kings 8:7-12; Matt. 26:31-35
      1. We come to fully know our own hearts when we have been
         tested. 1 Cor. 10:12; Deut. 8:1-3

II. WE NEED TO RESPECT OURSELVES.
   A. Some people have no respect for themselves.
      1. The Bible says, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." But, "What  
         if one does not love himself?" Some people don't.
      2. We can get into a situation where we are extremely hard on
         ourselves.
         a. People go to extremes; either they ignore their faults or
            they beat up on themselves because of them.
         b. At times, the Psalmists were brought very low. Psalm
            31:9-10
      3. This from Bible Illustrator: "I was reading recently about a
         young lawyer who descended into the valley of despondency.
         Things were going so poorly for him that his friends thought
         it best to keep all knives and razors away from him for fear
         of a suicide attempt. In fact, during this time he wrote, 'I
         am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever  
         be better, I cannot tell. I fear I shall not.' Who was this 
         young lawyer who unleashed these desperate feelings of utter
         hopelessness? His name was Abraham Lincoln."
      4. The Psalmist went on to say - Psalm 31:22,24.

III. WE NEED TO EXAMINE OURSELVES.
   A. We need to ask ourselves, "Is my religion right with God?" 2
      Cor. 13:5
      1. University of Wisconsin historian Thomas Reeves indicts
         popular religious belief and service. He writes:            
         "Christianity in modern America is, in large part,          
         innocuous. It tends to be easy, upbeat, convenient, and     
         compatible. It does not require self-sacrifice, discipline, 
         humility, an other-world outlook, a zeal for souls, a fear  
         as well as love of God. There is little guilt and no        
         punishment, and it imagines that the payoff in heaven is    
         virtually certain."
      2. Indeed, most religious people today are given over to the
         social gospel, and their churches are nothing more than
         social clubs.
      3. What we need today is a true revival, restoring the old     
         paths that lead to salvation. Jer. 6:16
   B. Also, we need to ask ourselves, "Is my life right with God?
      1. At times, some deep soul-searching is in order.
      2. If we think we can please God by just hearing the word, we
         deceive ourselves. James 1:22-25
         a. It was Will Rogers who said, "Even though you are on
            the right track, if you don't move, you will be run      
            over."
         b. Those who are not active in the kingdom will be cast
            out by the Lord. Rev. 3:16
         c. Let us not be hearers only, but doers of the word.

IV. WE NEED TO CONTROL OURSELVES. 1 Cor. 9:24-27
   A. We are the masters (controllers) of our own lives.
      1. We need to control our thoughts. 2 Cor. 10:4
      2. We need to control our tongues. James 1:26
         a. Before repeating something we've heard, we need to
            ask ourselves? Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
         b. Several years ago, Dr. Albert H. Cantril, a professor at
            Princeton University, conducted a series of experiments
            to demonstrate how quickly rumors spread. He called
            six students to his office and in strict confidence
            informed them that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
            were planning to attend a certain university dance.
            Within a week, this completely fictitious story had
            reached nearly every student on campus. Town officials
            phoned the university, demanding to know why they had
            not been informed. Press agencies were frantically
            telephoning for details. Dr Cantril observed, "That was a
            pleasant rumor - a slanderous one travels even faster."
      3. We need to control our actions. Eph. 5:3-7
         a. "Actions speak louder than words." "I can't hear your
            words because your actions deafen me."
         b. We are known by our fruits. Matt. 7:16
      4. We need to control our influence.
         a. People read us by our actions. 2 Cor. 3:2-3
         b. Throw a rock into a pond and the ripples go out in all
            directions.
         c. What is the gospel according to you?
         d. Here are the words of an old song entitled, "The
            World's Bible."
         e. Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today;
            He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way; He
            has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how He died;
            He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.
            We are the only Bible the careless world will read; We
            are the sinner's gospel; we are the scoffer's creed; We
            are the Lord's last message given in deed and word.
            What if the type is crooked? What if the print is        
            blurred?

V. WE NEED TO IMPROVE OURSELVES.
   A. If one is not a Christian, wouldn't he improve himself greatly 
      by becoming a Christian?
      1. One must be concerned enough about his own soul to do
         whatever is necessary to save it.
      2. Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21
   B. All Christians should seek to improve themselves.
      1. Usually, there is plenty of room in this area.
      2. Paul, a strong Christian, to say the least, kept pressing   
         on. Phil. 3:13-14
      3. We need to strive to be more like our heavenly Father. Matt.
         5:48
      4. We improve ourselves by not thinking too highly of
         ourselves. Gal. 6:3; 1 Cor. 3:18-21
      5. It is a paradox in the way the Christian aids himself.
         a. Some Bible Paradoxes:
            We conquer by yielding (Rom. 6:16-18).
            We find rest under a yoke (Mt. 11:28-30).
            We find our life by losing it (Matt. 10:39)
            We reign by serving (Mark 10:42-44).
            We are made great by being the least (Luke 9:48).
            We are exalted by being humble (Matt. 23:12).
            We become wise by becoming fools (1 Cor. 3:18). 
            We are made free by becoming bondservants (Rom.
            6:18). 
            We wax strong by being weak (2 Cor. 12:10).
            We triumph by defeat (2 Cor. 12:7-9). 
            And, we live by dying (John 12:24-25).

Concl.
   A. Thus, "Take heed to thyself."
      1. We need to know, respect, examine, control, and improve
         ourselves.
      2. We all need to care enough for ourselves that we will save
         our own souls.

Chart #1
"Take Heed To Thyself"
Know Yourself
Respect Yourself
Examine Yourself
Control Yourself
Improve Yourself

Chart #2
The World's Bible
Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way;

He has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible the careless world will read;
We are the sinner's gospel; we are the scoffer's creed;

We are the Lord's last message given in deed and word.
What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

Chart #3
Some Bible Paradoxes
We conquer by yielding (Rom. 6:16-18).
We find rest under a yoke (Mt. 11:28-30).
We find our life by losing it (Matt. 10:39)
We reign by serving (Mark 10:42-44).
We are made great by being the least (Luke 9:48).
We are exalted by being humble (Matt. 23:12).
We become wise by becoming fools (1 Cor. 3:18). 
We are made free by becoming bondservants (Rom. 6:18). 
We wax strong by being weak (2 Cor. 12:10).
We triumph by defeat (2 Cor. 12:7-9). 
And, we live by dying (John 12:24-25).