A Summons to Self-Guardianship
W. Jones 2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have worked, but that we receive a full reward. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things, etc. What is the first business of the Christian in relation to error? To oppose it? To denounce it? To expose it? Some at once rush to attack it, even before they are well acquainted with its character and tendency and power: an unwise and presumptuous course. Others examine error that they may understand it thoroughly, and then combat it successfully: this is sometimes perilous. When a contagious disease is prevalent, the prudent man shuns the habitations into which it has entered (unless duty summon him to them), and endeavours to maintain his own health and vigour. And when error, with its moral contagion, is abroad, the wise man will at once guard himself against it. Even when we are certain that certain opinions are false, and that the errors relate to a fundamental question or questions, the prudent course for the great majority of true believers is to look to their own faith and life, and leave it to the few competent champions of truth to expose and overthrow the error. Basing our remarks on the Revised Version of our text, let us notice - I. THE DANGER TO BE GUARDED AGAINST. "That ye lose not the things which we have wrought." Whether the genuine reading is "we have wrought" or "ye have wrought" is uncertain. But adopting the former, the "we have wrought" signifies the work of the apostle and other Christian ministers, "through which those who were addressed had been brought to conversion, and furthered in their Christian course to the present time; and by 'the things which we have wrought' we are to understand that stage of salvation to which, through those labours, the elect lady and her children had attained" (Ebrard). The text is a warning to the true Christian against loss. It somewhat corresponds with the words of the glorified Lord in Revelation 2:25 and Revelation 3:11. What we have of Christian attainment - of sound doctrine, of spiritual life, of holy conduct, and of faithful labour for Christ - we must hold fast, that none should cause us to lose it, and so deprive us of our reward. The loss of which St. John wrote was one of which there was danger from errors of faith. And in his view, if faith lost its purity, Christian love would be imperiled and injured, and the whole tone and power of Christian life impaired. In our own day the peril of being led astray from truth is very great. We do not say that we are to rest satisfied with what we know, as though we had grasped all truth; or that we are to condemn an opinion as false because it is opposed to certain opinions of ours; or that we are to sit in judgment upon those who differ from us. That is the part of the bigot, not of the intelligent and devout Christian. But beware lest any one lead you from your faith in the great essential verities of Christianity revealed in the sacred Scriptures. As to the great facts of the incarnation, the atonement, and the resurrection of our Lord, "look to yourselves that" your faith in these be not shaken. As to the mode of these facts we may lawfully differ; but as to the facts themselves, he who believes in the Bible as the Word of God can admit neither doubt nor question. If there be loss in our faith, that loss will ere long manifest itself in our life. If belief be corrupted, the practice also will become corrupt. Injury to our religious convictions will soon show itself in the deterioration of our general actions. And even if faith be not corrupted, if it be only weakened, that weakened faith will result in a less intense love to God, in less hearty obedience to him, in less faithful service, and in a less brilliant crown in heaven. "Look to yourselves," then, that ye lose nothing of your true faith, your holy love, your fervent zeal, etc. II. THE OBJECT TO BE ATTAINED. "That ye receive a full reward." This exhortation implies that the rewards of heaven will correspond with the acquisitions made in Christian character, and the work accomplished for our Lord upon earth. 1. These rewards will be in proportion with our acquisitions in Divine grace. This is inevitable; for glory is the flower of which grace is the bud. The measure of grace must determine the measure of glory. Our fitness or capacity for reward must necessarily have much to do in determining the measure of our reward. 2. These rewards will also be in proportion with our true work for our Lord Jesus Christ. The sacred Scriptures do not teach the meritoriousness of good works, but they clearly teach that faithful service will be rewarded by God, and that there will be a proportion between the service and the reward, as the following portions show: Daniel 12:3; Matthew 10:41, 42; Matthew 25:21, 23, 34-40; Luke 6:23; Luke 19:16-19; John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 3:14. But the rewards of fidelity and of service in Christ's Name must be attributed, not to the merit of the servants, but to the grace of the great Master. That we get any reward at all is owing to the favour of our God. But the grace of God is opposed neither to those laws of the human mind which point towards this diversity in the degree of the rewards of the faithful, nor to that Divine righteousness which points in the same direction. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work," etc. (Hebrews 6:10). The extent and quality of personal faith, character, and service are the measures of personal glory and reward. Therefore let us aim at the highest in personal character, and the best in personal service; let us labour that we may "receive a full reward" III. THE MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED "Look to yourselves," etc. Be on your guard, that you are not led astray from the true faith of Christ by these deceivers; diligently use the means, so "that ye lose not the things which we have wrought," etc. 1. Guard against error in your religious faith. The things that we really and heartily believe are of the utmost importance to us. Avoid, on the one hand, bigotry, and on the other, laxity of religious belief. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." Let no one tamper with your faith in the grand verities of Christianity. 2. Seek to know more of Christian truth. "Search the Scriptures." By so doing you will become established in the true faith; and if in anything your faith be erroneous or defective, by bringing it to the touchstone of the Word of God you will discover the error or defect. 3. Maintain your spiritual vitality. In seasons of prevalent disease persons whose physical vitality is low are most likely to fall victims to it. So a low state of piety renders a man an easy prey to error. One of the most effective safeguards against the corruption of our faith is a healthy, vigorous, spiritual life. 4. The most effective way of looking to ourselves is looking earnestly to Christ. That will secure our safety, our progress, and our full reward. Some set out in Christian life and service with fervent zeal, and work earnestly for a time, and then grow lukewarm, and decline into almost useless servants. Great will be their loss, and eternal. Let it not be so with us. Let us be covetous of a rich reward, and ambitious of a splendid crown, and diligent both in the pursuit of holiness and of duties of the Divine Master's service, that at last we may have a triumphal "entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." - W.J. Parallel Verses KJV: Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. WEB: Watch yourselves, that we don't lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.