Look to Yourselves by C. Pike

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 15, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 39.

Look to Yourselves.

By C. Pike

No one has a religion that does not need watching. The most fragrant odors need to be kept the closest corked; thus the better your religion, the more anxious Satan is to find a way to it. People's religion sometimes leaks out while they are watching others. They seem to know more about their neighbor's religion than their own. Such people are always questioning whether any has the right kind, and they are as doubtful of themselves as they are of others. "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

Business men watch against failures; so must the Christian. "What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch." Caution is highly recommended by all the sacred writers. Be circumspect as to your love one for another. Be circumspect as to your doctrine. Let it compare with the Bible in all its ramifications. You are God's advertiser. Be cautious how you advertise the doctrines which you profess to believe. If you would have others indorse your faith, live so as to commend it to others. There is a possibility of a failure, not on God's part, but on yours. Look to yourself. It is your business to know that you are all right with God. See that you attend to it first of all. If you are not all you should be, you had better not criticise your neighbor. Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and confirm the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Men in business are constantly examining the prices of the day to know the rise and fall of stocks; thus it is the imperative duty of every professed Christian to know daily whether his religious stock on hand is at or below par value. Those who pay the strictest attention to their own account, have the least to do with others.

Those who meet with a failure at last, will sustain a great loss,—both worlds gone, and all the joys attendant on an immortal life. Men fail in business, but set up and try again; not so with the man who has come to the Judgment, and finds his effort abortive. No chance then, for the door of mercy is closed.

Well might the apostle say, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." Saved or lost, life or death, will be the final conclusion of the existence of every mortal creature. The same will be said to the man of two talents as to the man of ten talents, "Enter thou in." Wealth, happiness, honor, rest, health, and an eternal re-union of friends, alike be given them. Look well to yourselves, and be sure your names are written in the Lamb's book of life. "Be still and know that I am God."—C. Pike.