Take Heed to Yourself 

by Al Diestelkamp

If you’ve ever flown on a commercial airline has witnessed a flight attendant giving safety instructions “in case of an emergency.” First-time flyers may give undivided attention to the routine while experienced flyers busy themselves with their electronic devices or other distractions. The memorized instructions have become so ignored that some flight attendants have turned the memorized instructions into a comedy routine which delights even the most frequent flyers and distracts the nervous ones from the seriousness of the information.

I recently attended a half-day seminar designed for caregivers of loved ones who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Before discussing how to deal with the common physical and cognitive issues of the patients, the doctor projected onto a screen a picture of a flight attendant going through the safety routine. He specifically drew our attention to the instructions given in the event of the loss of cabin pressure which causes oxygen masks to drop from above. If traveling with a small child or other person unable to administer the oxygen without help, one is instructed to put on his own mask before aiding a dependent one. This instruction goes against what one would do by instinct but is necessary because one must be able to breathe in order to help the helpless. The doctor’s point to the caregivers was to take care of yourself (physically and emotionally) so that you can provide the care needed for the loved one.

There’s also a lesson in this regarding our spiritual health. I immediately thought of the apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy to “Take heed to yourself and to doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16). A few verses earlier, Paul had urged Timothy to make sure he was able to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (v.12). Timothy would be able to help his brethren to conduct themselves in righteousness only if his own life was in order. The true Christian is to “look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4). In order to do this, he must first put his own life in order. I am not suggesting one must have attained sinless perfection before teaching others, but he must at least be self-controlled and submissive to the Lord and willing to repent when confronted with his sin.

Besides the previously mentioned admonitions which Paul gave to Timothy, the notice James issues to teachers that they will “receive a stricter judgment” (Jas. 3:1) is followed by some “take heed” warnings about the need to control an unruly tongue. Also, the Hebrew writer’s lament that some, by reason of time, “ought to be teachers” but instead needed to be taught the very first principles (Heb. 5:12) proves that teachers need to “take heed to themselves” in preparation to effectively teach others.

Elders are told to “take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers…” (Ac. 20:28). While there is no fault in placing emphasis on evangelism, the shepherds’ primary role is to “shepherd the flock of God which is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2). The kingdom of Christ is not advanced by evangelism unless the existing flock is protected, fed, and maintained. This requires discipline and gospel preaching and teaching that includes refutation of false doctrines (even when advanced by sincere, morally upright, but mistaken religious people). The apostle John wrote, “Look to yourselves” as he warned about someone coming among them who “transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ” and commands “do not receive him” (see 2 Jn. 7-11).

The apostle Peter tells wives who want their unbelieving husbands to become obedient to the Lord to be submissive and display “chaste conduct accompanied by fear” (1 Pet. 3:1-4). In other words, he is essentially telling them to first “take heed to themselves,” and it will be noticed.

Fathers who want to bring up their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4) will succeed only if they will first “take heed to themselves” and be the spiritual leaders and examples in the home. Fathers who become “busy” with other activities which take priority over their children are guilty of spiritual child neglect. This includes preachers. It is good for preachers to be able to hold gospel meetings, attend lectureships, and be involved in other spiritual works, but those who over-book themselves for such activities, taking them away from home too much, need to learn to turn down some requests and opportunities. To do otherwise is like a parent on the plane affixing his oxygen mask on his face first and then proceeding to help other passengers while leaving his own child to die.

 

     

  Other Articles by Al Distelkamp 
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