A.In the likeness of Jesus, Christians are to consider others’ needs above their own.Consider Philippians 2:3-5:
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…
B.However, in order to be lead others to the Lord or in the Lord, one of the most important rules to follow is to consider your own spiritual condition first.
1.No man can lead others to places he is not willing to enter himself.He cannot lead from behind by only pushing and prodding, for people can only be led when there is someone to follow.
2.For this reason, each of us must see to our own spiritual conditions first before we can help others.This is not selfishness, but rather it is in the best interest of others that we first be grounded in our own faith in Christ before we attempt to lead anyone else to Him.
II.LOOK TO YOURSELF FIRST
A.Preachers of the gospel must first live by the gospel before they can effectively teach it to others.
1.The most disqualifying characteristic for any preacher or teacher is hypocrisy.If a man will not abide by his own message, then no one else is likely to listen to him even if his message is true.
2.Paul made the importance of a preacher matching his words with his deeds abundantly clear in 1Timothy 4:11-16 when he wrote the following to the younger evangelist:
Prescribe and teach these things.Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.(Emphasis added)
a.The last verse gives the two parts of any gospel preacher’s ministry that are essential for success in his work: the purity of his personal conduct and the soundness of his teaching.
b.By this, we see that the way a preacher lives is as important as the message he preaches in terms of his effectiveness as a teacher of God’s word.He cannot lift his hearers to a higher level of spirituality than he is willing to achieve himself.
B.Elders in the church must first oversee themselves and their families before they oversee the household of God.
1.In the qualifications of overseers given in 1Timothy 3:1-7, nothing is given greater emphasis than a man’s proven ability to control himself and his family.Notice verses 4-5:
He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)…
a.The question of verse 5 is a very practical one.If a man has demonstrated an inability to lead the few members of his own family in the faith, then he will not succeed in leading the many members of the church in the faith.
b.This has an even greater application concerning his personal conduct (see vv. 2-3, 7), for his example to the church will be as important as his words in terms of his leadership.
2.Notice that when Paul warned the Ephesian elders of the approaching danger of false teachers, he said, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers…” (Acts 20:28).
a.The elders were not to guard merely the church, but first they had to guard themselves.Indeed, the dangerous false teachers would arise from among those very men (Acts 20:30).
b.This shows that elders who do not look to their own spiritual soundness put the entire congregation at risk, for if the elders go astray, then the whole flock may also follow them into error.
C.Any Christian who seeks to restore a sinful brother must first set his own life in order before he can assist another.
1.This requirement is stated clearly in Galatians 6:1:
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
a.When a brother is caught in a trespass, it is necessary for a well qualified Christian to reach out to him to bring him to repentance.
b.The Christian who is qualified for the work of restoration must first be spiritual (see Gal. 5:22-26).Secondly, he must guard himself from temptation or else he may find himself in the same trespass as his brother.
2.Furthermore, Jesus gave instructions for how a man can "take the speck out of [his] brother’s eye” in Matthew 7:1-5:
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged.For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
a.This passage is often mistakenly used to teach Christians not to make any judgments about others.In truth, Jesus is teaching us how to help one another overcome sins.
b.Jesus corrects the hypocrite who overlooks his own grievous error while pointing out his brother’s minor mistakes.He did not say to ignore a brother’s minor mistake, but rather He indicated that a Christian should correct his own faults first and then help his brother.The end result is that all of the errors are addressed.
D.Parents cannot effectively teach the word of God to their children unless they are first willing to obey it themselves.
1.Notice how Moses commanded Israel to first exalt God and write His word in their own hearts before they taught their children in Deuteronomy 6:5-7:
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
2.Today, it is still each father’s responsibility to bring up his children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), and that must begin with his own discipline and instruction.
a.Any father who says to his children "Do as I say, not as I do” is destined for failure.His example will always have more impact on his children than his words.If he will not follow Jesus, then his children are also unlikely to follow.
b.Consider Proverbs 20:7, which says, "A righteous man who walks in his integrity – how blessed are his sons after him.”
III.CONCLUSION
A.If we endeavor to lead others to Christ without first being sound in the faith ourselves, then our leadership is destined for failure.
1.We may simply fail to lead others effectively, which is a waste of opportunity.
2.We may mislead others into error, which is produces a result that is opposite from that which the truth of God should produce.
3.We may be misled ourselves because we were too weak to resist the temptations and influences involved with the sinners we engaged.
B.Therefore, let us be certain to look to own spiritual wellbeing first before we look to the spiritual wellbeing of others.We do not have to be perfect, but we do need to stand firmly on the word of God as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2Pet. 3:17-18).Consider Paul’s words in 1Corinthians 9:26-27:
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
