Watching the Watchman

The scriptures speak of the necessity of watchfulness in the life of a believer.  Jesus bid His followers to watch for His coming.  We are told many times to be watchful in our prayers, knowing what the will of the LORD is.  Those who are born again have been made spiritually alive, and we ought to remain alert and watchful, not spiritually drowsy and dull.  Good watchmen do more than watch:  they are called to effectively communicate with others.  A watchman on the wall guarding the city is not useful if he does not sound the alarm to warn inhabitants of enemies before their arrival.  A shepherd is careful to observe and know the state of his flocks, and Christians are to watch out for the good of others compelled by the love of Jesus.

Watching is good, but the way we watch and communicate is important too.  It seems there are some watchmen whose concerns are so great they feel their knowledge of facts exclude them from following the order laid forth in scripture.  This often becomes a way of dealing with issues among Christians or with a church.  Personal offenses become public on social media with open letters.  To what end?  What does it accomplish but fuel the fires of gossip and confusion, seeking to sow division and uncertainty?  Is it because we doubt the warning of Moses and the ability of God to deal with sinners who do so secretly:  "Be sure your sin will find you out?"  Pointing out the flaws of others is simple, and it is natural to focus on flaws rather than Jesus who unites us.

In the New Testament, the primary emphasis is not placed on us watching others or warning of all the deceptions in the world.  Our focus is to first deal with the log in our own eye rather than focusing on the speck in someone else's eye.  We are to take heed to ourselves.  More than having the facts on our side, we must to share them motivated with love and seasoned with grace in accordance to God's scriptural order.  The internet has given exponential rise to gossip in countless forms which Christians do well to avoid.  Even if we do not contribute to a thread or discussion, what we read can wrongly skew our view of others or cause suspicion to grow.  Much damage has been done by zealous watchmen who have neglected to examine their methods as carefully as the doctrine and deeds of those whom they criticise.

We are to watch, and let us so examine ourselves how, why, and who we watch.  Our eyes ought to be on Christ, and we should examine ourselves according to His example and holiness.  We are called to take heed, be watchful of ourselves.  The following verses are by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it conveys the strong emphasis we ought to have in self confrontation through scriptural examination.  Notice how each individual is to watch and take heed to himself as his primary focus - not others.  Feel free to look up and read these passages in context:

• 1 Timothy 4:16 - "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." 
• Hebrews 3:12-13 - "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
• Galatians 5:13-16 - "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! ¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
• 1 Corinthians 3:10 - "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it."
• Acts 20:28 - "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
• 1 Corinthians 10:12 - "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

Here are some exhortations from Jesus that we take heed to ourselves, not others:

• Matthew 18:10 - "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."
• Luke 17:3-4 - "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
• Mark 13:5 - "And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you."
• Mark 13:32-33 - "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is."
• Luke 11:35 -  "Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness."
• Luke 21:8 - "And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them."

If you are a Christian, you are called to watch.  I exhort you in the name of Jesus to be watchful in your prayers.  I must watch and pray that I do not enter temptation, and you must watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation.  We should be more vigilant in taking heed and watching our own conduct and motives than labouring to uncover and expose the errors of others.  A day may come when God leads us to warn others of potential pitfalls and dangers even as I do now.  But take heed, watch yourself that you do so in a way pleasing to the LORD.  By His grace He has opened our eyes to see and ears to hear.  Let us use them wisely!