Pay Attention to Yourself

Today, it is nearly impossible to purchase any consumer good that
does not display a warning on the label. The first warning labels
appeared in the late 1920’s on hazardous household substances
such as lye and acids. Some thirty years later, the widespread
requirement for precautionary warning labels was implemented by
federal agencies. Now, thousands upon thousands of products from
chemical products, industrial machinery to medications and
children’s toys display warnings to consumers.
When it comes to warnings, the Bible is not short in providing
spiritual cautions for the follower of Christ. The term “take heed”
appears some twenty-one times in the New King James translation
of the New Testament. Other versions use the phrases “watch out”,
“be careful”, and “pay close attention”, all preceding cautionary
instructions for the Christian. Why all the warnings? A brief review of
just some of the admonitions found in the Scriptures will help us
realize the importance of paying close attention to ourselves and our
spiritual well-being.
• Beware of Hypocritical Religious Behavior (Matt. 16:6)
• Watch that the Light in You Doesn’t Turn into Darkness (Luke
11:35)
• Beware of Materialism, Life Consist of More than Your Stuff (Luke
12:15)
• Pay Attention to Yourself and Forgive Those that Hurt You (Luke
17:3)
• Don’t Get Weighed Down by Wasteful Living and the Cares of Life
(Luke 21:34)
• Be Careful that You Build on the Foundation of Christ (1 Cor. 3:10)
• Pay Close Attention to Your Standing Lest You May Fall (1 Cor.
10:12)
• Take Heed to the Doctrine of Christ that Saves You (1 Tim. 4:16)
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in
which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).
Jay Launius