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Over confidence in a religious profession is one of the most perilous of Christian faults. He who presumes upon his position and his privileges is only too likely to be unwatchful of his conduct. A solemn lesson is learned from the wilderness life of God's people Israel. Though so honoured, so guarded, so guided, and so provided for, only a very few of those who came out of Egypt kept their faithfulness and were permitted to enter the "promised land." "It is not sufficient to have been admitted into the Christian covenant; we need watchfulness in order to use our privileges aright" (Romans 11:20).

1. Distinguish between the man who "standeth" and the man who "thinketh" he standeth."

2. The man who "standeth" is not, necessarily, in any danger of falling.

3. The man who "thinketh he standeth" has just cause to fear. So we are led to understand that a man's moral peril never lies merely in the circumstances in which he is placed; never merely in his outward surroundings, but always in his inward moods - in his conditions of mind and feeling, and the relations in which they set him towards outward circumstances. Our standing or our falling depends on our heart rightness. Anywhere we might stand if but our heart be right with God. Everywhere we must fall if we fail to "keep our heart with all diligence." And what may we regard as the one essential thing in heart rightness? Surely it is the humility that keeps us ever leaning hard on our strong Lord, hiding in him when calamities come nigh, doing all things only "through him that strengtheneth us." It may be urged, in conclusion, that the falls of the self secure and over confident are usually sudden, violent, and overwhelming falls; though even these may be only permitted to break down the over confidence and to humble them under God's mighty hand. - R.T.

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KJV: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

WEB: Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.