May 12

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. - Philippians 2:4.

LET us inquire,-First, How are we to look on the things of others? In answer to this we would observe, we are not to look upon them inquisitively. We are not to pry into other people’s history, their condition and circumstances, from mere curiosity, or vanity of mind, or in order to furnish materials for the tongue. If this be not absolute vice, it is a great vexation, and great impertinence; and it is found to prevail principally among women who have no families, and men who have no business, and all those who do nothing and have nothing to do; for, as Watts observes,-

“Satan finds some mischief still

For idle hands to do.”

“And,” says Bishop Hall, “our idle days are always the devil’s busiest ones.” Paul therefore says, speaking to the Thessalonians, “We hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.” If persons will conduct themselves uncivilly, if they will draw upon themselves reproach by meddling with the concerns of every one rather than their own, let them bear the consequences; but let it not be supposed that it is religion that makes them uncivil, but the want of it. Let them remember the language of the Apostle Peter: -“Lot none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”

Again, we are not to look upon them enviously. “Be not thou afraid,” says David, “when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his own soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” It is as if he should say, Envying others on account of the distinctions and acquisitions around you is not worthy of you. What is man the better for them? But, oh, what evil is there in that temper to the person himself! It is earthly, sensual, devilish. Milton describes Satan as looking on the happiness of Adam and Eve in Paradise, and then turning away with a malignant leer. What a wretched, cursed disposition is this, for a man to be uneasy because another is at his ease; to be miserable because another is happy, and to dislike him just in proportion as by his excellency and success he should love and rejoice in him! Yet this principle is so common, it is so powerful and subtle in its various workings, that Solomon says, “Who can stand before envy?”

We are not to look upon the things of others unconcernedly, but so as to feel for them, so as to have an interest in them by sympathy, so as to make them in a sense our own, so that if the subjects of them rejoice we may “rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Common sense tells us what must be the meaning of the apostle here; that when he says, “Look on the things of others,” he cannot mean with such a look as the priest and the Levite gave to the poor, wounded traveller, and then went to the other side; but he must mean such a look as that the eye should affect the heart; such a look as should awaken commiseration and produce corresponding emotions and exertions.