Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Why does the word theology turn people off? Perhaps is because they’re sick of school! Theology proper, angelology, christology, ecclesiology, eschatology, harmartiology, pneumotology, soteriology, and so forth! Who wants to read about that?
I’m reminded of one of our teachers back in college and what he called Blue-collar Christianity. He talked about that great basketball player Larry Byrd. There was nothing fancy about him; not alot of hype and style. But he drilled and practiced the fundamentals of basketball; blue-collar basketball. He did a million lay ups, a million foul shots, etc. And when game time came, he got the job done. But it wasn’t anything special or magical, it was blue-collar basketball. Well, this Christian life is not much different. Bible reading, prayer, and going to church may seem mundane to some, but it gets the job done: Blue-collar Christianity, my friend!
We can apply this same concept to bible study, preaching, and the reading of the Word of God. When trying to understand a certain passage in the bible, I’ve found that it’s the basic bible doctrines and teachings that get the job done. I’m all for finding nuggets! But those nuggets are usually formed of the simple, pure truths of God. That’s what makes a nugget a nugget. It’s pure gold. And these pure and simple truths are theology.
I’ve found recently that some of the most moving message I’ve heard from the Word of God are really just blue-collar Theology. I’m talking about the kind of message that changes your life, sets things right in your heart, draws you to God. It’s just simple truths from the Word of God: Who is God? And what are his divine attributes? Theology Proper. What is the church? Eccesiology. What is Jesus preparing for us in glory? Eschatology. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Ghost? Pneumotology. How does one get saved? Soteriology. Do you want to know more about Jesus! Christology.
Look to yourselves! I believe this is like saying Watch Yourself! This is a warning. The preceding verse says For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. It is important and imperative that we study our bible, the things of God, the doctrines of our faith. These are the things that we must not lose. The bible says (Acts 17:11) They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. What Paul is implying when he says Look to yourselves is this: There is a theologian in every believer.