2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

During a preflight demonstration a flight attendant shows you how to apply the oxygen mask. Instructions are given to place this on yourself before applying to young children. The natural instincts of loving parents is to insure the safety of the children first.

Now let us apply this same principle to the Word of the Lord. There are times when you come across a Word of the Lord that is needful, much like the oxygen is needful. Do you think about someone who could be encouraged or instructed or chastened as a needful thing? Perhaps you do because it is part of this ministry of fellowship to which we all share.

Did you apply that Word of the Lord to yourself first?

Natural instincts are to help those you love but in order to do that, we need to make sure we have put on the Word ourselves first before we can help others.

Ecclesiastes 8:9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

If you do not apply the Word of the Lord to yourself first, you are only lording it over others.