Self Examination

by Chris Simmons

God will indeed judge us all, but we are blessed with countless opportunities to take a look at our lives and make the necessary preparations and corrections that will make us able to stand before Him acceptably one day. We must, therefore, take advantage of every opportunity we have to examine ourselves. Paul talked about the fact that God will ultimately judge us by His standards but, yet, he also indicated man's need for continual self-examination to make sure he is staying on the straight and narrow path. "But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord" (I Corinthians 4:3-4). We have this responsibility individually and we have this responsibility collectively as a congregation. For example, gospel meetings are not designed for us to think about other congregations but to be introspective and examine our own selves as a congregation in light of the messages to the seven churches of Asia. We must take such opportunities for self-examination seriously and soberly.

We are commanded to make such self-examinations. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 13:5, "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test?" Two different Greek words are used in this verse. "Peirazo" ("test") and "dokimazo" ("examine") are used in this verse and include the idea of examining for that which is evil ("test") as well as the idea of examining for that which is good and acceptable. Our self-examination needs to be complete, looking for sinful practices to be eliminated as well as looking for those Godly qualities that we may need to put on.

Just as distorted mirrors can provide for faulty self-examinations of our physical appearance, so too must our spiritual examination be free from distortions. The only valid basis for self-examinations is found in the word of God. In James 1:22-25, James provides the analogy of self-examination to that of looking in a mirror. The mirror we must look into for an accurate assessment of our spiritual condition is mentioned in verse 25, "But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." The Psalmist said in Psalms 119:59, "I considered my ways, And turned my feet to Thy testimonies." Any other measure will not give us an accurate assessment.

Our self-examinations need to be properly prioritized. Jesus said in Matthew 7:5, "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Before we examine others, we are commanded to look first to ourselves to see if we are in need of spiritual improvement. Paul said in Galatians 6:1 & 4, "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted … But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another." Before we apply spiritual lessons or exhortations to other brethren or other congregations, let us apply spiritual truths to ourselves first.

Our self-examinations must be honest and accurate. We might possibly be as the Laodicean congregation who had deluded themselves into assessing that they were spiritually "rich" when in fact and in truth, they were "… wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17). As noted earlier, James speaks of this need for an accurate self-examination in James 1:23-25, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." Those who don't apply and live "the word" are said to be those who "delude themselves" (James 1:22). Are we also guilty of looking into the mirror, that is the word of God, and forgetting what manner of person or congregation we really are?

Our self-examination, individually or collectively, must be complete, examining such things as: what we yet lack. Jesus helped the rich young man in his self-examination in Mark 10:21 by pointing out, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Can we look to our own lives and identify what is lacking based on God's word? Our examinations must also look to our attitudes. Paul challenged the Corinthians to examine themselves in regards to their attitude towards "coming together" and partaking of the Lord's Supper in I Corinthians 11:28. Our examination must include a consideration for the efforts of our adversary in our lives. Paul urged the brethren in Corinth, not to be "… ignorant of his schemes" (II Corinthians 2:11) and we are all called to be prepared to battle against the "… schemes of the devil …" (Ephesians 6:11). We also need a clear assessment of what is most important in our lives as we respond to the command to "… seek first His kingdom and His righteousness …" (Matthew 6:33). Many other aspects are worthy of our individual and collective self-examinations but these indicate the great need that is continually before us.

God has put an "open door" before us for us as a congregation to examine ourselves. Will we take advantage of it?