One of the most challenging actions a person can take is to thoroughly examine themselves in the light of Scripture. Isn’t it always easier to point out the shortcomings of others rather than truly recognize the problems with ourselves? Self-examination is a Biblical principal.
2 Corinthians 13:5 states: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test?”
Jesus made it very plain that self-inspection is part of the Christian life when he said in Luke 6:41&42, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
As a society you must admit that we are very hypocritical in our judgment of others, often using much more stringent criteria that we apply to ourselves. (Certainly in politics this is true.) True self-examination involves your inner life, not a superficial examination but truly in-depth.
It is not easy. Sometimes submitting to the decrees of God is difficult. Loving your neighbor as yourself, loving your enemy and forgiving seventy times seven-these are difficult if you try to accomplish them with only your power in life.
The true Christian will ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the inner shortcomings in their life-those attitudes and actions that keep us from having a deeper relationship with Christ and our fellow man.
The only thing that can be harmed by Biblical self-examination is the counterfeit and if you are in that category, you certainly need to know it.
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