Making time for self-examination …

In spite of the fact the Bible encourages us in multiple places to examine ourselves, and in spite of the fact it takes little more than common sense to understand the value of self-examination, most of us don’t make any time to stop for serious moments of introspection.

Why?

I recently mentioned how a friend was afraid to go see his doctor after developing some unusual physical symptoms. He eventually gave in and went to see his physician, who provided him with a diagnosis of something that wasn’t serious, certainly not life-threatening. But after the appointment, my friend admitted at first he didn’t want to see his doctor because he was afraid he would be told something serious was wrong with him. I think a similar fear is what we allow to keep us from a regular practice of self-examination of our lives — we’re afraid we’ll discover something that isn’t good for us and really should not be part of our lives.

It’s for that very reason we need to build into our lives times for self-evaluation. The apostle Paul taught times of self-examination are important to a healthy life of faith …

“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith,” 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Self-examination is given significance by being an important part of observing the Lord’s Table …

“That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way,” 1 Corinthians 11:28-31.

Note that these scriptural imperatives for examining ourselves all focus on the need for these self-evaluations to be honest assessments of who we really are. For example …

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us,” Romans 12:3.

Instead of being afraid of what we might discover during times of introspection, Konosuke Matsushita founder of Panasonic, writes in his book, “Velvet Glove, Iron Fist,” of the need for leaders to examine their own behavior every day …

Zeng Shen was young enough to be Confucius’s grandson, yet he won high praise from the old sage. One of the sayings for which Zeng Shen is famous goes something like this. “Every day I ask myself three questions. The first is, ‘Have I sinned in my thoughts and actions toward others?’ The second is, ‘Have I broken faith in any of my friendships?’ The third is, ‘Have I tried to teach anything to others I have not fully learned and understood myself?'” If Zeng Shen asked himself these three questions every day, resolving to make no mistakes, then, young as he was, we can well understand why Confucius praised him. Not only is each of the three questions extremely important in itself, but the practice of examining one’s own behavior every day is a habit that every leader should cultivate.

Renowned preacher, Charles Spurgeon, considered self-evaluation to be of great importance to the Christian, and used four pictures to explain self-examination …

Firstly, the schoolmaster: he has been teaching a boy for a year and now comes the final annual examinations. “How much has gone in? How much have you been studying? How much work have you done? Has there been progress” This is one reason for self-examination: Christ once invited us, “Learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart.” Have we been learning?

Secondly, the regimental sergeant-major: he has been instructing and drilling the recruit and now he is summoned to the parade ground for the inspection. The sergeant major does not look down from his office window. He marches up and down the ranks of men and scrutinizes each one of them. Then he looks at them as they do their drill. So we examine and test ourselves intimately.

Thirdly, the lawyer: the witness is in the box and now you cross-examine him. “Were you there? Did it really happen just as you said it did?” Question your heart back and fore.

Fourthly the traveler: of course there are the popular places where the crowds of tourists gather, and you must visit them. But the true traveler will go off the beaten track and he will explore the valleys and the hidden coves. So it is our private life, the inner life of the imagination and mind where so many of our troubles begin that we will also investigate.

Popular and widely-respected pastor and author, Charles Swindoll, also extols the virtue of routinely examining ourselves, and offers some probing questions for doing so in his book, “Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life” …

It’s been awhile since you took stock of where you’re going, hasn’t it? And how about an evaluation of the kids? Or your marriage? Or your own future? You know what I mean, trimming off the fat of lazy thinking and taking a lean, hard look at you life … Occasions set aside for evaluation and regrouping are needed. Even the sports world has its time out and seventh-inning stretch and pit stop and half time, so why shouldn’t we? Force yourself to pull off the road, put your pace into neutral, and ask some hard questions. Here are a few worth personal consideration:

1. Am I really happy, genuinely challenged, and fulfilled in life?
2. In light of eternity, am I making a consistent investment for God’s glory and His cause?
3. Is the direction my life is now taking leading me toward a satisfying and meaningful future?
4. Can I honestly say that I am in the nucleus of God’s will for me?

Have you built into your life a regular practice for honest self-examination? When was the last time you made time for honest introspection of yourself? How can you make self-evaluation a regular and positive part of your life going forward?

Scotty