2 Corinthians 13:5 says “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith…”
The need for self-examination is seen throughout Scripture. Centuries before Paul wrote to the Corinthians, certain Jews had failed to rebuild the temple as God desired of them. They were exhorted, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5,7).
Examining ourselves and considering our ways does not mean reflecting on how we “measure up” to others (2 Cor. 10:12), or how we are at living like the world says we should (cf. 1 Cor. 3:19). Rather, we must reflect on our obedience to God’s will.
God’s Word is able to build us up, but one of the things needed from us to be built up is honest self-examination.
Consider the example of Saul of Tarsus. Before Saul’s conversion, he was wreaking havoc as he rebelled against Jesus. He recognized this when confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus. Upon learning how wrong he was, he did not run from the truth. Instead, Saul showed a desire to make things right by saying “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).
May we have a similar mindset as we search the Scriptures, reflect on how we can better serve God, and become “doers of the Word” when we find things that need fixed (James 1:22).
This self-examination is critical to be pleasing to God.
– Michael Hickox