Be A “Tough Judge” Of Yourself

​By: Brian A. Yeager
Are you counting on others to tell you when you are right or wrong with the Lord? Do you think if no one is correcting you that you must be doing everything right? Have you considered that people may not see in you, what you know about yourself? Have you considered that others may be more involved in their own self-examination than to think about everything you say or do? I am not trying to downplay the importance of brethren correcting one another. If a brother or sister errs, we are commanded by God to correct them (Galatians 6:1-2 and James 5:19-20). We do have a responsibility toward the salvation of one another (Hebrews 3:12-13). However, your salvation is not everyone else’s primary concern.
The word of God says: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). The Apostle Paul could not be everywhere all of the time. He wrote epistles. He sent evangelists (I Corinthians 4:17, Philippians 2:19-23, etc.). He made it a significant goal to see brethren but was often hindered (i.e. I Thessalonians 2:18). In his absence, as we have read, he instructed the brethren to work out their own salvation. No person, including the beloved Apostles, could ever personally make sure any other person was fully faithful to God. No one can be in your life and mind 24/7, except you (I Corinthians 2:11)!
The word of God tells us the following: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway… But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another” (I Corinthians 9:27 and Galatians 6:4). You need to first be concerned about your soul, as I too must have my soul as my first concern. Frankly, you cannot even begin to teach another if your life isn’t right anyway, for that is the sin of hypocrisy (Matthew 7:1-5). Brethren, we must take the time to be critical judges of ourselves.
Judging Ourselves
In a context wherein Paul was teaching about the proper observation of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:16-34), we read this: “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (I Corinthians 11:31-32). The inspired Apostle Paul showed the way for us as Christians not to be condemned by the Lord. The instruction, as you have read, is to judge ourselves.
We should be able to search and try our ways (Lamentations 3:40). If we are failing, we need to urgently turn back to God (Psalms 119:59-60). Words, which show us how much thinking is involved, are important. Consider what it means to “consider yourself” (Haggai 1:5 and Haggai 1:7). However, what about people who are strangers to themselves?
Know Yourself
Some people do not know who they are, whose they are, and what they are. Some have convinced themselves that they are someone different than who they really are (Proverbs 30:12-13 and Galatians 6:3). So, knowing yourself is going to start with being honest with yourself. Can you step back and consider your ways without putting a spin on what you see in yourself? If you can take an honest look at yourself, using the Scriptures as a mirror that will reveal the real you (James 1:21-25), think of how that can help you properly judge yourself.
Who can know you, better than you, outside of God? Obviously, no one can know you better than you if you are honest with yourself. Consider, for a moment, an application to this point. If you have internal concerns about your spiritual well being, what does that tell you? Here is the Scriptural answer to that question: “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” (I John 3:20-21).
One passage of Scripture on this subject matter has, for a long time, stuck in my mind. The Psalmist said: “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (Psalms 4:4). Another Psalm speaks in a similar manner. Notice: “I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search” (Psalms 77:6). Think about what it means to “commune with your own heart”. The Hebrew word used there appears 4338 times in the Old Testament (Strong’s # 559). It is translated, in different ways, such as “said”, “speak”, “command”, “tell”, etc. Therefore, we are left to understand these verses show one needs to communicate with him/herself.
In the New Testament we read: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates” (II Corinthians 13:5)? There are a lot of things to consider in this one verse. First, self-examination is the point we have been addressing throughout this whole study. Secondly, knowing whether or not you are in the faith. Most are deceived in this point alone (Matthew 7:21-23 and II Timothy 3:13). Then, we found we are to prove [test] ourselves (Ephesians 5:10). It is amazing to me how many realize they are to test others (Matthew 7:15-20 and I John 4:1), but they do not apply such to themselves. Don’t be that person! Then, we read Paul question if they knew their own selves. Think on that for a moment. Put that question to yourself. Do you know you?
If you have not examined yourself, communed with your heart, and opened the Scriptures up as mirror to see the true spiritual state of yourself; what are you waiting for? The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32) shows a man who came to himself and returned to his father. What if your “wake up” moment is too late? Know who you are, whose you are, and what you are (I John 3:1-10).
Conclusion
We are all INDIVIDUALLY going to stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment (Romans 14:11-12). We are all INDIVIDUALLY going to be judged based about our actions during this life (II Corinthians 5:10). You have the standard we will be judged by (John 12:48). Use that standard in the here and now so that you are not condemned there and then!