The Examined Life!

2nd Corinthians 13:5

2 Cor 13:5Examine 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?

• About the Text:– “The unexamined life is not worth living.”– The most fundamental questions we can ask of

ourselves will never be answered if we do not examine our lives.

– These are questions such as. . .• What am I doing here? Where am I going?• What is the most valuable thing in my life?• In what or whom should I ultimately put my trust?

– We can find the answers, if we seek to examine our lives in light of God’s revealed will (1st Thessalonians 5:21)

• The examined life will be a life with . .

1 Thess 5:21Test everything. Hold on to the good.

Purpose • The unexamined life is a life without true purpose.

– “What am I doing here?” is a question that many have asked and failed to produce adequate answers.

– The self-gratifying lifestyle (cf. 1st Corinthians 15:32 “. . . if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.”

– The humanistic lifestyle “Since there is no God to save us, we must save ourselves.”

– The new age lifestyle–we must save the planet.– Some say that the purpose in life is simply the search for

a purpose.– Some have even said that it is just simply irrational and

there is no purpose to life. – Solomon wrote, “It is not good to eat much honey: so for

men to search their own glory is not glory” Proverbs 25:27.

Purpose • The unexamined life is a life without true

purpose.

• The examined life is a life with true purpose.– One must reason beyond the mere physical and

realize that the true purpose of life is in the spiritual.

• Hebrews 11:13-16• 2nd Corinthians 4:16-18

Heb 11:13-16All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

2 Cor 4:16-18Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal

Purpose • The unexamined life is a life without true purpose.• The examined life is a life with true purpose.• What is that purpose?

– Our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. • 1st Corinthians 10:31• Psalm 29:1-2

– What does it mean to glorify God? It means to do everything according to the will of God.

• Jesus proclaimed John 17:4• Jesus focused on God’s will John 8:29• Ecclesiastes 12:13

• Is your purpose in life in line with God’s will!

1 Cor 10:31Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.Ps 29:1-2Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty,Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name;Worship the LORD in holy array.

John 17:4I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to doJohn 8:29And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to HimEccl 12:13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person

Values • The unexamined life is a life without true values.

– “What matters most to us?” is a question that will go unanswered if we do not examine our lives.

– Worse yet, if we do not examine deeply enough, that is, if we think that the answer lies in the realm of the physical and not the spiritual, then we will answer the question wrong.

– Further, if our life purpose is wrong, our values will be wrong as well.

– It is easy to value things that are more concerned with the physical than the spiritual.

• Money/Possessions• Work• Recreation• Success• Power• Family/Friends

Values • The unexamined life is a life without true values.

– “What matters most to us?” is a question that will go unanswered if we do not examine our lives.

– Worse yet, if we do not examine deeply enough, that is, if we think that the answer lies in the realm of the physical and not the spiritual, then we will answer the question wrong.

– Further, if our life purpose is wrong, our values will be wrong as well.

– It is easy to value things that are more concerned with the physical than the spiritual.

– But God has said, (Matthew 6:19-20, 24)

Matt 6:19-20 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

Matt 6:24No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth

Values • The unexamined life is a life without true

values.

• The examined life is a life with true values.– If one discovers his true purpose, then his values

will be built around it.– Our purpose gives our life direction, but our

values give our life meaning.– The values in our life are those things that matter

most to our lives.

Values • The unexamined life is a life without true

values.

• The examined life is a life with true values.

• What are some of those values?– Personal values

• The most valuable thing that each of us have in our personal possession today is our soul. (Matthew 16:26).

• Now, what should we do with our soul?– We should save it (James 1:21).– We should mature our souls (2nd Peter 1:2-11).

Matt 16:26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

James 1:21Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

2 Peter 1:2-11Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Values • The unexamined life is a life without true values.• The examined life is a life with true values.• What are some of those values?

– Personal values– Social values

• Family– Husbands are the heads of the family and love their wives–

Ephesians 5:23– Wives are in subjection to their husbands–Ephesians 5:24– The children are in obedience to their parents–Ephesians 6:1– The parents seek to raise their children in the nurture of the Lord–

Ephesians 6:4

• Friends – (1st Corinthians 15:33)• Society – What does your name represent

Eph 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the bodyEph 5:24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everythingEph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is rightEph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord1 Cor 15:33Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

Values • The unexamined life is a life without true

values.• The examined life is a life with true values.• What are some of those values?

– Personal values– Social values– Religious values

• We value God by giving him our all–Matthew 22:37• We value Christ by respecting his authority–Colossians

3:17• We value Truth by obtaining it and never letting it go–

Proverbs 23:23

Matt 22:37And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MINDCol 3:17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the FatherProv 23:23Buy truth, and do not sell it,Get wisdom and instruction and understanding

Values • The unexamined life is a life without true

values.

• The examined life is a life with true values.

• What are some of those values?– Personal values– Social values– Religious values

• The decisions you make daily reveal the values you treasure in life

Faith • The unexamined life is a life without faith.

– Concerning those who did not examine their lives–(the context is examples of those who did not have faith (Romans 1:28-31).

• The examined life is a life with faith.– Our text today is 1 Corinthians13:5 “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?”

– In whom should we put our trust?• Not man - Galatians 1:10-12• Psalms 60:11 and 108:12 say “Give us help from trouble: for vain

is the help of man.”• Proverbs 3:5-6

Rom 1:28-31And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

Gal 1:10-12For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. 11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ

Prov 3:5-6Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He will make your paths straight.

• The unexamined life is not worth living, and a life without purpose, values, and faith is no life at all.– A life without purpose is a life without

direction.– A life without values is a life without meaning.– A life without faith is a life without God.

• Let us resolve to examine our lives.