Examined Life

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” This quote is attributed to Socrates during his trial before the Athenian citizen jury. While this may often been taken out of context, it has been a staple in admonishing people to be cognizant about their daily affairs.

As a fresh graduate who had began my foray into the working world, this is certainly a valuable advice. However there is always a gnawing question at the back of my mind: what does it mean to live an examined life?

Throughout many parts of the word, there were calls for believers to “examine oneself”. In particular, there are a few verses that explicitly calls for a personal reflection of one’s ways before the Lord:

Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:27-28

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

2 Corinthians 13:5

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?

Galatians 6:2-5

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-8

5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

1 Peter 1:13-14

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

James 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Although God is the one who tests, examines and judges our thoughts, the mark of a mature believer lies in the regular habit of examining, testing and judging oneself in a sober fashion, according to their own level of faith. Why is this important?

Essentially the reasons are numerous:

1)      An examined life heeds the wisdom and instruction of God

The motivation of an examined life should not be for the sake of acquiring a sense of self-righteousness or a superiority complex.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3

1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

Matthew 23:25

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

However there are many parts of the Bible replete with warnings against folly, including its consequences.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It is in the reverence of the Lord that we seek to examine our lives to walk in His ways.

Proverbs 4:26

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

2)      Examination leads to repentance, which eventually results in our restoration

2 Corinthians 7:10-11

10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

In my personal journey, I had lived on both sides of the fence, oscillating between periods where I lived carelessly and where I walked in the fullness of Christ, and I can testify that no short term gain can compare to the continual joy of walking with Jesus.

Whenever I repented and God restores my life, I see His mercy and compassion in greater measure among the people I encounter- be it believers or non-believers. There is a sense of wonder and thanksgiving welling up in praises unto Him, as I start the day with Christ every morning.  

The restoration was not without effect. Each time I come out of a tough season, I learn something new about God.

There were a few life lessons:

• The Lord is my unfailing love and salvation.
• God’s grace is not about me; even when I lose hope in myself, it does not nullify the ability of God to bring me through the road to recovery. My strength and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I know it is a Bible verse, but it had since became a personal statement.
• My identity and esteem is found in Christ, not in the recognition of people around me.

These were lessons gleaned from my personal trials with God. It made me realise that no one should consider themselves to be invulnerable to sin and folly. The examined life is all the more essential to realign our focus and life purpose to be in tune with the Holy Spirit and calling of Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-11

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It has often been said that one should not merely know the Word, but also apply it. As we grow in Christ, we ought to go one step further – do not merely apply as a routine, but rather examine yourselves if you are truly in the faith, being connected in a living and loving relationship with Christ our Lord and Savior.   

Ephesians 4:15-16

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

John 15:5-8

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As I went through my daily routine, I found it all the more important to be more aware/alert of my condition and situation. Living in Singapore and working has its fair share of challenges. It is very easy to slip into various mentalities that hinder living an examined life:

1)      Aiyah…too troublesome/frustrating/tiring to think about it. Next time lah.

Procrastination has its roots in the lack of discipline and blindness to the urgency/value of an activity.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Galatians 5:22-24

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

There is no remedy for procrastination unless there is a greater desire for God. To be honest, it is not the action that God is interested in, but our hearts. Our responses merely reflect our priorities and values. This is not a guilt trip, although if the person feels guilty about living less for God than what he/she ought to, he/she is well on the way towards godly repentance and restoration.

2)      This is too complicated. Don’t think about it.

As stated above, there is a reason why we are called to give careful thought to our ways.

Proverbs 1:32

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them

Proverbs 8:4-6 (wisdom calls out)

4 “To you, O people, I call out;  I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence;  you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

Proverbs 9:6

Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.

There is a need to reorient one’s mindset if you just want to “live simply”. We are called to live simply in the sense of “being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want”, to have a child-like faith and to be “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves”.

Yet we are also called to “… keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart. “ (2 Timothy 2:22)

Elsewhere in the Bible we are told that

Joshua 1:8

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Therefore we can be simple in many respects but not when it comes to seeking the righteousness of Christ. The desire to exalt Him should jolt us into action, that our lives may reflect His grace and glory.

As a young adult, I realise that we are conditioned to simply focus on what we do or what we have achieved. For example, a typical response to a question "How are you doing so far?" will go something like "I am okay so far. Coping with work and did [insert list of activities]."

There is a tendency to be swept into the torrents of busyness and concerns of  life. If we fail to examine our lives, we remain as shallow believers. The years spent in church meant nothing - God doesn't merely look for membership or length of stay - He is seeking disciples who will walk with Him till eternity,

Luke 8:11-15
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 
12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 
13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 
14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 
15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.


If our walk with God is stagnant, it will not get better by pumping up an emotional high. If we find our spiritual life on a constant roller-coaster,  we may need to stop attributing it to life situations or God. Both call for some serious self-examination.

I am not suggesting man-made religious ritual of examination. But I implore those who had walked for years in the faith to re-examine their steps, that they might truly examine who they are in the light of who God is, identifying with Christ in a deeper measure.

We need to allow the Spirit to search our hearts and minds.

We need to move away from mere inspiration and emotional reactions to take a hard look at our lives, submitting to the Lord's pruning and discipline.

We need to live an examined life.