John Wesley (1703-91), English theologian, evangelist, and founder of Methodism, was so concerned with building a righteous fellowship that he devised a series of questions for his followers to ask each other every week. Some found this rigorous system of inquiry too demanding and left. Today, the very idea of such a procedure would horrify many churchgoers. Yet some wisely follow just such a practice. Chuck Swindoll for example, has seven questions he and a group of fellow pastors challenge each other with periodically:
A. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
B. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
C. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
D. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
E. Have you given priority time to your family?
F. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
G. Have you just lied to me?
II. INTRODUCTION
A. Biblical writers have much to say about self-examination
1. Paul: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” (2 Cor. 13:5).
2. John: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:8-10).
3. Others saw the need for such self-analysis, too. According to Socrates, the Greek philosopher, “the unexamined life is not worth living”.
B. Self-examination is a powerful tool in the life of the believer. It illuminates sin, and points us to the cross as our only means of recompense. However, examination that is not followed by sincere and immediate repentance has no value; it is only information.
C. David, when approached by the prophet Nathan, examined his behavior, repented of his sin, and God forgave him that very moment.
D. Today we find Job in a time of self-examination. He makes his final defense before God and his friends (a closing argument of sorts), and defends his integrity in the midst of tragedy. His model for self-examination is a good one for modern day believers, too.
III. BACKGROUND
A. Job’s resume was impressive; a godly man with expansive wealth and good fortune. Satan challenged him (in a test approved by God), took nearly everything he had including his health, and left him with a bitter wife and boils from head to foot.
B. Along came his friends, who after seven days of silent mourning beside him heard him cry out, in indescribable anguish, cursing the day he was born. This led his friends into a series of long discourses under the subtitle of “You probably deserve everything you’re getting”.
C. Finally, after hearing them impart their “wisdom”, Job responds with a lengthy discourse of his own on the subject of wisdom, followed by a summary defense of his claim of innocence.
D. He follows that summary (chs. 29-30) with a detailed analysis of his life and walk with God. In his self-examination, we hope to find a model we can apply to our own lives.
[Self-examination is the stimulus of spiritual formation. You can’t have one without the other.]
IV. JOB’S SEVEN POINT SELF-EXAMINATION
A. Job’s oath of innocence (ch. 31) is his final effort to compel God to do something about his plight. So vehement is his denial of sin that he uses “negative confession”, meaning he calls a curse on himself if each sin is found in him. (“if guilty” oath occurs 19X in chapter 31). Let’s look at his self-examination in more detail:
1. Have I been enticed by sexual impurity? (1-4 [lust], 9-12 [adultery])
a. Job knew the heritage God gives sinners is ruin and disaster. He did not look lustfully at women; he knew God looked on him, seeing all he did (7:19-20; 10:14; 13:27)
b. In our sexually charged society, this is tough, yet Paul taught his listeners to “flee every form of sexual immorality”
2. Have I withheld truth from anyone in any matter? (5-8)
a. His business and personal dealings were without blemish, though it would be easy for one of his wealth and position to take advantage. He knows God will find him blameless in these matters
b. It is still easy to take advantage of a situation; consider the clerk, who can’t make change without a digital cash register. Ever get too little? Too much?
3. Have I denied justice to those who sought it from me? (13-15, 38-40)
a. Job’s inference here is that he would not be able to seek justice from God if he had not treated his own servants fairly. He even regards them as equals in God’s creation (15, cf. 10:8,11), which no doubt turned some heads among his friends.
b. Do I seek justice for others, even those who can offer me no gain?
4. Have I helped the poor and needy when I had the opportunity? (16-23)
a. Job didn’t just pray for them; he assisted them – giving money, clothing and counsel before creditors: even when his efforts were unappreciated (19-20). He understood his fortune was not his, but God’s…he was merely a steward.
b. Do I hold the same opinion? Am I reaching those in need?
5. Have I placed too high a value on material possessions? (24-28)
a. Not a lover of wealth, though he was quite wealthy. He didn’t worship his “stuff”. Our society has a twisted sense of value – it lies in the things we accumulate.
b. Want to know where your heart is? Read your check register, or credit card statement
6. Have I rejoiced in the misery of another? (29-32)
a. God will find Job blameless here, too. He did not rejoice in another’s misery. He did not allow his mouth to sin by calling God to curse his enemies!
b. Tough lesson for those of us in business. “No sound like the dull thud of your competitor’s body hitting the pavement.” (Harvey MacKay) Question: Am I genuinely concerned about the misery of those I don’t favor?
7. Have I hidden sin from those who might hold me accountable? (33-34)
a. Job was not a hypocrite. He didn’t hide his sin behind a happy Christian face, nor did he try to hide it “as Adam did” (NIV) from God. The most destructive sin in the world is what is hidden from sight. I don’t know your hidden sins nor do you know mine. BUT GOD KNOWS them all; and Job is blameless before God in this matter.
b. Are you blameless too? The sin isn’t hidden from God, only from sight.
[Self-examination is the stimulus of spiritual formation. You can’t have one without the other.]
V. CONCLUSION - JOB’S FINAL PLEA TO GOD
A. “Oh, that I had one to hear me…that the Almighty would answer…” (35). Job offers this last plea to God for “justice”, since his committee of four is not listening. He states his willingness to confess any sin God can find in him; he almost dares him to find one, saying that he will wear the indictment on his shoulder; carry it like a crown!
1. His “mark” or “signature” refers to the sealing of his defense; “the defense rests”. He calls God his “accuser” (lit. man of my indictment) and calls him to answer. This is going to get interesting; you will want to be here next week!
B. Job’s self-examination, while leading to a potentially dangerous conclusion, is nonetheless a powerful model for us to follow as we examine our walk in this Christian life.
C. It serves as a guideline for our own performance analysis before God. It illuminates sin, and points us to the cross as our only means of recompense. However, examination that is not followed by sincere and immediate repentance has no value; it is only information.
Heavenly Father, we are reminded daily of our weakness apart from you. Help us to grow in such a way that as we examine ourselves before you, we too can find ourselves blameless in your sight – not for arrogance sake, but that through our daily walk of life your name would be glorified; that others would see our works, and glorify our Father in heaven. This is our prayer, and our hope, AMEN.
