Body

STANDARDS AND COMPARISONS

(Examining Ourselves)

Introduction:

In addition to ministering responsibilities, I have a secular job as maintenance technician in R&D facilities of BASF. As I'm doing this job, I have observed that endless tests are ran. Some of these tests are to determine the contents of a substance. In the process of analyzing the chemical substances, a separation of the contents is necessary. In other testing, as products are developed, they are subjected to a number of standardized tests, called ASTM Standards, to give them a certain number for identification and sometimes comparison with similar products.

As I was thinking about our life as a Christian, I can see some comparisons. I cannot help but think of Paul's illustration in I Corinthians 3:12-15.

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

While we do not compare ourselves to each other, we do have a standard that we can use to examine our work and service before God. David, in Psalms 26:2 asks,

"Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart."

In II Corinthians 13:5 Paul tells the Corinthians to:

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified."

In these two scriptures we can see one, that God will look at our minds and hearts. It is not just a matter of what we may have done or not done. Second we see that we can examine our selves. Besides our concerns to be "in the faith" there are other examines we can make.

Examine yourselves:

In Lamentations 3:39-40, Jeremiah asks why a man should complain about being punished for sins. He then says:

"Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord."

Wouldn't it be good if God reached down and slapped our hands every time we got into mischief? In a way he does. In the normal process of life, sin has it's consequences. Consider AIDS, addiction, accountable deeds done under the influences of alcohol or drugs. Consider also the consequences of crime, or the others that we hurt and wish we had not done so. The Lord's ways are good for our eternity but also for our well-being here on this earth. Paul reminds the Ephesians that "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment with a promise, "

In I Corinthians 11, Paul says "let a man examine himself," in regards to partaking of the bread and juice of the Lord's Supper. This is somewhat specific but then in verses 31-32 which follow we find:

"For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world."

So we find here what I believe is a general principle, that we can avoid grief and other consequences of sin if we look at ourselves and make the necessary changes. If we fail to make changes, should we not be thankful when we are chastened to bring us to repentance.

We are to examine our work, Galatians 6:4, but it is our own work, for each one, verse 5, "shall bear his own load." Acceptable service is not a comparison with others. It is dependent on our own performance as we have capability and opportunity. In dealing with individual responsibility, an old formula which the older preachers used to write on the blackboard is: Ability + Opportunity = Responsibility. This principle is taught in Galatians 6 as well as other passages. Verse 10 of this chapter tells us "

According to Ability

The parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30 may best illustrate this principle. Each was not given the same amount. God can make those judgments, where we might not be able to do so. One received 5, another 2, and still to another, only one. These were given, verse 15, "

." Each was accountable for what he had. It is interesting that the one with the least is the one Jesus depicts as receiving the punishment of "outer darkness."

Isn't this what often happens, those who do, usually do, not only what they should do, but also do for those who could do but don't.

In Acts 11, after the prophet, Agabus, told of a major famine, the brethren, "

" determined to send relief to Judea. The formula mentioned above is obvious in this passage. This isn't the only recorded instance of giving according to ability. Paul records in II Corinthians 8, that the churches of Macedonia, although in "deep poverty," gave to have "

" The members of these congregations were "beyond their ability, freely willing." Perhaps the secret, if we can call it a secret is found in verse 5, where we find, "

Perhaps this also is a basic principle. If we first give ourselves to the Lord, we will consistently give and do more than we would if we approach our service only considering our own self-serving needs.

Applying the standard

The standard should not be viewed from the stand point of minimum required. I was in the dollar store, the "nothing over a dollar" type and I saw a can of nuts. On the label it said "not over 70% peanuts." This can be compared with cans that cost more in the super market that advertise "not over 50% or 30% peanuts. The good nuts, and I feel sure that includes everyone reading or hearing this, are more expensive. I like peanuts OK. I bought two cans and enjoyed them both. I got that for which I paid. That is what a standard does. It lets us know what we are getting. The can of nuts was not inferior, it was made to sell for a dollar. In materials we might buy for some purpose, some have a hardness factor; some have cold and heat extremes that they can endure or continue to operate in; some have a resilience factor; and still others are made to last so many operating cycles.

As Christians, its the same application. The standard must be applied according to opportunity and ability not specific tasks. Now this does not mean that there are not some things that we all must do. We're not speaking of obedience to specified instructions such as baptism or repentance. We are speaking of taking stock of ourselves to determine what service we can offer. As example we are to "love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind." Only we can determine the condition of our hearts and minds and the direction of our lives. It's not a comparison of who does what but an examination of what we are.

Paul in I Timothy 1:5 says:

"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart , from a good conscience, and from sincere faith."

To examine ourselves according to this verse, we must determine if our heart is pure. We must consider our conscience and ask ourselves if our faith is feigned or true.

Peter, in I Peter 4:11 says:

"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever."

We must ask, "Who gets the glory?" Note that ministers are to work "with the ability which God supplies." Maybe some would have more ability, if they could work without seeking their own benefit. Let's go back to the man with one talent. He spoke as if he knew the master, but he really didn't know him at all. He spoke from his own fears, not allegiance to the master.

Meeting the standard

First, just as in the recent election, we must know what the standard is and that for which we should use it.

The standard is not how many jobs can we do. I Corinthians 12, and Romans 12 clearly point this and other things out. It is a matter of filling all the needs of the body with each one doing that which they are capable of doing. After pointing out that all the parts are necessary, Paul in I Corinthians 12:22-25 says,

No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another."

In Quality Control, procedures are used in industry to produce products that meet certain criteria. Those items not meeting the requirements are thrown out. Once thrown out those items are not further tested. In the parable of the talents the one talent man was "unprofitable," not because he had only one talent, but because the requirement was that he do something. He buried his talent, doing nothing with it. He could have at least invested it for interest, but he did nothing. He is like a computer that doesn't compute or a half full bottle of syrup. The quality control checker rejects them both as inadequate. The standards of performance are applied only to those accepted, not to that which is rejected. In this parable we might say that the five talent man might be 5T/2P for 5 talents and a productivity of 2. He doubled what he had. Like wise the 2 talent man would by this rating system be 2T/2P for he also doubled what he had. Has anyone noted that the Lord said the same thing to both the 5 talent and the 2 talent men?

Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

Now here is the point, they were given according to their ability, and two of them performed in a manner consistent with their ability. The other didn't perform at all.

We are to test whether we are in the faith. Paul says in this verse, II Corinthians 13:5, "

" First we need to make sure we are in the running. We can then examine our sincerity, purity, and efforts.

We can examine ourselves according to what we know about ourselves. We don't need to compete with others. We don't need to go on guilt trips because there are things we cannot do. Jesus words, "

" ring as we consider these things. Likewise we are to pray in our closet. It's not that no one can know our gift, or that we pray, but that our relationship with God is just that, our relationship with God.

God told Samuel as he was looking at Jesse's sons considering who would be the next king over Israel,

"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Same is true in Revelation 2:23, Jesus says, "

All the churches shall know that I am

He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."

Do we know our own hearts? Do we satisfy the self-test of our own heart? Have we been honest with ourselves? God knows our hearts. What shall we receive?