The book we are considering for this exhortation was written by Paul at about AD 55 – 57 from Macedonia. The purpose of the epistle is to affirm Paul’s ministry, defend his authority as an apostle and refute the false teaching in Corinth. There is always a time in life to do a check-up in some areas of one’s life. Some rich people do go for medical check-up monthly or bi-monthly as the case may be. The purpose of it is to put in order what might have been disorganized in the system. In like manner, as men of God we need to regularly do spiritual check-up to know if we are still in the race. May God help us in Jesus’ name.
Lets quickly look at our lives under seven headings:
1. Prayer Life
2. Bible Study
3. Fasting Life
4. Interpersonal Relations
5. Sanctification
6. Faith
7. Health
1. Prayer Life: It is very important to examine ourselves if we are growing in our prayer life. Prayer is a master key. Jesus started His ministry with prayer and ended with prayer. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. Your prayer life will determine your height in the spiritual realm. If your prayer life is dropping, it is better you call upon God quickly for intervention. In Mark 1:35, very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Also in Psalm 5:3, David said in the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice, in the morning; I lay my request before You and wait in expectation. How is your prayer life ?
2. Bible Study: The problem with some believers now is that the value of the word of God has dropped in them. Hence they have no time for Bible study. They have the world full in them but they are empty in the word of God. You cannot do two things at a time. It is good to be relevant through listening to news, reading papers, being computer-literate, being vast in internet stuff, and lots more but this book of the law must not depart from your mouth, 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.
3. Fasting Life: Many of us Christians are now feasting instead of fasting. The early Church sought God in fasting – Acts 13:1-3. The disciples fasted to ask God for new direction to follow. In Acts 14:23, they fasted to select people into offices. How much of prayer do we embark upon before selecting people into offices? These are directions from the Holy Spirit but examine yourself if, you are still fasting to please God.
4. Interpersonal Relations: This is a state of calmness, freedom from strife or discord and a time of harmony one has in relation with other human beings. The Bible encourages us to be in peace with all men. Numbers 25:12 says God has made a covenant of peace with us and Psalm 34:14 says, turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. We cannot be of the same age or be endowed with earthly goods the same way. But no matter how small in terms of age or earthly possessions, we should give individuals the honour due to them. As human beings, the Bible says, Men have to respect us as men of God.
5. Sanctification: The Bible says without holiness no body will see the Lord. It is rather unfortunate now that some believers do not see it necessary to live a sanctified life. Hebrews 2:11 says, both One who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. The book of Jude tells us about Holy life. Reading the Bible within a year, reading Christian literature and preaching throughout the week are good but these are not enough. Permit me to ask how many of the word of God are we putting into practice? The Bible encourages us not to be the sayers or hearers of the word only but to be doers of the same. God will help us in Jesus’ name.
6. Faith: The question to ask is, are you growing in faith? Some of us have gone down in faith to the level of not believing God for anything again but they go ahead using what they have to get what they want. Let me say here that Christianity or being born-again is not like a bunch of keys that you can easily noticed. After some years of derailment, people will still be referred to you as brothers or sisters whereas the heavens are not recognizing you as such. Hebrews 11 produces a catalogue of men and women of faith. We are laboring to be where they are. We cannot do less than what they did.
7. Health: Health is a state of total well-being spiritually and physically. People say health is wealth. It is important to go for medical check-up always. Paul admonished Timothy in I Tim. 5:23 “Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illness. This is not in any way a license for alcoholism or drunkeness rather a call to look after his physical state of healthiness. Also the thought of God towards us is the thought of peace to give us an expected end Jer. 29:11. Think of your health as your most valuable asset. Just as you wouldn’t take chances on your other assets – Your money, property and family – why do you take a chance of your health? Many of us are so busy to have time to check our health regularly. Remember God buries His workers and the work continues.
In conclusion, in the above listed areas, anyone who is not tending towards improvement will be tending towards retrogression and backwardness. May God help us in Jesus’ name.