Proverbs 18:17

 The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about an argument: 

Proverbs 18:17 (ESV)

The one who states his case first seems right,

until the other comes and examines him.

When you are working through a dispute, no one wants to go through an inquire.   Questions seem intrusive when you are pleading your case.   We don't want to be interrupted, we want to be believed.  When you are telling your side of the story you want others to know your version.   Yet, what Solomon is telling us in this proverb is that inquiry is the key to finding truth.   Those who want truth have no need to fear of questions and investigation.   When we examine both sides of the issue we find the truth.  Plodding through the evidence we need to find the truth.   If we don't examine the "stories" we will tend to believe the first thing we hear.  Most of the "first time stories" seem right.  It is only after investigation that we find truth.  So, don't be lead astray by the sound of the first story.   Take time to examine the facts.  Seek truth.  Let truth be found.   Don't resists examination.

Those who refuse to examine themselves are destined to failure.   Socrates is credited for saying, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”    But, Solomon may have said it a few hundreds before Socrates:

Lamentations 3:40 (ESV)

Let us test and examine our ways,

and return to the LORD!

It is only examining ourselves for the purpose of returning to the Lord that makes life worth living.   Paul would go on to say it again to the first century church:

1 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV)

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

We are examine ourselves before we come to God in worship.    Failure to examine can be meet with disqualification.  Paul would go on to say to this same church:

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!