But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
The verse calls every person to examine, test and prove his own work and conduct instead of measuring himself against another or seeking superiority over others. Honest self-examination then gives him ground for rejoicing in himself alone, resting on the worth and quality of his own work and not on comparison, pride, or another's failings. It stands with restoring one overtaken in fault in meekness while watching oneself, bearing one another's burdens to fulfil the law of Christ, and bearing his own burden of work and accountability that God has given him and cannot be transferred to another. Believers are therefore to search their own hearts and correct their own undone work rather than expose and find fault with a brother, and faults are to be corrected privately and calmly without harsh words or taking another's work out of God's hands. Ministers prove their own work by whether their labor truly builds churches and wins souls, leaving fields where they only tear down to do the hard work of raising up churches in new places, and then rejoicing only in what their own labor has accomplished.
Meaning and Immediate Context
Every person is required to examine, test and prove his own work instead of measuring himself against another, judging himself by another, or seeking distinction and superiority over others. That proving concerns the quality, results and effectiveness of his own labor and conduct. Honest self-examination of this kind gives him ground for rejoicing in himself alone, resting on the worth of his own work and not on comparison with another, not on pride, and not on another person's failings or achievements.
Such self-assessment is strictly individual because experiences, trials and duties differ, so that what is easy for one may be difficult for another. Each person is to be fashioned by the hand of God and fitted to do the work God has given him to do, and that work with its accountability is his own and cannot be transferred to another. Each is therefore responsible for bearing his own burden.
Joined with the verses before it, this proving of one's own work belongs with restoring one overtaken in a fault in the spirit of meekness while considering oneself lest one also be tempted, and with bearing one another's burdens to fulfil the law of Christ, without thinking himself to be something when he is nothing.
Personal and Ministerial Application
Examine and correct your own conduct instead of measuring another person or exposing another's faults, for each is accountable for his own wrongs. Do not criticize or find fault with a brother, especially one whose way of working does not match your preferences, and do not pick flaws in another's character. Search your own heart, confess your sins, tend your own spiritual life, and face the work you have left undone.
Correct faults privately, quietly and calmly, so as to guard the reputation of God's people. Do not mar God's cause by sharp, harsh words and unjust, unkind actions. No one is appointed to oversee or rule a fellow worker, and no human agent should take another person's work out of God's hands into finite human hands, for each is to be fashioned by God's hand and fitted to do the work God has given him, with an accountability that cannot be transferred to another. People may encourage one another and offer practical help, but they must not weaken or discourage others.
The call to examine and test one's own work and find grounds for rejoicing in that work rather than by comparison with someone else applies to the spiritual condition of leading workers and institutions. It is a warning every soul must take, to show faith and works in clear, distinct lines. Gather every ray of light given amid moral darkness to substantiate the truth and bear aloft the third angel's message, set the churches in order, and close the door of unbelief against Satan's increasing seducing power that would deceive even the very elect. Make straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way.
Ministers must examine the quality, results and effectiveness of their own labor by whether it truly builds up churches and brings people to take their stand on the truth, rather than measuring against others or relying on others' labor. A worker should know what he is accomplishing. Orderly settings and disciplined Bible study support that self-examination and fruitful teaching, whereas disorderly meetings leave a speaker unable to recognize whether his work is effective.
To prove his own work a minister should leave established churches where his labor does no good and only tears down, and go out into new fields to do the hard, prayerful work of raising up churches and bringing souls out to take their stand on the truth. By learning what it costs to convert souls he learns his true ability. He also learns how careful his example and influence must be never to discourage or weaken those won at such cost, and then his rejoicing is in his own proven work alone and not in another's. Testing his own work means going into new places instead of laboring among the churches, with conversion to the work of God and with wisdom and judgment to direct his labor. It is laboring with a spirit to convert souls, feeling the worth of souls so that the least indication for good rejoices the heart and makes him persevere through labor and weariness. Once the subject of truth has been agitated in a place he must not leave it while there is the least indication for good, and he must not expect a harvest without labor. Satan will make every effort to keep his subjects bound in fetters of darkness under his black banner and will not readily let them pass to the ranks of Christ, so victory in winning souls requires earnest effort in facing and battling such a foe.
The verse calls every person to examine, test and prove his own work and conduct instead of measuring himself against another or seeking superiority over others. Honest self-examination then gives him ground for rejoicing in himself alone, resting on the worth and quality of his own work and not on comparison, pride, or another's failings. It stands with restoring one overtaken in fault in meekness while watching oneself, bearing one another's burdens to fulfil the law of Christ, and bearing his own burden of work and accountability that God has given him and cannot be transferred to another. Believers are therefore to search their own hearts and correct their own undone work rather than expose and find fault with a brother, and faults are to be corrected privately and calmly without harsh words or taking another's work out of God's hands. Ministers prove their own work by whether their labor truly builds churches and wins souls, leaving fields where they only tear down to do the hard work of raising up churches in new places, and then rejoicing only in what their own labor has accomplished.
Meaning and Immediate Context
Every person is required to examine, test and prove his own work instead of measuring himself against another, judging himself by another, or seeking distinction and superiority over others. That proving concerns the quality, results and effectiveness of his own labor and conduct. Honest self-examination of this kind gives him ground for rejoicing in himself alone, resting on the worth of his own work and not on comparison with another, not on pride, and not on another person's failings or achievements.
Such self-assessment is strictly individual because experiences, trials and duties differ, so that what is easy for one may be difficult for another. Each person is to be fashioned by the hand of God and fitted to do the work God has given him to do, and that work with its accountability is his own and cannot be transferred to another. Each is therefore responsible for bearing his own burden.
Joined with the verses before it, this proving of one's own work belongs with restoring one overtaken in a fault in the spirit of meekness while considering oneself lest one also be tempted, and with bearing one another's burdens to fulfil the law of Christ, without thinking himself to be something when he is nothing.
Personal and Ministerial Application
Examine and correct your own conduct instead of measuring another person or exposing another's faults, for each is accountable for his own wrongs. Do not criticize or find fault with a brother, especially one whose way of working does not match your preferences, and do not pick flaws in another's character. Search your own heart, confess your sins, tend your own spiritual life, and face the work you have left undone.
Correct faults privately, quietly and calmly, so as to guard the reputation of God's people. Do not mar God's cause by sharp, harsh words and unjust, unkind actions. No one is appointed to oversee or rule a fellow worker, and no human agent should take another person's work out of God's hands into finite human hands, for each is to be fashioned by God's hand and fitted to do the work God has given him, with an accountability that cannot be transferred to another. People may encourage one another and offer practical help, but they must not weaken or discourage others.
The call to examine and test one's own work and find grounds for rejoicing in that work rather than by comparison with someone else applies to the spiritual condition of leading workers and institutions. It is a warning every soul must take, to show faith and works in clear, distinct lines. Gather every ray of light given amid moral darkness to substantiate the truth and bear aloft the third angel's message, set the churches in order, and close the door of unbelief against Satan's increasing seducing power that would deceive even the very elect. Make straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way.
Ministers must examine the quality, results and effectiveness of their own labor by whether it truly builds up churches and brings people to take their stand on the truth, rather than measuring against others or relying on others' labor. A worker should know what he is accomplishing. Orderly settings and disciplined Bible study support that self-examination and fruitful teaching, whereas disorderly meetings leave a speaker unable to recognize whether his work is effective.
To prove his own work a minister should leave established churches where his labor does no good and only tears down, and go out into new fields to do the hard, prayerful work of raising up churches and bringing souls out to take their stand on the truth. By learning what it costs to convert souls he learns his true ability. He also learns how careful his example and influence must be never to discourage or weaken those won at such cost, and then his rejoicing is in his own proven work alone and not in another's. Testing his own work means going into new places instead of laboring among the churches, with conversion to the work of God and with wisdom and judgment to direct his labor. It is laboring with a spirit to convert souls, feeling the worth of souls so that the least indication for good rejoices the heart and makes him persevere through labor and weariness. Once the subject of truth has been agitated in a place he must not leave it while there is the least indication for good, and he must not expect a harvest without labor. Satan will make every effort to keep his subjects bound in fetters of darkness under his black banner and will not readily let them pass to the ranks of Christ, so victory in winning souls requires earnest effort in facing and battling such a foe.