The Unexamined Life

Prayer

Introduction

Socrates the ancient philosopher wrote this while conducting a trail about living. He wrote this stating that the Unexamined Life is not worth living ( this is why me must must pay attention to people around us who think life is not worth living IE we have so many around us working around with the silent killer depression because we as a society are so indulged into self we often miss the signs. Because of this silent killer we see the suicide rate running rampant today)while he was conducting a trail about living . What did he mean by this ? Socrates often ran into individuals who were immersed in the daily activities of life, who rarely took the time to stop an think about what they were doing and why they were doing it. They were going thru the motions of life without making an effort to reflect and think about what life is about. That is the unexamined life. Many today are guilty of living much the same way. They preform activities or make choices without reflection about the kind of life they live or where they are going. Oftentimes they adopt beliefs without thinking about them.

Our scripture reading today comes from

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.”

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,

and the years of your life will be many.

11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom

and lead you along straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it well, for it is your life.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

My Topic this morning is " The Unexamined Life"

What is examine? It is inspect ( something in detail to determine the nature or condition. Another term is investigate thoroughly or look at something closely and carefully in order to learn more about it .

What is the prefix UN meaning ? it means not or the opposite of something.

Now lets get back to Socrates what he meant about the Unexamined Life is not worth living, he is saying that we are not living the life we were created to live. To live the unexamined life is to live a less than human life. It is living the life of a lower animal, like a dog or a cow. It is now the way humans were made to live. ( Come here prodigal son who choose to live his life the way he wanted before for his appointed time ended up eating what the pigs were eating) Human beings are designed to be able to reflect on the meaning and value of life and the world around them.

Listen my son or daughter Your years of your life will be many if you follow instructions in an examined life. Your life will be hard if you despise instructions as my grandmother would say being hard headed leads to a soft behind in an unexamined life.

That is why we must live honest and righteous. A wise person must must be open to discipline or instruction and open to rebuke because it makes one wise. Listen my brothers and sisters you are not weak because you listen to advice or instruction this emphasizes humility don’t be so arrogant that you become a fool where you choose to ignore instruction or become self absorbed in your own living that you cut off yourself from God.

That is why we must live honest and righteous.