It's very important for us to constantly JUDGE our OWN SELVES in secret, so as not live or CONTINUE living in a World of DELUSION; living in False Reality/Hope: thinking we're SAVED or pleasing to God when we are terribly "backslidden" and LOST.

1 Peter 4:17 KJV
For the time is come that JUDGMENT must "begin" at the house of God: and if it FIRST begin at us, what shall the END be of them that OBEY NOT the gospel of God?

Most times, it's because we are not honestly Judging ourselves; not walking in the light, that's why many of us are being victims of SINS and WOLVES in Sheep's Clothing (Erring Pastors/Prophets), and God won't force us to AWAKE if we are not WILLING, but LOVE the Honour and the Approval of Religious Men more than God's:

John.5.44 - NO WONDER you CAN'T believe! For you gladly HONOR each other, but you DON'T CARE about the HONOR that "comes" from God ALONE.

John.5.41 - "Your approval or disapproval means NOTHING to me,

John.5.42 - because I know you DON'T have God's LOVE within you.

Alas, many people, even the HONEST and the KIND are becoming RESISTANT to the TRUTH: like water falls off a duck's back; it doesn't GET IN, no matter how hard you try.

This resistance problem is rooted in our BELOVED, highly exalted Pastors/Prophets leading people astray: knowingly or unknowingly MISLEADING people:

Matthew 15:14 KJV
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of THE BLIND. And if the blind lead the blind, BOTH shall fall into the ditch. (Hell)

And when it comes to Judging ourselves, the major areas are in the areas of HONOUR (to be Popular or Accepted by people) and MONEY (the lust for more and more of the things of this World).

Since many of our highly respected Spiritual Leaders are NOT ruthlessly dealing with them, but are rather growing as bond SLAVES, then we as followers too are bound to be ENSLAVED thereby.

Let's take a quick look at the case of Balaam:

2Pet.2.15 - They have wandered off the RIGHT ROAD and followed the way of Balaam son of Beor, who LOVED to earn MONEY by doing wrong.

2Pet.2.16 - But Balaam was STOPPED from his mad COURSE when his DONKEY REBUKED him with a HUMAN VOICE.

Unlike Balaam the Prophet, that poor DONKEY doesn't have the LOVE of Money and the Honour Men in it, so it was not BLIND, and was able to SEE the Angel of God in the way; and even SPOKE in Tongues (the human language it hadn't learnt before) to REBUKE its own Master.

That and other WORSE things are what the LUST for more and more Money, to be Popular and be accepted by Men can cause if we are NOT serious about being PLEASING to Jesus.

How about Gehazi, Judas, and Demas?

2 Timothy 4:10 KJV
For Demas hath FORSAKEN me, having LOVED this present World... (World: especially Money and The Honour or Approval of Men).

It's time to judge our OWN ourselves in secret, REPENT of "idolatry" of the worship of Money and Men, but rather LOVE God with ALL our hearts instead.

Matthew 6:24 KJV
No man can SERVE TWO Masters: ...
... Ye CANNOT serve God and MAMMON. (Money/Material things/Men's Honour or Praises)

May Jesus Bless You.

2Pet.2.3 - In their GREED they will make up clever LIES to get hold of your MONEY. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction is on the way.

Luke 6:26-27 KJV
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

[27] But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Jude 1:11 KJV
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Isa.44.25 - I am the one who exposes the FALSE PROPHETS as liars by causing events to happen that are CONTRARY to their predictions. I cause WISE PEOPLE to give bad advice, thus proving them to be FOOLS.