Measuring Up

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

MEASURING UP

Prov 16:11

11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

NIV

We see a somewhat practical truth in this saying. It is known that in those days weights and measures were used in the exchange of goods by buyer and seller. There were a bag of weights, kept in the sanctuary of the temple by which all others were compared to if there was a dispute between the buyer and seller concerning the honesty of the sellers scales. This may be referring to this situation in that time of history, so how do we apply this truth to our lives today? Could it be said that all of mankind’s heart is deceitfully wicked and there is no real honesty upon people unless they are, in some way, influenced by God? That would be an awful commentary on  us as people, for surely we have honest upright people engaged in business or commerce today. We have laws by which people must operate, laws which prohibit dishonest gain and so perhaps this truth applies in that sense. We can also take from this truth a way of conducting our personal lives. We should conduct all our affairs, but commercial or material as well as spiritual in total honesty thus not trying to take advantage of others for our own sake, or personal gain. If we profess to love God then we need to be upright and honest in all our dealings. This would imply we should not have any façade that would present ourselves different then want we are. Some might try to act as though they are righteous, sanctified, totally sanctified and live without sin, but the truth is that would be prideful and thus sin would still exist within and the façade would be compared to an unjust scale, when compared to the weights and measures of the Lord. We must be sure our lives measure up to the scales and balances of God. Do we measure up?