Skip to main content

Differing Weights

 The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. (Proverbs 20:23)

          When listening to lectures about culture, I learned that there are cultures that maintain that we should consider the situation of the criminal or rule breaker. A college student from South America may, for example, think the university should give him a break when it comes to paying tuition. They shouldn’t charge him the late fee they charge American students, because it isn’t his fault the tuition money is late. His bank, and the bureaucracy of international financial transactions are to blame, not he.

          I’ve also heard reports from relatives of a young man who was killed while breaking into a home. The homeowner should have considered what life was like for the would-be burglar.

          Now, we tend to do a little of this. Children aren’t usually treated like adults when they commit crimes. Those who are mentally ill, or incapable of understanding are generally not treated the same way. But we never way that what they did is OK because they’re only kids. Likewise, we don’t feel right about the idea of star athletes being allowed to commit rape because they have a bright future ahead of them. In general, we agree with the Lord about differing weights and dishonest scales, and especially so if we are the victims.

          That tends to change when we are the guilty ones. Suddenly, “I didn’t mean to,” and “It wasn’t my fault,” are phrases that should get us off the hook. If we confess our sins, God has to forgive us, doesn’t He? That means we can do as we wish. Right? But God detests differing weights and dishonest scales. We pray “forgive us our debts as we forgive others…”

          Do you give grace to others for the things you’d prefer they gave you grace for? Do you give grace to yourself for things you give grace to others? Do you judge yourself as guilty as you judge others for the same thing? I’m not sure I really want to check my weights and scales, but it would do us good.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more