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 List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more