June 11, 2025 -- Proverbs 11:1 -- Why is God concerned about weights and balances?

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A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but a just weight is his delight.
Proverbs 11:1 ESV
 
Why on earth would a proverb like this be in the Bible? Great question. In fact, many times our questions lead us to seek answers and in the searching out answers, we learn more about our Great and Gracious God. In ancient times a false balance was something used to calculate the weight of a product to be sold. A false balance would be one that is tipped in favor of the merchant to increase his profits at the expense of the consumer. Weights were used for counterbalance and a false weight would be one that was less than true. Again, this is to the merchant’s benefit. Today, a false balance has an application in journalism. When a reporter gives two sides to a story, but the obvious bias shows one side gets the real weight and the other side is truncated, you have a false balance.
 
Where do we see a false balance today in journalism? LGBTG? stories are always weighted in favour of queer rights. Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) is emphasized as a good whereas Christians who believe life, from conception to natural death, is valuable as a gift from God is not given any weight.
 
In another arena of life, a false balance is starkly presented where Christianity is mocked while science is held up as the great revealer of truth. That is a false balance. How can science answer basic questions of life: How did we get here? What is wrong with the world? How can what is wrong be made right? What is the purpose of life? When science strays into those realms, it has moved from measurements and balance to philosophy and theology. It is usurping its proper function and is a false balance.
 
The fact that God is concerned for life in the marketplace, in the newsroom and in power structures is evidence He who created us has the right to tell us how to live.
 
The fact that people need rules and regulations in every area of life proves that the human heart is not basically good, but it is a restless, seething pit hosting evil.
 
The fact is God keeps account; He knows every deed of every person. No one will escape His justice.
 
The fact is, only God the Father has weighted the balance in our favour. We have violated His laws. Sin is the inclination of every heart. Sin commands obedience of everyone who is its slave. God in His great mercy, knowing people are helpless under the weight of their own sin and do in fact add to their debt-load to Him even when they utilize their best efforts to do good, acted to rescue those unable to help themselves. Jesus, the sinless one, at the cross was punished for every sin, every violation of God’s law, every wrong done.
 
Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. All who believe in Him have a balance that satisfied God’s righteous law. The just weight of God’s anger against sin is satisfied. The love of God is set on a proper balance so that the weight of our sin was put on Christ and the weight of His purity and righteousness was credited to all who believe. So, the justice of God touches the life of the believer in every single part and every level of his life. Public and private, business and pleasure, work and recreation, school and recess, no part of day or night is free from His sacredness.
 
To be righteous is to follow Jesus, keeping straight obedience to Him. The world is described as twisted and crooked. People who live according to the standards of the world do what is expedient. They do what suits the current narrative no matter how perverse. The believer does not twist himself into a pretzel to suit the world. The believer keeps his eye on Jesus and follows, knowing that in Jesus there is both justice and love. The Spirit of the Living God resides in all who call on the Name of Jesus, He is the powerhouse through whom believers can stay true when all around them it is chaotic. It is the Spirit of the Living God who teaches you that in Christ you are the Father’s delight, deeply loved.
 
Father in heaven who is like You? You are great in mercy and perfect in justice. You are honest in all Your ways. Thank You for reaching down and rescuing those ensnared by their own sin and guilt, helpless under their weight of sin. Jesus, our Rescue, the Captain of Salvation, let Your Name be blessed in our minds, in our words, and in all our living. Spirit of God lead us in the way of holiness, to be straight as arrows in our obedience, no matter the consequences nor the reactions of others. Keep our eyes fixed on the Jesus, the goal, the prize for all who respond to the upward call of God. Spirit of God, teach us to know Jesus, both intellectually but far more importantly, to know Him relationally, intimately. So that in Him we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom we shine as lights in the world. Amen
 
https://youtu.be/HudtQINJ81A?si=dZmdQcvNvIofcWFx ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus’
 
 

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