Connie and I have been watching When Calls the Heart where it is evident a few in the community of Hope Valley do not share the same value for integrity the majority do. No doubt that TV series reflects similar values of our world today, albeit I suspect the percentage in a typical community who value integrity has significantly shifted. What is it that motivates a person to deceive, cheat, misrepresent themselves or leverage their position for personal gain rather than the good of others? I’m sure the answer to that is complex, but fundamentally it seems the motivation is to somehow take shortcuts to achieve their dream. That dream may simply be to be recognized as someone better, wealthier, more powerful or wiser than they really are. Their shortcut may amount to living above their means or shaving or embellishing the numbers on an IRS return or a sales or business report. Not too long ago it was reported that Wells Fargo had developed an elaborate scheme to make them look bigger and better than they really were.
In the Bible days, scales represented justice or honesty not just in business but in character and therefore speech and decisions. The idea was that something was to be weighed in order to ascertain either its quantity or its value. Scales or balances are the symbols of justice or equity as Solomon wrote, “The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights” (Prov. 11:1 NLT2). Of course, God detests dishonest scales since He is Truth. He therefore expects humans to be truthful in their words or business dealings. That’s certainly correct, but is that the only reason? I now realize there is even more to it than that. I was intrigued when I connected that truth with Jesus’ words, But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30 ESV). Jesus reveals our anxiety is triggered by lustfully looking at things we want but do not have. This leads us to use any form of dishonest scales as a shortcut to attain or obtain whatever we dream of having.
Jesus’ rationale was more profound than simple truth as crucial as it is. Did you notice Jesus’ words, …will he [God] not much more [provide clothes]…, if we simply love and genuinely and patiently trust Him to provide what is best for us? Why then should we fantasize about shortcuts we could leverage to gain a little more for ourselves? God already has so much more He will give if we remain faithfully and fully committed to Him and don’t compromise! The idea of using dishonest scales exposes far more about unbelief in our heart and how big/weak and loving/irrelevant the god is we envision in our heart. If we see Him as the Bible describes Him, we can be at perfect peace while someone else has more than we do whether that be in a checking account, fame, power or position in a larger church or business.
It is no wonder why God hates dishonesty in whatever form it takes. He sees it as finite man’s way of attempting to dismiss God’s desires to provide for His children. What humanly contrived means or methods might we subconsciously default to or knowingly use in order to attain whatever we consider represents success when God doesn’t seem to be giving us what we want? Do we seek better leadership skills, manipulation of whatever sort, faddish looks or technology in order to attract the attention of the world, gain greater political power, etc., etc.? It is not that any of these are necessarily inherently wrong in themselves. However, they become wrong when we invest more time and money strategizing or otherwise seeking them more than we do seeking to know, trust and love God more intimately. Wow! That is a very thought-provoking challenge. In what ways have you and I been tempted to take shortcuts to achieve or obtain something either God knows would harm us rather than help us or something He plans to give us in His time and way?
Good to see a new post, Pastor Bob.