The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him.
Summary: Dishonesty is rarely seen as being dishonest by the person doing the dishonest deed. Rationalizations are easy to come by. We can justify almost anything if we try. Yet God knows what we are doing. He watches us and is mindful of our motives.
How does Solomon know that God detests dishonest scales? Because God told the Israelites to use honest scales over four hundred years earlier (Leviticus 19:36).
Do you want to please God? You should. That is the main point of Solomon’s proverbs. There are consequences for rejecting God. Eternal consequences.
I remember as a kid, my mother had a special way of making sure I was “fair” with my brothers. When it came to dividing up a treat, I would get to do the cutting by my brothers would get to pick first.
Grrr…
Perhaps that is where I learned to gauge distances with my eye. I’m pretty accurate to about 1/16th of an inch most of the time. But that doesn’t mean my inclination to want the biggest piece has diminished. Sometimes I hear the voice in my head saying, “You take the bigger piece because you are _______ (Fill in the blank with; hungrier, harder working, bigger, etc.)” Sometimes I even imagine that I am “helping” the other person by keeping them from eating too much.
In the same way, people who use dishonest scales are trying to help. No, not the people they are fleecing, but themselves and the people they care about. If they can get money from someone else, then they think they have done something good.
God, being omniscient, sees the pain suffered by those who have been robbed. He knows that such pain can lead to evil thoughts of revenge and worse. He sees repeatedly how our fallen nature plays out again and again. He sees it in those who use dishonest scales, and he sees it in their victims.
Using accurate weights reflects God’s character. God treats everyone impartially. He loves us all (John 3:16) and yet holds us to the same standard of eternal justice (Romans 13:2).
When we obey God, we honor him. It pleases God when we do what he tells us. We don’t always know why we should do the things he says, but if God has said it, it must be for our good. And not just in this life, but in the life to come.
Application: Remember that the Lord is watching how we deal with others.
Food for Thought: As Christians, how do we respond to people who do not deal honestly with us?
As Christians, how do we respond to people who do not deal honestly with us?
I think first and foremost, don’t get angry, but also be honest with them when the opportunity arises. It is ok to say “I don’t think I fully understand this part of what you are telling me.” I would look at it as an opportunity to plant a seed.
Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Be wise (God has given us Truth and wisdom)
Make the most of the opportunity (They may be looking for Truth)
Show grace
“Season” the conversation in Truth
Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance
James 1:19-20 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Proverbs 19:11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Chris,
Thank you! Your analysis of Colossians 4: 5-6 is very helpful.
I think it depends a little if the dishonest person is a believer (or at least claims to be) or unbeliever. If a believer, then there is the church discipline process of going to them to try to reconcile (Matthew 18: 15 – 17; Galatians 6: 1; James 5: 19 – 20). If an unbeliever, Romans 12: 17 – 21 reminds us not to seek revenge and to maintain a good witness. As does the passage Chris shared.
And if the problem is mine, Colossians 3: 9 – 10 gives some good advice.
Rich,
Great synopsis!! I love the three pronged approach. So much depends on our relationship with our Creator. Knowing that he is intimately aware of our every thought is a great motivator to be on our best behavior.
Pray some of David Psalm’s over them? God’s way of pay back seems to be a whole better than mine. Probably best to let Him deal with others anyway.
Amen, John!
Well said! 🙂