“A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the LORD, But an accurate scale is His delight.”

Proverbs 11:1 AMP

Proverbs 11contiues to compare and contrast righteousness and lawlessness. God desires for us to live our lives in a place of blessing and reward and has given us the book of Proverbs to guide us on that path! Today’s verse reminds us that God hates dishonestly in business and righteousness. The man or woman of God takes careful consideration of the actions and activities of their lives. It is easy to follow the worlds reckless practices of deceiving others in business and righteousness. I often hear, “everyone is doing it,” or “what’s the harm in getting a little extra cash?” The name of Christ should never be dishonored! When scams and false pretenses are found in a Christians dealing if brings a stain upon the name of Christ. The book of Deuteronomy says,

““You shall not have in your bag inaccurate weights, a heavy and a light [so you can cheat others]. 14You shall not have in your house inaccurate measures, a large and a small. 15You shall have a perfect (full) and just weight, and a perfect and just measure, so that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 16For everyone who does such things, everyone who acts unjustly [without personal integrity] is utterly repulsive to the LORD your God.”

Deuteronomy 25:13-16 AMP

It is even more grievous to God when deception and misdirection are applied to His Word in order to legitimize sin. The word “false” in the opening verse means to “create a state or condition of deliberately misleading, and so have someone have a false view, in either word or action.” The word “balance” is the word referring to the instrument or process used to measure accurately. It carries with it both commerce and moral or right circumstances. In business we area to have a straightforward, fair product delivering exactly what the customer expects against what they received, “Standard of performance.” In term of morality, we need to know what we are using a Standard against which we are measuring behavior. The world today is trying to tip the scales with their distorted philosophies supported by misinterpretation of God’s Word. If the Word of God was used as it is, there would be no need for any questions about morality. Christians are commanded to use the Word as a standard to see if our behavior and thoughts are in line with God’s. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth,

“We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,”

2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP

Notice that the condition of measurement is the “true knowledge” of God. The balance in the scale of our life needs to be the Bible. We need to remember that the world is looking at us and expect to see something different! Paul put it this way,

“You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 

2 Corinthians 3:3 AMP

I love the computer analogy “what you see is what you get.” As Christians, we need to remember that we are, as mentioned above, “a letter from Christ.” What message is the world getting when they see your life? Paul told the church at Rome,

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]”

Romans 12:1-2 AMP 

Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken