As I was reading this morning in Proverbs 20, two verses stood out to me.
Prov 20:10 and Prov 20:23
Differing weights and differing measures—
the LORD detests them both.
The LORD detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
The same idea presented twice in one passage of scripture. You think it’s important?
So what does it mean when Solomon writes, “The Lord detests differing weights and dishonest scales?” I’m sure there’s many other interpretations but I picture Lady Justice with a scale held in her hand.
I picture the scale tipping from one side to the other in the courts of our land.
And then I have to picture many of us giving a little more to one person than another – just because we like them.
Maybe they treated us nice so we give them a little larger tip. Maybe they gave us a favor last time so we go the extra mile for them. So the scale tips further in their direction.
But isn’t justice supposed to be fair? Should we really pay a person just because we were treated better?
Shouldn’t we pay a worker or friend or stranger the same that we would pay our own mother, father, sister or brother?
And when I speak on paying someone I don’t necessarily mean with money. It could be time, gifts, talents etc.
If you’d take the time to do something for your best friend – why aren’t you taking the time to do that to your neighbor who complains that your dog whines too much?
Maybe then the scales will even out and we will no longer weigh a person by their deeds and actions but by the love Christ has for them.
