Meditation

06/29/2020

“Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest him. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” (Leviticus19:35-36)

When God speaks to us about ethics and honesty, He is not just speaking about scales or weights or measurements, beloved. God’s expectations from us include business practices. A merchant controls the scales and must use them honestly in charging customers. God our Savior is interested in how we measure what we sell. Ethics is an extension of ourselves.

Are we honest in our transactions, where in a market or in business dealings, or do we attempt to use dishonest means to better our profits? Unethical business people may increase their profits on some deals, but the word gets out pretty fast as to how you operate, whereas the honest business person will make good profits for their honest dealings with their customers.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, You have shown us that a dishonest person might make good money off of a few deals, but in the long run, You are teaching us that the honest person will make more over time, because of their ethical practices, that the those who use unethical methods on some deals. The honest merchant/business persons will be held in high esteem by the business community for their ethical and honest standards and over time will have more business than those who use unethical standards. Help us to always maintain high standards, not matter what we do, for being honest and ethical in our dealings with others, reflects our relationship with You. It is in Jesus’ precious name that we pray. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“If you find yourself with time on your hands—-put’em together and pray.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Differing weights and differing measures—-the Lord detests them both. The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not pleas him.” (Proverbs20:10, 23)

The proverb’s ability to condense a thought adds tot he power of realizing God’s displeasure with dishonesty. I once went with my father to the butcher in our community, who was well known to place his thumb on the scale, making the weight a little heavier. I stood there and watched him do it. He gave my father the price and he responded it was too much and he would only pay a smaller amount. They would go back and forth and finally settle on a price that seemed to please them both. In the car I asked him why he let him get by with that and he said, “For us it is a game. I have never paid more than I should have, but they like the bantering back and forth.

I said, but what about the guy that doesn’t know it’s a game? He sat there and said, I guess he pays more. God doesn’t play games and He doesn’t want us to do so either. It’s called ethical behavior and should always be the standard for how we behave in any situation.

I AM:

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. For what is man’s lot from God above, his heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong? Does he not see my ways and count my every step? If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit—-let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless.” (Job31:1-6)

Here Job announces that he had made a covenant with his eyes not to look upon women lustfully. He speaks of his heritage from the Almighty, and that it is wrong for the wicked do so and disaster awaits them for doing so. Job asks if He does not see his ways and even count his every step. He calls for God to weigh him with honest scales If he had walked in falsehood or deceit. Beloved, every single thing we do; every single thing we say; every single thing we look at or think of is judged by God, and He uses only honest scales. He also calls us to repent of our sins, even those we may not even remember committing, for we have sinful natures. God in His grace, upon hearing us confess our sins and seek His forgiveness, we grant us that which we seek, but we must confess with the intent, not to commit the sins again. Understand???

Second Thought of the Day:

Beloved, persons of true character and integrity are marked by patience, slowness to anger, and humility. Thus, they are persons that are teachable. These are people who are looked up to by society and are considered as trustworthy. This is not something you purchase or obtain from someone else, it is revealed over time by the way these persons interact with others in business, home life and live their lives.

“A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.” (Proverbs12:17)

Words can hurt or heal. Wise use of the power of words leads one to know the importance of timing; both knowing when to speak and when to listen. Language backed by integrity of the speaker builds confidence and leaves lasting results.