HONEST WEIGHTS
PROVERBS 11:1
"A false weight is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight"
This is not God's condemnation of those who lie about their weight.. so you can pick up your toes. "
In 1924 Liberty Magazine sent 1 00 letters containing one dollar, at random to people saying it was a bill adjustment they had requested. (not true) Of the 100 letters, 27 returned the dollar.
In 1971 they did it again and only 13 were returned
Understand that I don't believe that there is a hierarchy of sins .... some sins that are worse than others.
However; I believe that some sins are more offensive to God than are others. Such sins are referred to with a particularly strong word in the scripture = ABOMINATION!
What is an abomination? It is something that is abominable or detestable, loathsome and thoroughly unpleasant.
When God uses the term abomination He is pointing out particularly odious sins that are especially offensive to Him.
Does this mean they are more serious in punishment? NO! Wages of sin is death.
Does this mean other sins are less serious? NO' Wages of sin is death.
This is a special word to those who are concerned with pleasing God ... these are particularly injurious to the relationship of intimacy.
In this list of odious sins are such as Idolatry, adultery, prostitution, incest, child sacrifice, sorcery, murder, and sodomy.
By anyone’s standards you can see that these sins are especially injurious to people and to society, they are outlawed.
However, also found in the list of sins called abominations are some of what we might call less offensive sins pride, a witness that lies under oath, lying, and cheating.
These latter elements do not dilute the meaning of abomination ... they simply show how askew is our thinking ... that we consider these things to be "not-so-bad".
They are that bad, and anything that keeps such company as murder, prostitution, and idolatry is very, very serious.
Provo 11:1,20:10,23 and many other verses that I will not take time to list all show cheating/dishonesty/lying are very serious sins that are particularly offensive to God and as such, must be avoided by anyone serious about pleasing God.
Let's go back to Provo 11: 1 and look closely ...
"Afalse eight is an abomination to God .. "
WHAT IS A FALSE WEIGHT?
The scripture was written in a culture that was Pre-grocery store, pre-scale regulation.
foods were not weighed on scales that were regulated by the government to assure accuracy.
The buyer was at the mercy of the merchant... and if the merchant was crooked ... the customer was the looser.
Merchants used one weights for purchasing, and another for selling.
Much like used car salesman
Jewish merchants used one weight for Jews and another for Gentiles.
They believed it was OK to cheat Gentiles
God did not look on this as a minor or slight thing.
He said GOD TAKES CHEATING; LYING; DISHONESTY VERY SERIOUSLY
THEY ARE AN ABOMINATION TO GOD ... RANKED WITH INCEST, MURDER,
AND HOMOSEXUALITY.
When you sink so low morally and spiritually that you can look on murder, incest, prostitution, and child sacrifice as minor then you will be excused for seeing dishonesty that way.
But, THE TRUTH IS... WE DO SEE DISHONESTY AS A MINOR THING.
WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS OK TO USE THE FAKE WEIGHTS AND CHEAT PEOPLE ---IF IT PROFITS US.
Someone has said, "You can fool some of the people some of the time- and generally speaking, that's enough to allow a profit.
The National Observer noted that under-weighing foods by stores IS ripping off consumers of billions of dollars per year.
In Pennsylvania - 15.5% all prepackaged food found to be under-weighed
In Kansas - 30% all meats sold was under-weighed
In Arkansas - NOT 1 -one pound can ofveg.s had 16 oz
In Tennessee - Officials have found 47 ways to under-weigh meats in front of the customer
A recent 20/20 or 60 minutes reports found that about 25% of all gas pumps were incorrect (in favor of the merchant)
Just pennies taken here and there nets big profits.
AND THE MOST ASTOUNDING THING IS THAT THOSE MERCHANTS ADMIT THAT IT IS ILLEGAL BUT MOST DON'T THINK IT IS WRONG BECAUSE THEY FIGURE THEY ARE GETTING EVEN WITH CUSTOMERS FOR SHOP LIFTING.
CONVERSELY MOST SHOPLIFTERS DON'T FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THE STORE IS OVERCHARGING THEM.
In a thousand different ways today ... we are still using the false weights and are being dishonest.
Most of those ways are seen as benign by us but God says IT IS AN ABOMINATION!
EXHIBIT A: the cracked pot
Today because many merchants allow returns on merchandise... customers will buy it, break it, and return it.
THAT IS AN ABOMINATION!
They will buy it, wear it, and return it.
THAT IS AN ABOMINATION!
They will buy it, use part, return for whole = ABOMINATION!
We all know about shoplifters who hide cloths under clothing = ABOMINATION
who switch price-tags = ABOMINATION...
What about ones that find products mismarked and take advantage? - ABOMINATION
What about those who get undercharged and don't right it? = ABOMINATION
They say, "Not my fault, it was the stores, so I'M not going to worry about it."
Just my good luck
They say ... makes up for the times I was overcharged or ripped-off.
GOD LOOKS AT IT AND IS SICKENED BY THE SMELL OF THE DEED AND IS DISTANCED FROM THE PERSON.
HONOR IS BECOMING ENDANGERED SPECIES!
State of Delaware tried honor system on those who did not have exact change--take envelop and mail it in.
In 20 days 26,000 envelopes taken ONLY 586 RETURNED!---2%
State lost $4,000, in envelopes plus lost tolls
College and high school students have discovered new ways to cheat. .. "Universal International Term papers" and "Term Papers Unlimited" will sell term papers.
The bible says thou shalt not steal
Our society has changed it to Thou shalt not blatantly steal but some stealing is OK
The greatest source of cheating in our country is I.R.S. and Insurance fraud.
20120 did a report on auto mechanics that charge for work not done.
60 Minutes did a report on those who file bogus claims with insurance companies claiming to be injured or disabled.
Most of us not guilty of such blatant cheating
BUT. .
When we do have an insurance claim. many add things not fact
many misrepresent the value
many exaggerate the severity
TRUTH IS THAT MANY SEE THE INSURANCE AS FREE GAME, A GOLDEN GOOSE TO BE HAD, AND IT IS PERFECTLY ACCEPT ABLE.
Many feel that they have wasted years of premiums and never had a claim so they are entitled.
Others know others who have profited this way and desire the same... Since it IS acceptable.
GOD SAYS IT IS AN ABOMINATION!!!!
Dishonesty runs the whole gamut ... from leaders to people
From preachers to the pews... Bishop Warren Candler preaching about God striking Ananias and Sapphira dead for lying said, "God doesn't strike people dead like he used to. If he did, where would I be?
His audiance's chuckle brought him to and he added, "I would be right here preaching to an empty church."
Did you know--- in six years over 1000 officials... from sheriffs to judges, were convicted of federal crimes (like kick-backs, and bribes) .. does not include state and local crimes.
And while most Christians will not think of bribes or extortion
More than 50% will keep "too much change"
will keep merchandise wrongly delivered
will find places where someone else's mistake has profited them and keep quiet
All of these are ways of using unfair weights and scales to cheat and rob our brother.
To do it knowingly IS AN ABOMINATION TO GOD!!!!!!!!!
IT MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO OTHERS
IT MAY BE TOTALLY UNKNOWN TO OTHERS
TO GOD IT IS A VILE OFFENSIVE ACT THAT TURNS HIS STOMACH AND MAKES THE PERSON OFFENSIVE TO HIM.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE "thou shall not steal" "thou shalt not lie"
MEANS NOT TAKING WHAT IS NOT YOUR'S,
NOT KEEPING WHAT IS NOT YOUR'S,
AND NOT MISREPRESENTING THE TRUTH IN ANY WAY THAT CAUSES YOU TO GAIN WHAT YOU DON’T NOT DESERVE.
IF IT AIN'T YOUR'S ------GIVE IT BACK
$S ... $10 ... EVEN $lOO .. .Is it worth it?
Would you risk God's love, protection, presence, JOY, peace, victory, power... for $100????
(((Telling the Robbers, # 6946 ..... Emmanuel Kant's father and robbers)))
Listen to the scripture ... "A false scale is an abomination to the Lord, but a true weight is His delight."
Those who are honest in all things, not taking what is not theirs, what they do not deserve, returning what is mistakenly received or deceitfully gotten... they are the true weight that please the Lord.
I hope and pray that is you.
BUT. ...
Those who through hook, crook, or chance gain what they do not deserve or what does not rightfully belong to them and knowingly take it or keep it
FOR WHATEVER REASON
THEY ARE AN ABOMINATION TO THEIR GOD ... a detestable, revolting thing.
Zacceus understood it. “Lord, I will pay it all back and never do it again.”
He wanted to be acceptable more than he wanted to profit
He was pleasing to God.
ARE YOU"", Do you have something to confess today???
Come today and receive the only things you are allowed to keep that you don't deserve or are not rightfully yours
GRACE FORGIVENESS SALVATION
Emmanuel Kant was one of the greatest thinkers of the 1700's,
if not all time.
His father was a very godly man.
At an old age his father went on a dangerous journey through the
forests of Poland to his native country of Silesia.
On the way he ran into a band of robbers who demanded all his
valuables.
Finally they asked him, "Have you given us everything?"
He answered, "Everything."
They had his money, his horse and even his prayer book.
So they let him go.
When he was safely out of their sight his hand touched something
hard in the hem of his robe.
It was his gold.
He had sewn it there for safety and had completely forgotten
about it because he was so afraid and confused.
At once he hurried back to find the robbers.
He said to them, "I have told you something that was not true.
I didn't mean to. I was too terrified to think."
"Here is the gold that was hidden in my clothes."
To his astonishment, no one offered to take his gold.
After a long silence, one went and brought back his money bag.
Another got his horse and helped him on it.
Then they gave him back his prayer book.
They then begged him to say a blessing on them before they would
let him go.
#39
