Proverbs 11:1-9, Widespread Corruption!
May 5, Proverbs 11:1-9
Luke 6:27-38 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are … honest, think on these things”.
Widespread Corruption!
A just weight is a full, perfect stone (Dt. 25:15). It is a perfect jewel and precious in the sight of God. This figure is from the use of stones for weights and measures. A false balance represents any unjust or fraudulent practice in business dealings. How remarkable that God’s eye marks even our common dealings with aversion or approval. “Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive” (Walter Scott).
1. It’s the Law of God! “‘Why not?’ a trader might say. ‘If I buy with a heavy weight and sell with a light one I’ll make more profit on every deal.’ Bach merchant had stone weights which matched some national standard, yet many had more than one set of stones marked the same but with different weights” (Alden). Men make light of such fraud, and do not consider it a sin where money is involved. They call it sharp business! Today, butchers often use deceptive packaging to conceal poor quality meats. This is as wrong as the false balance. This is a repetition and re-enforcing of the Mosaic Law against having divers weights or divers measures (Deut. 25:13-15). The prophets also denounced this kind of deceit. Hosea condemned merchants who kept the balances of deceit; and who loved to oppress, to deceive (Hos. 12:7). Amos, too, exposed the merchants of Samaria for making the ephah (volume measure) small and the shekel (customer’s cost) large (Amos 8:5). Later still, Micah added his voice against this evil practice, calling their riches the treasures of wickedness and the tongue of deceit (Mic. 6:10-12). The third division of the Hebrew Bible, the Wisdom Literature, as we see, deals with this evil. A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are his work (Pr. 16:11). “It is an affront to justice, which God is the patron of, as well as wrong to our neighbour, whom God is the protector of” (Henry). The entire Old Testament proclaims honesty as God’s standard for man.
2. It’s the Law of Christ! Would any deny that this is a NT command also? How shall we, who claim to be Christians, get on our knees to pray, and not feel the frown of God upon us, if we are engaging in such dishonest practices? Jesus demanded that we do to others what ye would that men should do to you, and then He added, for this is the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12). Do we have always a conscience void of offence toward God and men (Acts 24:16). Charles Bridges warned this is more than a maxim; it is also a dictum. Paul cautioned a flourishing church to beware of the sin of defrauding (1 Thes. 4:6; 1 Cor. 6:8, deprive). We know that many have banished God from the world of business. Corruption in politics and business is as impossible to wipe out as it is to wipe out prostitution! “They are not Atheists; they are willing to meet Him by appointment on the Sabbath, and in church, on condition that they shall be allowed to buy and sell without Him all the rest of the week” (Arnot). Let none forget that there is a daily inspection of weights and measures going on in the courts of heaven.
Thought: A pagan once said: “An honest death is better than a dishonest life.”
Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to remember that honesty is not an option.