A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
What is a false balance, and why is this an abomination to the Lord? Let’s say someone is selling a product by pound. You buy a pound at the agreed upon price, but unbeknownst to you, the seller gave you slightly less than a pound. Maybe he adjusted his scale so that it was inaccurate purposefully. God hates this because He despises dishonesty, deceit, robbery, and using people for our own gain.
This is a literal example of what this proverb means, but we can also consider this symbolically.
A false balance can represent unfair judgments.
For example, if we tip the scales in our favor when considering our sin yet we weigh the same sin in another heavily, we are using a false balance.
We can use a false balance when we consider good things to be evil and evil things to be good. We can use a false balance when we justify the wicked and condemn the upright.
We can use a false balance when we highly esteem man but take smaller regard for our Lord and God.
We can use a false balance when we misuse the scripture as we focus too heavily on a topic of lesser importance while ignoring something more needful.
We can do as Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day: “You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel.”
Sometimes we get so caught up on little matters that we miss the larger and more important point. We have to seek Jesus so that He can teach us what matters most, and in so doing, we can lay aside a lot of the small disagreements we have among the brethren and properly glorify God together—instead of highly weighing our favorite doctrines, denominations, or pastors that we value entirely too much.
There are many unjust balances in this world. I’m sure you can think of a few. Our government is full of unjust balances as they misuse funds and lead us into financial ruin. Many social movements are full of unjust balances, especially as they glorify criminals as martyrs and rob the afflicted of them of their justice. Science is foolish when it weighs knowledge of vanity and pride over the wellbeing of their fellow man. Big businesses thrive on unjust balances when they neglect the poor and fill themselves full.
However, it is most needful for us to consider our own. First, we look to our own lives. What things do we weigh unjustly and why does this matter to God? Once we straighten that out, then we can consider how unjust balances affect our brethren in Christ. Then, we might be able to do something about the unjust balances in the world at large. However, to each his own calling in the Lord.
The Book of Revelation mentions an unjust balance.
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. – Revelation 6
When man deals with unjust balances—literally and symbolically—famine will come to that land.
God hates unjust balances, and as we continue in them, we can expect His judgment.
There will come a time when man will no longer care for just balances—this is already true in many ways—but when this comes to the full, there will be famine. Famine of bread and water, and also as the scriptures say, “not a famine of bread but of hearing the word of the Lord.”
It is also true that those who are for judgment of others will find that judgment sent to them. Those who are for famine will go through a famine.
Those who rob people of the word of God will find the word of God removed from them. They will lose their understanding. Their prophecies come to naught. Their “candlestick is removed out of its place” and the Holy Spirit is heard no more in their ears.
Those who rob people in the things needful for life and justice will find themselves robbed when no more rain comes to replenish the lands and souls they stole, turning their plentiful fields into barren waste lands.
God is not kidding around.
Let us consider our unjust balances so that we can repent and flourish in the knowledge of the Lord and find provision of the Lord when famine comes to this world through His true prophets. He sent manna once. He can do it again. Both literally and symbolically. God provides for those who serve Him and trust in Him faithfully, or at least have a sincere desire to learn how.
This is part of a series of articles considering the Proverbs from a Christian mindset and applying these lessons to present-day events. You can find all of the Considering Proverbs writings here. Subscribe to receive future posts by email.
GODLY INSTRUCTION IS GOOD, BUT IT IS BETTER THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS SO THAT WE ALL MAY EDIFY ONE ANOTHER AND GLORIFY GOD. Let no man Lord themselves over you. Including me. Feel free to share your thoughts below and begin a discussion. I would so love to hear from you!
Jesus Alone 