"You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt. ‘You shall thus observe all My statutes, and all My ordinances, and do them: I am the Lord.'" (Leviticus 19:36-37).
A ephah is about one bushel and a hin is about 10 gallons. God is very much involved in our lives and does not want anyone to be cheated. It is far better to give someone more than they purchased and be blessed by God than to give them less than they purchased and be condemned by Him. If you are a baker and someone buys a dozen cookies...give them thirteen or a baker's dozen. If someone pays you to cut down some trees, clean up the whole yard and let them sing your praises.
Jesus became very upset when he found moneychangers cheating the people. The temple leaders required that money be given to them in a certain currency requiring that money from other regions be exchanged with of course a tidy profit.
"And the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers seated. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables;" (John 2:13-15).
Who is Jesus? He of course is God, a member of the Trinity. God does not like cheaters.
Proverbs 16 - Teaches us today?
Proverbs 16:11 "(11) A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; All the weights of the bag are His concern."
Psalm 45:3-5 (Theme: Wedding Song For A King And His Bride). "(3) Grid Thy sword on Thy thigh, O Mighty One, In Thy splendor and Thy majesty! (4) And in Thy majesty ride on victoriously, For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; Let Thy right hand teach Thee Awesome things. (5) Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under Thee; Thine arrows are in the heart of the king's enemies."
Today's question. How should we conduct business?
Give more than the contract requires of you. Consider the extra a blessing for the family who receives it. In our country, having correct scales and measurement becomes one of the foundations of our system of government. If you purchase a pound of potatoes, you do not worry that there is less than a pound in the bag. When you buy 10 gallons of gas, you are confident that you have received 10 gallons. If this is not the case the whole economy and merchant exchange systems would be in turmoil.
There is another consideration. We have in this country what we call the working poor. People who cannot get ahead. Those who cannot save for retirement and those who live just barely from pay check to pay check sometimes robbing Peter to pay Paul. When you do business with the working poor, bless them. "The Lord makes poor and rich; he brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, he lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And he set the world on them." (1 Samuel 2:7).
Dear Jesus, help me be a blessing to others. Amen.
The Newness Of Life Daily Bible Message is designed for those who like to take a short respite from the day's responsibilities to enjoy the contemplation of God's word. This daily message is based primarily upon the belief that to read some of Proverbs and some of Psalm everyday will provide us with great spiritual growth and development when done consistently with discipline. Phillip Saxton and contibute to Newness Of Life Ministries (NOL) Phillip Saxton, www.NewnessOfLife.com. Phillip can be reached at saxton AT MiTowne dot com
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