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Don't Get Cheated
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Don’t Get Cheated
“Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, and a false scale is not good.” Proverbs 20:23
I can’t believe it has been almost a month since we’ve gotten back to Florida. We hit the ground running and haven’t stopped since. I thought packing and getting ready to move was a chore! I sorely underestimated unpacking and getting reorganized – whatever that is!
Interestingly enough, one of the first commitments I had when we arrived was to speak during a ladies function at church. Now that doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Well, just for fun, let’s review my last few months leading up to that scheduled event for February 2008.
Of course, we all know what we did in December. Like you, I prepared for Christmas – while packing up my house. Then January rolled in much quicker than I expected. During the first week of January, I fell while out running errands. I injured my dignity along with pulling a few muscles. The next day, we had our cat put to sleep. The third day, my father-in-law became very ill. A few days later, I got the news that I was to speak on “Maintaining Balance in Your Life.” Very funny.
I waited for the Holy Spirit to send me a word on that subject. It never came. The only think in my mind was scales. I thought it was because I had gained a few pounds here and there. Apparently, God had another interpretation.
God certainly places ideas in my mind in a very unorthodox fashion. Nevertheless, I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way. Please allow me to share with you what He placed on my heart. I’ll give you the short version, but you can picture me standing in front of a friendly group with a lapel microphone and my Bible – or not.
Along with visions of a scale, I was drawn to this verse in Proverbs. I thought about it for weeks before we left Phoenix. For two thousand miles along I-10, I pondered it. Finally, as hope seemed to fade, the proverbial clouds parted and I saw the light.
You see, I can no more tell you how to maintain balance in your life, because I can’t even tell me at this point. Besides there are far too many experts out there better educated and qualified than I. But I can tell you how all this relates to us in a Biblical sense.
First, we must acknowledge that when things fall of out of balance in life, generally our spiritual life is out of balance as well. We tend to neglect our time with God. We don’t mean for it to happen, but it does. Second, we can glean from Proverbs 20:23 that God isn’t fond of things being out of balance. If fact, He calls differing weights (or out of balance scales) an abomination.
Why are ‘out of balance scales’ such an offensive thing to our Father? Because when scales are weighted falsely (think about scales used to measure goods at market or even a gas pump), someone gets cheated.
Let me ask you this, when you are out of balance at work – who gets cheated? When you are out of balance at home – who gets cheated? Now when you are out of balance spiritually – who gets cheated? Suffice it to say, on that count, you get cheated! You are cheated out of God’s presence. Not to mention, He gets cheated out of yours!
Beloveds, whenever God lays something like this on my heart, it is because I need to hear it and apply it personally before I ever share it with you. Although, I shared this several weeks ago, I needed a refresher course this week.
Today, if you find yourself out of balance because you are disorganized, overworked or just a bad cook – go by a good book by an expert. By all means, get help! Should you find yourself spiritually out of balance – remember who is getting cheating by the imbalance. Then find yourself the Good Book by The Expert and spend some one-on-one with the Savior. Balance is within your reach!
Off-balance but getting steadier!
Barbara
Ministry Partner/Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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