Oh No. Ripped Off Again

Yesterday, we began blogging on a verse from the Proverbs chapter that matches the day of the month. But today, rather than search for one particular verse in the Proverbs chapter matching the day of the month, we’ll simply begin with the first verse the day matching chapter. Yup. Be a huge challenge for our blog creation skills.

So today we begin with verse one of Proverbs Chapter 11, and tomorrow’s will be verse one of Proverbs 12. Well, hopefully, Makes sense? So, Proverbs 11:1 says: “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight”, and what comes to mind is the kind topic that causes us at one point or the other, to occasionally wail:

Oh no, we’re being ripped off again…

Makes us to think of President Trump reportedly pursuing economic justice for America. We recently watched him holding a chart of countries and the tariffs they’re charging us in their markets. So, Trump announced retaliatory tariffs he plans to hit them with shortly...

The resultant potential for stormy times ahead seems a timely reminder of Paul’s advice in 1 Timothy 2: 1,2: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

The stark reality is Paul’s letter to Timothy was not politically motivated. rather, it begins with a reminder to give thanks to God for all men. The letter is not so much about conviction for what we as century 21 disciples of Lord Jesus fail to do – more importantly, it’s a reminder God wants us to love others by simply - praying for them.

‘Course our carnal hearts are quick to ask: “What's that to do with us being ripped off?” Well, everything. Check verse 3: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”. 

In the grand scheme of things, what else can protect us from scammers all around unless their born again or saved, and come to the knowledge of Gods truth? Nada. For as Luke asserts in Acts 4:12:

Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Despite how well we may admire a president, a pastor, or a priest, they’re all prone to God’s verdict: All have sinned and fall short of His glory. Consequently, at the end of the day, in one way or another, their thought, action or deed will be equivalent to a dishonest scale, which is an abomination to the Lord, as opposed to a just weight - which is His delight.

Does that mean we become suspicious and wary of everyone we’re not familiar with? Course not. Rather, like Deborah, Job, Daniel, Amos, Jeremiah, Barnabas, Boaz or Ananias, we should be recognizable yet humbly effective at the ‘gates of the city’. Be it Wall Street, Wal-Mart, Main Street, uptown, downtown, backyard USA or anywhere else.

Rather than retreat from the heat of this first life, we’re called to “Let our light so shine before men they will see our good work and glorify our Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 5:16. Brings to mind an old one from Youth for Christ: “They’re looking at our walk, Not listening to our talk, And judging by our actions every day”

These days, we sense sort of a kinship with Charles Dickens who penned “A Tale Of Two Cities”. ‘Except in our case it’ll be a tale of two countries, since we have an idea America may be en route to a different stage and most likely may never quite be the same again.

Yup. We’re now in historically exciting times!

What’s ahead is anyone's guess except God who’s beyond time. So, we do what Paul recommends. We pray for our country, our President and all others who faithfully serve. After all, ours is the freedom to watch, work and pray that hopefully, they’ll be far fewer days we have to sadly say. Oh no. Ripped off again… Dr. B, aka Carlton 041125.