Do you enjoy reading the book of Proverbs, or do you avoid it? There
is a large variety of topics discussed within these books, often times
changing quickly from one verse to the next, leaving your head spinning!
However, if you look closely at each topic, they usually boil down to
either a description of God or a description of man. Much is said about
God and His ways, yet much is also said about man and his ways. Both are
usually very opposite ways, amen? The Word of God was given us that we
might as mankind, align ourselves with the God of this universe, little
by little, one step at a time in our daily lives. Hence, if we were to
take each individual matter that Proverbs presents to us and heed what
the Bible says, we would draw ourselves closer to the Lord and a life
that is pleasing to Him. We would learn that we serve a God who cares
about every detail of our life, not just the big areas - but even the
little ones as well. Do you care about the little things in life, those
very detailed areas that are easy to overlook? Are you addressing them
as well as the big matters, or are you leaving them unattended to, after
having first discounted them as unimportant or unattainable? If that is
the case, I would venture to say you are not reading the book of Proverbs
then! Ladies, God desires that the whole of our lives be balanced, for
in this He finds delight....
Proverbs 16:11 says, "A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the
weights of the bag are his work."
Proverbs 11:1, "A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just
weight is his delight."
As I think of this topic of balance, I think of how much of a perfectionist
my husband is. This characteristic is especially noticeable when it comes
to hanging pictures or other decorations... I usually stand back and measure
by sight, judging where the middle position is between two places to put
the nail which will hold what I am hanging, and for the most part it looks
fine....to me! My husband, however, will get out the tape measure and
go about specifically determining the exact point of balance between the
other items I may be hanging my picture near, making precise pencil marks
on the wall where the nail should be placed. I told him that takes too
long, and we usually laugh at each other about our different ways of doing
things. It's funny, for my husband never notices the new picture I buy,
but he'll spot immediately if it is not positioned in a balanced fashion,
even if it is only a fraction of an inch off! While my delight comes from
just hanging the picture up, my husband delights in hanging it up RIGHT!
He dislikes things off balance, as does the Lord....
Proverbs 20:10, "Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are
alike abomination to the Lord."
Many people today, Christians included, display their lack of concern
for balance with the attitude of "who cares, life is too short to worry
about the little things." They tamper with their lives and cause them
to become so off center that it displays a lack of integrity for that
which really matters. But ladies, this is not God's attitude - He is concerned
with little things, for balance is very important to Him!
Job 31:6, "Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine
integrity."
The book of Proverbs alone proves that the Lord wants us to share His
concerns for every detail of our lives. Step on the Lord's scales today,
won't you? Find out what you're weighing in at concerning the details
of your life... We usually care quite a bit about our physical weight
and what man can see, but do you care about what God sees?? Can God see
that you are committed to that which is His delight? Are you committed
today to a life of balance? When is it we are most afraid to step on the
scales? When we KNOW our lives are out of balance, amen? We avoid measuring
ourselves because we KNOW we've got lots of work to do to bring ourselves
into alignment with the perfect weight. Such avoidance is unhealthy...
Ladies, the Lord praises just weights, and hates the unjust; the false
ones! No matter what man may think, God says imbalance is not good....
Proverbs 20:23, "Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and
a false balance is not good."
Why isn't it good? What is affected by our imbalance? First of all, balance
affects work and pleasure. In John 2:1-2, you'll find that Jesus was on
a mission to save the world, the greatest mission in the history of mankind,
amen? Yet he took time to attend a wedding and participate in its festivities.
Now, we may be tempted to think we should not take time out from our "important"
work for social occasions. But ladies, these social occasions are part
of our mission for they are also opportunities to reach the lost and minister
to others. Jesus valued these wedding festivities because they involved
people, and Jesus came to be with people, did He not? Our mission can
often be accomplished in joyous times of celebration with others. Keep
that in mind during the upcoming holiday season that is just around the
corner.... Even the ants, though extremely industrious, took time out
for picnics! Bring balance to your life by bringing the Lord Jesus Christ
into times of pleasure as well as times of work, amen?
Secondly, balance also affects our physical and spiritual lives. Are you
in shape both physically and spiritually, dear lady? In our society, much
emphasis is placed on physical fitness, but spiritual health (godliness)
is even more important! Our physical bodies are susceptible to disease
and injury, but faith can sustain us through these tragedies and more!
To train for godliness, we must develop our faith.... Are you developing
your spiritual muscles these days? Are you strengthening your spirit in
the things of the Lord? Or are you more developed in the physical than
the spiritual, therefore being an unjust weight?? Maybe the whole of your
being is imbalanced... Both areas should be attended to, for God says
to glorify Him in your body AND in your spirit - they are both His!
1 Cor. 6:19-20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
In closing, I hope you'll apply your hearts to a balanced reading of Scripture...
Don't avoid reading the book of Proverbs, for there is much the Lord would
show you about Himself....and you! He wants to bring balance to your life
- will you let Him? It's time we all took even the smallest details of
our lives and let every one of them give glory and honour to the name
of the Lord, amen? May He find in each one of us a just weight, no area
lacking!
Psalm 17:2, ".....let thine eyes behold the things that are equal...."
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
