WHY WOULD A DISCIPLE OF JESUS THINK SOMEONE ELSE’S SIN IS WORSE THAN THEIR OWN – IN THE EYES OF A HOLY GOD? SUCH CARNAL THINKING REVEALS AN UNCIRCUMCIZED HEART AND THE NEED TO LEARN OF THE LORD, TO BE INCREASED IN THE GRACE OF GOD (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).
Think about the foolishness and utter futility of a hand cuffed violent robbery suspect and a rapist judging each other in the lobby of the court they’re getting ready to go in to stand before the judge to be sentenced. The point? God calls us to get our own life right with Him first and foremost.
Many times we see that the people attempting to correct others, need to be correcting themselves (Matthew 7:1-5; 1 Corinthians 11:31-32).
Many times, sinful human nature is to project our own darkness on others rather than take personal accountability for our own sins (Romans 2:1-3).
Cache in on God’s Mercy The sins that should concern me the most are my own (Job 19:28; Matthew 7:1-5; John 8:7; 1 Corinthians 11:31-32; Ephesians 4:32; James 2:13).
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7
We’re not responsible for anyone else’s sins but our own – and that should greatly concern us! When Job was wrongly judged, he responded with:
“But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? 29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.” Job 19:28-29
Firstly, just where O where did our Creator and Judge say that “the root of the matter is”?
We should think and speak as if no one on this planet needs Jesus more than we do!
“The root of the matter is found in me.” Job 19:28
Here in Job 19, Job is speaking to his “friends” who were not loving him but rather judging him and wrongly at that (Romans 8:33-34; James 4:11-12). After they judged him (see earlier verses in Job 19), Job tells them that they should realize and be acknowledging that the root problem in the world is not Job or others, but rather themselves. Then, in verse 29, Job warns these men who wrongly judged him of the danger upon them of receiving divine retribution upon themselves for taking it upon themselves to judge him.
The sin that should concern us the most is our own!
“Many today are good at pointing out what they believe your sin is. Yet these same people refuse to accept and repent and confess their own transgressions. Job said: ‘The root of the matter is found in me’ (Job 19:28). Or in other words ‘I don’t have a problem I am the problem!’ Usually what we judge in others is in us! Romans 2:1-3. Beware! I have been told recently I was an evil person because I refuse to listen to a person with a reprobate mind. We all need to get on our knees before the Lord Almighty in repentance! Allowing and asking God to search our hearts and see if there be any ‘wicked way in me” Psalm 139:24. Paul said, I am chief among sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15. I think he meant that verse for me! The hour is late and we will not be invited into the marriage supper if our garments are not cleansed with the blood of Christ.” Karen Cochran
IF you lusted/coveted/hated-murdered in your heart YOU ARE FULLY GUILTY before a Holy God and full in need of repentance and the refreshing of Heaven which follows that repentance (Matthew 5:28; Acts 3:19). WHAT stone have you to throw at anyone except yourself? Read John 8.
THOSE who still think you are the same person you were in the past, only prove that THEY are the same as they were in the past. They prove they are not growing in God’s grace themselves and are still the un-repentant person they were in the past! (See Romans 2:1-3.) Their projection of this darkness emanates from their own darkened heart.
“A long time ago someone told me I didn’t have a problem I was the problem. This stuck with me. I was the root of my own problem. The “root of the matter”. Job 19:28. Whenever I am offended I need to remember the problem is not them but me! And then take it before the Lord praying Psalm 51. Allowing God to search my heart, try me, and “see if there is any wicked way in me”. Psalm 139: 23-24. Notice the word ME! Not anyone else but ME! I can’t repent for anyone else! I will be fully accountable to God for myself on judgement day!” Karen Cochran
When someone holds you captive to a sin you committed in the past, they prove that they have not repented and confessed their own sins and therefore are not experiencing the saving grace and mercy of Christ themselves. Romans 2:1-3 speaks of these darkened unrepentant tares and how they project what they are guilty of on others. Some of these are reprobates.
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” Romans 2:1-3
YOU mad at the world?
You judging others in your heart, your attitudes?
Should we not blame ourselves, as the vilest of SINNERS? Not others!
Sit down.
Be quiet.
Repent.
ANYONE can sit back and point out the evil in this world. Such takes no spiritual giant but is rather the preoccupation of “hypocrites” (Matthew 7:1-5). Only a few decide to see the utter deceit and evil in themselves – therefore only those few are made free and able to be used of God to see and share His “great … rich … mercy” and “his great love wherewith he loved us,”! (Read John 8:31, 32, 36 and Ephesians 2:4.)
Prayer: Father, please purify my heart to the core and cause my life to be 100% full of authenticity and integrity. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen my LORD.
The heart, life, and sins I must primarily, centrally, and perpetually examine are my own – not someone else’s! The person I must judge is myself! The logs must be removed before the LORD will consider using me to help others (Job 19:28; Matthew 7:1-5; 1 Corinthians 11:31-32; Galatians 6:1-2).
Godly compassion begins with repenting truly and when we do, we will no longer be sinfully self-righteous which is where the lack of compassion emanates. When Jesus saw the lost He was “moved with compassion” (Matthew 9:35-38). What are you moved with?
Preach the Word and let God work. Never seek to unduly police the lives of other believers. All who do will fall into their own pit (James 1:20).
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20
Before we proceed, we must readily acknowledge that there is “NO good thing” in us except Jesus (Romans 7:18). “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:18). Hence the need for the work of Christ’s cross in us daily (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
Holiness is a work of God in the born again, abiding disciple of Jesus (John 15).
You see, “There is one lawgiver” and Judge and if you are not God Almighty, you are not that “lawgiver” or Judge.
“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” James 4:11-12
Job tells these men that they are now going to suffer “the sword” and “punishments” of judgment from the LORD for presumptuously taking it upon their self-righteous, prideful selves to misrepresent a child of God (Job), wrongly condemning and witnessing against him (Job 19:29).
Is this not a doctrine found throughout Scripture?
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13
Folks, concerning myself and my life before my Maker and Judge in this world, the “ROOT of the matter” is in me, not another and the LORD has called this disciple to be primarily concerned with his own utter and present need for divine mercy.
Where does the LORD instruct us to begin judgment?
“For if we would judge OURSELVES (not others), we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
One man said:
“Beware of no man more than yourself; we carry out worst enemies within us.”
“Examine YOURSELVES…” 2 Corinthians 13:5
Getting the picture? ….. Here’s more ….. Who did David cry out for the LORD to do His work in?
“Create in ME a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within ME. 11 Cast ME not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto ME the joy of thy salvation; and uphold ME with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Psalms 51:10-13
Concerning sin, we should never cover. Always confess.
Have you caught yourself being preoccupied with the faults of others while ignoring your own need for change?
“Basically, discord pretty much covers all forms of quarrels, arguments, divisions, that cause bitterness, dissension, conflict, trouble, rivalry, friction, struggle. God specifically hates it when this occurs among brethren. This is both serious, and sobering, and not something to lightly pass over. Rather than freely judging one another, we would find it far more profitable, to judge our own heart. What are our motivations? What are the results of our actions, of the words we are ‘sowing’ (spreading forth)?” Tony Harris
Jesus says:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5
A busybody is someone who is preoccupied with the issues of others instead of minding their business and staying busy seeking the face of the LORD for the myriad of evil tendencies in their own lives! God doesn’t want His people being busybodies.
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” 1 Peter 4:15
In other words “Mind your own business! Get your own heart right with Me and only then – when you are dead and buried with Christ – and only then will I be able to use you to bless other members of My body. Only then will I be able to use you to help others overcome and bear their burden so fulfilling the law of Christ to love others above yourself.”
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual (mature, broken, meek), restore (don’t destroy) such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
“Who”?
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
We don’t yet have a clue if we are not fully and at present aware that we ourselves are vile, depraved, and utterly corrupt outside of the present and sheer mercy and grace of God.
You see, it’s only those who have grossly misrepresented self who wrongly condemn/judge others. They still have no clue as to who they really are, which is telling of their utter immaturity and lack of Biblical learning. These condemners of others wrongly judge others because they erroneously suppose that they themselves are saved due to something of their own merit. This is the state of the self-deceived person who audaciously and wrongly condemns and misrepresents others. This is done by the self-righteous in their attitudes and words.
The truly God-fearing man and woman seek to bear the burdens of others by meekly helping them to overcome, to restore them.
“We are washed in the blood of Jesus and our sins are as far away as the east is from the west! We are now able to stand in front of a holy God without blemish because of the imputed righteousness of Christ.” Leslie Olenych
Defusing the iniquity of self-righteousness increases exponentially when we begin learning the biblical doctrine of fallen mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18; Psalms 39:4-5).
Memorize this following Bible passage today and recite it in prayer aloud for the next week:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 3:5-6
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Abiding
The Chosen are being Called and Prepared to “Go” [podcast]
Jesus didn’t say “stay.”
Jesus commanded us to “Go” (Matthew 28:18-20).
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
“They Desire a Better Country”
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” Genesis 12:1
“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange COUNTRY, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:” Hebrews 11:9
“For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a COUNTRY.” Hebrews 11:14
“And truly, if they had been mindful of that COUNTRY from whence they came out, they might have had the opportunity to have returned.” Hebrews 11:15
“But now they desire a better COUNTRY, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:16
Billions lie unreached.
“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalms 2:8
BE WARNED….
That if you dare ask God to prepare and use you, the adventure of serving as you are accomplishing His Great Commission is going to begin and gain steadily increasing traction and fruitfulness! Read John 15:1-16.
It all begins with a simple, sincere prayer, a request to God to use you—and therefore begin now to prepare you.
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21
The LORD can use us to the degree we’ve sought Him for and submitted to His strippings, purgings, His preparation.
“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10
God has a plan to remove that which does not belong in you and to establish what does.
- “to root out” (destructive)
- “to pull down” (destructive)
- “to destroy” (destructive)
- “to throw down” (destructive)
- “to build” (constructive)
- “to plant” (constructive)
When Jesus cleansed the temple, after rooting out the evil, He then installed the purity, prayer, praise, and power (Matthew 21; John 2).
God has His order. One thing comes before the other.
When you Go, that’s when you are going to Know!
“Christianity is not American and America does not define Christianity! We need to stop trying to merge the two together. Jesus died for people all over this world, and Christianity existed long before America was even a thought. I am a Christian who physically resides in the USA, but this world is not my home. I long for an eternal kingdom.” Gloria Sykes
When you obey Christ and “Go” there will be a harvest of souls—some you will see and many you will not.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms 126:5-6
Thanking God and you for pausing to lift up the blessed saved souls to Jesus in PA. From Tom and Karen Cochran:
“God has opened up a door for us to minister in a nursing home. People in there are hungry. They have been stripped of their pride! They need help just to do everyday things we take for granted. Very few have family or friends who visit. All their material possessions are pretty much gone, and once put in a home they know this is probably where they will die. They have no hope. And that is why they are hungry! Jesus gives them hope! We have seen many completely changed by the gospel and power of Christ! Jesus saved a one- hundred- and-five-year-old woman, and after she prayed she began to sing ‘Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so’!”
People are eternal. Are you investing in people, eternal souls?
Are you personally participating in, contributing your time, talents, and treasures into the Great Commission Jesus gave us? See the end of Matthew and Mark.
MESSAGE ON AMERICA:
“Lately I have been seeing many taking to the streets to preach the gospel and it is shocking to see the response of Americans. In their pride and arrogance they keep right on walking and don’t even look up. Too busy in their comfortable lives. Headed for the path of destruction and they could care less.”
REPLY:
Seems this is how America could, should be viewed: “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Matthew 10:14-15).
Who are the people who are going to be with Jesus?
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are CALLED, and CHOSEN, and FAITHFUL.” Revelation 17:14
Luke 9:57-62
“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Of this passage at the end of Luke 9, one writer notes the following:
“9:61 The third would-be disciple resembled the first in that he volunteered to follow Christ. He was like the second in that he uttered the contradiction, “Lord … me first.” He wanted first to say goodbye to his family. In itself, the request was reasonable and proper, but even the common civilities of life are wrong if they are placed ahead of prompt and complete obedience.
9:62 Jesus told him that once he put his hand to the plow of discipleship, he must not look back; otherwise he was not fit for the kingdom of God. Christ’s followers are not made of half-hearted stuff or dreamy sentimentality. No considerations of family or friends, though lawful in themselves, must be allowed to turn them aside from utter and complete abandonment to Him. ….
And so we have three cardinal hindrances to discipleship illustrated in the experience of these men:
1. Material comforts.
2. A job or an occupation.
3. Family and friends.
Christ must reign in the heart without a rival. All other loves and all other loyalties must be secondary.”
Matthew 9:35-38
The 3 Ways God’s People Participate in Christ’s Great Commission
1. Praying for Christ’s laborers (Matthew 9:35-38).
2. Witnessing, sowing and communicating the Word (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 8:11).
3. Supporting, supplying those of God’s people who are doing His Great Commission, preaching the Word (Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Philippians 2:25; 4:16-20).
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
PRAYER: LORD, sanctify my life. This is YOUR life. Put me exactly where you want me on Your planet. Use this life dear LORD. In Jesus’ name.
Prepared to be Used of God | Great Commission
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Articles
“A Just Weight is His Delight” and Gouging is Sin
Gouging is Ungodly – and God is Watching, Sees All, and will Repay Accordingly
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8
Scripture informs us of the LORD that “true and righteous are thy judgments” and God requires that those who know Him will deal justly – in just weights and measures (Revelation 16:7).
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8
Doing justly before God would mean dealing equitably with men. When you read the following passage, keep justice, greed, and fearing God in mind:
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.” Proverbs 11:1-8
Wicked unrepentant people forge ahead in their sin, continuing to live separated from God, vainly believing that because He hasn’t yet judged them that He won’t in the future. Justice is a death march to the irrevocable fire of eternal hell.
“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11
So when you go to a store, who has decided the pricing on each item? you or them? obviously when 2 individuals negotiate for the sale of an item between themselves, they come to an agreement on the price. the fact that a person in a situation like this, can pay whatever they wish for something if it has value to them, in no way negates just weights and measures as begins with God Himself …. There are standards to be measured against in determining the value of something. you can’t blank out what we find originating in Scripture. So, have you ever heard of real estate appraisal? If so, what’s this field of work for? What does it measure? What’s its purpose?
Charging more than the actual value is sin unless the buyer requests to pay more for it perhaps in order to obtain the item before someone else does.
Gouging arises from wicked hearts who greedily covet the things of this fleeting world. Greed is not a virtue, it’s a soul damning sin.
“Labour not to be rich (the sin of greed): cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. … 17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 23:4-7, 17
The utmost fear and wisdom of God must be observed from His Word when setting prices for products and services. Seems best to under price a bit rather than over price, gouge. In the flesh, is it not easy to get greedy when setting prices for the product and/or services your company offers? Yet what is the long term affect on your community, your clients?
Think about those people you’ve done business with who price fairly and how that made you feel about them and how it affected your repeat business with them. Seems to me that those who fairly price their product/services are exponentially more likely to be established in a community with good reputation and honor.
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1
In every economy there are standards of measure and appropriate pricing or prices set accordingly…. The further a people distance themselves from God, from the instruction of His Word, the deeper in rebellion that nation plunges, the more skewed are the weights and measures. John Quincy was instrumental in laying the foundation for just weights and balances in America.
“John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, liked to measure things – the width of a river, the distance between two points – by counting his steps…. When Adams became Secretary of State in 1817, his fascination with measurements coincided with the desire of Congress to establish a uniform standard for weights and measures across the United States. After three-and-a-half years of obsessive work (which frustrated his wife, Louisa), John Quincy Adams produced his Report Upon Weights and Measures. He thought it would be his most important literary accomplishment.
Fixing the Standard of Weights and Measures
The importance of everyone in the country using the same system of weights and measures was recognized by the founders of the United States. The Constitution gave Congress the power to ‘fix the Standard of Weights and Measures’ (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 5). However, there was no agreement as to which weights and measures should become the national standard. Each of the original thirteen states was using its own weights and measures, which differed from those used by other states. No Congressman wanted to be blamed for changing his constituents’ customary way of measuring things.
All of the early presidential messages to Congress included an appeal for legislation to establish a uniform system of weights and measures. In 1790, at the urging of George Washington, the House of Representatives asked Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to draw up a plan. Jefferson put forward two options: one a refinement of the existing English system of weights and measures; the other a new decimal system based on the foot. Jefferson’s report was transmitted by the House to the Senate, where a select committee concluded that, since Britain and France were each considering national standards of measure which could become a universal standard, it was not desirable, ‘at present, to introduce any alteration in the measures and weights which are now used in the United States.’ (2) In 1796, the House passed ‘An act directing certain experiments to be made to ascertain uniform standards of weights and measures for the United States,’ but the bill was never taken up by the Senate.”
Applying a higher or lower price for what something is actually worth is the definition of unjust weights and balances. Today we see the greed of men manifested when they overcharge or gouge their neighbor by charging more than what is just for a service or product.
Gouging is sin, it’s a form of not loving your neighbor, it’s taking advantage of your neighbor, your fellow man.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10
A friend of mine told me: “Those in business today who gouge people by overcharging them do it because no one stands up and holds them accountable.” In other words, as long as they can get away with it, they will do it.
He is correct. As I think back, there one particular example that comes to mind of recent, where in my estimation, I was the victim of gouging, of unjust weights and balances.
$22 for a plate lunch, a to-go lunch which was not a large volume of food and no drink was included (which I personally never get anyway) and they didn’t even have empty cups or water available.
These gougers have all kinds of ways, sayings, they use to “justify” their charges, such as “it’s industry standard pricing,” or “standard price charged by everyone in our industry.” etc.
After being gouged, I contacted them, their leadership, and sought to reason. Neither budged and so I exposed them with one star reviews and an explanation as to why I viewed their charges as gouging, as an unjust weight and balance.
“Just balances, just weights… shall ye have.” Leviticus 19:36
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs 11:1
We usually quote the first part of this verse and apply it to spiritual balance, which is fitting and true. Yet the application of this statement involves charging our neighbor equitably for goods and services.
Isn’t it best to charge fairly and sleep well?
Stealing from others, gouging, unjustly greedily overcharging others, brings curses which includes not being able to sleep soundly. Listen to the wisdom of our God in Solomon:
“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” Ecclesiastes 5:12-16
Covetousness and greed run rampant among fallen men and yet greed and covetousness will reap the just reward of eternal damnation.
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:5-7
“Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15
Overcharging another, gouging, is stealing. Any person who is perpetrating thievery on others, and this includes overcharging/gouging, is ungodly and cannot sleep well. Such is an unrepentant sinner. Is it really worth and unclean conscience? Is it worth spending eternity in hell? Though completely ignored by the professing apostate church world today, all sin must be cut off from our lives, must be crucified (Mark 9:43-49).
“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36-37
“Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:36
“A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.” Proverbs 16:11
“But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Deuteronomy 25:15
PRAYER: Father You are holy. Please forgive any greed in my heart. Please, from this moment forward, bring deep conviction of sin to my conscience LORD. Break me to the core of my being and grant that all stony places in my heart be replaced with an heart of flesh. Please unite my heart to fear Thy name dear LORD. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
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Faith in Resurrection [podcast]
When we die downward and are dead and buried with Christ, we can be assured that God is going to raise us upward.
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11
Romans 6:1-14
“1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed (brought to naught, nullified), that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
The Crucified Life | Travis Bryan III
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