The Danger of being a “Middle Ground” Christian
In Numbers 32. Moses spoke to those who chose to remain on the east side of Jordan. He tells them what God’s purposes and expectations were for them. It is in this context that we have the statement that was made in verse :23 .Be sure your sin will find you out!
Moses is speaking of one particular sin, that being a stubborn refusal to wholly follow the Lord! There are many sins that go unexposed here on earth and will be revealed only at the Judgment.
Paul said, in Romans 2:16. “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of man by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” The Greek word used here for secrets is, “that which is hidden, concealed, covered up.”
The adulterer may hide his sin until judgment day. The thief may cover up his crimes and not get caught in this life. Wicked hearts, evil thoughts may remain unexposed before men. Hypocrisy may be hidden for years under a pretense of piety. But the sin of half-heartedness will always find you out here and now!
For the sake of this message I have called it middle ground!
Revelation 3:16 calls it being Lukewarm.
God commanded Israel: “Ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord you God giveth you, and ye shall posses it, and dwell therein” (Deuteronomy 11:31). Their inheritance was on the other side of Jordan. It was over Jordan where God would choose a place to set up His tabernacle and that was Shiloh. There the Ark of the Covenant would rest, a symbol of the Lord’s presence among them.
Two crossings were necessary! Crossing the Red Sea was a type of leaving the world and all its idols and lust behind a clear type of conversion. The second crossing was the Jordan, which represents dying to self and going on into the fullness of Christ. Jordan in Hebrew means, “going down, subdued, laid low.” Actually, it represents death! Death to all that is unlike Christ all ambition, idolatry, self. The Jordan was a stream of death!
Between the two crossings was the territory of Gilead and Jazer which bordered the Jordan and the Land of Fullness. This is Middle Ground, a place of half surrender and it was totally indefensible. It was a most dangerous place to live, surrounded by heathen enemies, and it speaks of falling short of God’s ultimate place and purpose for His children.
Two and a half tribes Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh felt most comfortable with this middle ground! They said, in essence, “This is as far as we go! This suits our lifestyle just fine! We’ve come a long way we’re tired give us Gilead Jazer. Let the rest go on we are going to settle here!”
>>Numbers 32:19 “For we will not inherit with them on yonder side of Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us this side of Jordan”.
>>Numbers 32:5 “Let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan”.
This is not simply a history lesson about the struggles of Israel. These lessons “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5). Paul said, “these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted” (1 Corinthians 10:6). “Now all these things happened unto them for examples; and they are for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (2 Corinthians 10:11). In other words, this is history with a voice speaking to us!
This example of settling for middle ground speaks clearly to the lukewarm and compromise in the church today.
God is showing us in this tragic story, the terrible consequences of partial obedience. We see them in the first stages of starting out right, then just when death to everything of this world stares them in the face, they recoil. adaptability became their way of life!
The Scriptures show us vividly how their sin of settling on middle ground found them out. You will see these two and a half tribes eventually being overcome by the enemy; you will see them returning to idolatry ending up more wicked than when in Egypt.
Characteristics of Those On Middle Ground
Those who live on middle ground share certain characteristics! The characteristics of these two and a half tribes can also be found today in those who refuse to pulverize their idols and die to the world. Their Hebrew names reveal much.
Reuben means a son who sees! He was Jacob’s firstborn, but he lost his birthright because he was driven by lust. He went into his father’s concubine, and Jacob described his son Rueben as one “unstable as water thou shalt not excel” (Genesis 49:3).
Moses recognized these same weaknesses. His final prayer for Reuben was “Let Reuben live, and not die” (Deuteronomy 33:6). Moses was speaking prophetically, hoping and praying that the worldly spirit in this tribe would not one day bring them to ruin.
Reuben had eyes only for this world its lusts, its things, its pleasures. He was unstable because his heart was always divided, and this spirit was passed on to his posterity. Here was an entire tribe attached to the world and bent on having their own way.
Gad means fortune – troop! Or, soldiers of fortune mercenaries! Moses said of Gad “He provided the first part for himself” (Deuteronomy 33:21). This tribe was outwardly obedient “executing the justice of the Lord,” but the overriding characteristic was self-interest. Gad was consumed with its own problems the need to make it!
Gad’s philosophy is “I’ll fight with the Lord’s army; I’ll be obedient and do everything God expects of me. But first — I’ve got to get a stake in life. I need to get myself and family set up — Then I’ll be free to give and do more for the Lord!”
Here is the Christian who thinks — God expects me to take care of my family first — I’ve got to pay the bills. As soon as I see some daylight get ahead a little I’ll give the Lord more time.” Rebellion is the root of this kind of attitude. There is no burning desire to please only the Lord, to do His will absolutely and only. The Gad tribe is preoccupied with self-will, self-improvement, self-interests.
Manasseh means to forget, to neglect! This was Joseph’s firstborn son and he should have received the birthright. But even in his childhood there was a sad trait developing — and Jacob saw it in the spirit. Manasseh would one day forget the ways of his father Joseph and neglect the commandment of the Lord.
“And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hand deliberately; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove this father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it and he set Ephraim before Manasseh” (Genesis 48:14,17,18-21).
How close to God Israel (Jacob) must have been how clearly directed by the Holy Spirit he was. He foresaw the coming of a spirit of division to this posterity! It was to become a tribe only half consecrated to the fullness of God!
Ironically, this tribe carried with them a constant reminder to go all the way with God. They carried Joseph’s casket, with his bones to be buried beyond Jordan. “And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry my bones from hence” (Genesis 50:25). “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19).
For years that casket reminded Manasseh — “Go all the way with God – cross the Jordan — into fullness” The bones go in — half of Manasseh does not!
Consider these combined traits of middle ground Christians: unstable as water in spiritual convictions; never excelling in the things of God; lukewarm, weak with lust; ruled by selfish needs; neglecting the Word; not taking the Lord’s commandments seriously; making their own choices instead of trusting God; forgetting His past blessings and dealings; unwilling to let go of certain idols; justifying their own decisions; not willing to die to all that would seduce them back to middle ground!
Middle Ground Christian Become Stubborn and Self-willed
Middle ground people develop a very stubborn self-will, one that even a Moses can’t change! They said “This is a place for cattle and thy servants have cattle” (Numbers 32:1,4). God’s will God’s word, was not even considered! They looked at those green pastures, at their herds of cattle, and said “This ours! We go no further!”
Moses was indignant “Ye are risen up in your Father’s stead, descendants of evil men, to augment the anger of the Lord toward Israel” (Numbers 32:7,14).
Their answer “You just don’t understand!” What they were actually saying was this, “We love the fellowship we are not going back to our old sins. We plan to walk in obedience to the Lord we will stand with you and fight the Devil but we don’t want to live like that. We have our own ideas about serving God.” Moses could reprove them as hard as he chose as long as he did not try to change their minds! “We will pass over armed before the Lord into the Land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side of Jordan may be ours!” (Numbers 32:32).
They were saying “We still want to walk with you but we have decided to do things our way.” You see that same spirit today among those who refuse the way of the Cross. “I don’t criticize Christians who want to live like saints, giving up things, living so strict, denying themselves but that is just not for me. I’m just as good I may not show it, or act it, but I’m no sinner. I’ve got my own ideas about holiness and walking with God!”
They were putting career ahead of Christ! Family ahead of God! “We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones, sour little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land” (Numbers 32:16,17). “Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead” (Numbers 32:26).
Should they be commended for providing so well for their children and wives? No! They were keeping their families on middle ground robbing them of their true inheritance. They should have taken them all over Jordan. That was where the spiritual authority was under Joshua who was led by the captain of the Lord’s hosts. It was over Jordan where the Ark was, representing the presence of the Lord.
They should have been there to see the walls of Jericho fall. They should have tasted the grapes of Eschol, the honey of the land. They should have been taken on into the fullness of the Lord.
These misguided middle ground fathers thought that love, protection, and no privations would hold their children and family together! So they built high fences to keep them secure gave them all they needed and assured them they were loved. But they underestimated their danger!
Here is the great tragedy of those who won’t go all the way with God. They destroy their loved ones grandparents, mates, children! Jesus warned, “ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering, ye hindered” (Luke 11:52).
Here is where their sin found them out! Love was not enough. Overprotecting them from the enemy was not enough. Having all they needed was not enough. They doomed their families by settling on middle ground. Middle ground people are the first to be judged! These defenseless people were overrun by the enemy. “In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short; and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; from Jordan eastward all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites” (2 Kings 10:32,33). Their children became idol worshippers. Their wives were prostituted and became heathen in all their ways. All spiritual desire was lost and they became morally and physically devastated.
Let me warn parents to cross the Jordan and be crucified to this world and all its things. If you refuse to go on in God and instead permit compromise in your life or home, settling down on some middle ground of luke-warmness you will live to see the day your sin will be visited upon your family!
You will lose God’s anointing in your own life and the devil will plunder your household. Your children and family will fall into the temptations of the world. You will have sorrow upon sorrow trouble upon trouble because you settled on unholy ground!
Giving up the Presence of God
Those who settle on middle ground give up the presence of God for a mere confession of faith. The battles were now over, and “the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt there” (Joshua 21:43). It was time for the two and a half tribes to go back to where their heart was.
We come now to one of the saddest episodes of this story. “And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel, out of Shiloh, which is in Canaan, to go into the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession” (Joshua 22:9).
Here is the cause of all division going back to middle ground! Who caused this division? Not those who went on with God not those who followed the Ark of His presence not those who obeyed God wholly. It was caused by those who were “sensual, separating themselves, having not the Spirit!” (Jude 19).
Division is caused by those “who went out from us because they were not with us” Paul said, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” Worldliness causes the division. Those going back cause it! All present day division is caused by those who refuse to hold to Christ the head, by those who turn away from the demands of the cross, who reject the self-denial and obedience of the narrow way.
Those who settle for middle ground must build an altar to contrived unity – called Ed! “And when they came to the borders of Jordan they built there a great altar to see to at the passage of the children of Israel and called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the Lord is God” (Joshua 22:10,11,34).
This altar represented their cry for unity. It was a positive confession from a whole class of middle ground Christians seeking to keep their identity with those who were already walking in unity on God’s side of the Jordan.
What doctrinal and spiritual confusion it caused! What division it created almost ending in a full scale war among God’s people. All created by middle ground Christians.
All Israel gathered at Shiloh “to go up to war against them” (Joshua 22:12). Eleazar, the priest, with ten princes approached the altar of contrived unity. They said to the middle ground people, “”..if your possession be unclean, then pass over unto the land of the possession of the Lord wherein the Lord’s tabernacle dwelleth and take possession among us but don’t rebel against the Lord or us” (Joshua 22:19).
The message was clear. “If you fear there is division among us come back over Jordan. We are united. God’s presence unites us. Come into the fullness and dwell with us in peace but why another altar? Why Ed? There is only one altar of unity the tabernacle of His holiness.”
Beloved those who move on into the blessed fullness and holiness of Christ know nothing of division. There are no Baptists or Assemblies of God or schism in His holy presence. No middle wall, no barriers! All is Christ and His holiness.
They needed visible proof of unity with God’s chosen. It was an altar built by fear fear of not being a part of God’s movement! There was a sense in them that they were going to be left out of the Lord’s eternal purpose for His people. “We have done it for fear of this thing in time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, what have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel ye have no part in the Lord” (Joshua 22:24,27).
What a sad commentary! They must have foreseen a time coming when the only evidence left that God was with them, or that they were united with Him was a pile of stones a mere confession. Their children could see the altar Ed and confess “By this I know I am one of them!”
Wherever there is deptarture from God’s plan wherever men settle for the earthly and sensual wherever Christians are no longer in one place, in one accord, in the upper room of separation with Christ there is contrived unity there is empty, stone-cold confession.
If you are among believers who are going on “wholly set on the Lord” you will feel left out if you are on middle ground. You will accuse others of being “holier-than-thou!” You will accuse them of being cliquish. You can try as you will to be one of them but it won’t work! You are the cause! You removed yourself from God’s ordained place of victory, unity and spiritual power.
The sin of being half hearted will surely find you out even in this lifetime.
Enemies will arise and harass on all sides there will not be strength or discernment to deal with overpowering onslaughts of Satan.
There will be a loss of joy and peace with God. Spiritual life will degenerate day by day.
The presence of the Lord will be lost, and what sets in is hopelessness.
How much better, how much safer to go on with those who want the Lord’s fullness.
God’s desire for all of us is to enter a place of rest, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
That requires following Him “with all the heart, all the strength.”
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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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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