In ancient Israel, all weights, scales, and measures had to meet the standard of perfect justice. Surely no Christian needs reminding of this in business dealings—if righteousness were banished from all the world, it should find shelter in believing hearts!

But there are other scales we use—scales that weigh moral and spiritual things—and these need examining. Let's call in the inspector tonight.

Those scales you use to weigh your own character against others—are they accurate? Don't we turn our own ounces of goodness into pounds, while shrinking other people's bushels of excellence down to pecks? Check your weights and measures here, Christian!

The scales where we weigh our trials and troubles—do they meet the standard? Paul, who suffered more than any of us ever will, called his afflictions "light." Yet we call ours heavy—surely something must be wrong with the weights! We'd better fix this before we're reported to the court above for unjust dealing.

Those weights we use to measure doctrinal truths—are they fair? The doctrines of grace should weigh exactly the same as the precepts of the word, not an ounce more or less. But I fear that many have weighted one scale or the other unfairly. It's a grand matter to give just measure in truth. Christian, be careful here!

And what about those measures we use to calculate our obligations and responsibilities? They look rather small. When a wealthy man gives no more to God's cause than the poor contribute, is that a just ephah and a just hin? When ministers are half-starved, is that honest dealing? When we despise the poor while holding ungodly rich men in admiration, is that a just balance?

Reader, I could lengthen this list, but I prefer to leave it as your evening's work: find and destroy all unrighteous balances, weights, and measures.