A loving mother sent her son this postscript to a letter:
                       
P.S. Your father defines an honest man as someone you could play checkers with over the phone.
 
Our heavenly Father expects no less from His children.  As we make our climb to the very best in life, God calls us to evaluate our lives honestly.  We cannot experience the Summit of Life until we are true and humble enough to measure our spiritual lives the way God does.
 
The Wisdom Writer teaches us today the importance of honest evaluation of ourselves and our church.  Even if the reality is too heavy for us to handle, our Father demands honesty and humility that leads us to growth on our journey with Jesus to the very best in life.
 
 

A False Measure.
 
God hates dishonest scales.[ii]  He despises scales that make things seem heavier than they are for the purpose of deceit.[iii]  In our life we sometimes try to make our life appear heavy and weighty – more spiritually mature than what it really is.  We try to make people think that there is more to our walk with Christ than there actually is.  God hates this fraud.  Our hypocrisy brings disgust to His heart.[iv]
 
God hates pride.  That goes hand in hand with the “dishonest scale.”  Pride elevates us to a place we do not dwell.  When we begin to believe the “dishonest scales” about our spiritual maturity, then we deceive ourselves and stand on the verge of personal devastation.  A false measure of personal maturity makes us look like we are living in a deeper relationship with Christ than we really are.  We aren’t honest with others, with God, or with ourselves.  And pride seeps into our hearts.  We begin to believe the lies that we have been selling.  We try to make ourselves appear spiritually mature to others without considering that we are living a lie.
 
 

A True Picture.
 
God’s delight, however, is in a true picture of reality—a just weight.  Even if we are frighteningly “off the mark” in our journey with Christ, God is pleased when we honestly evaluate the measure of our maturity.  He expects honesty in our hearts more than perfection.  In fact, we won’t grow unless we deal with the heavy reality of our failings.  God would prefer that we present our life in all its imperfections to Him than to be a fraud.  At least when we are honest about our sin and short-comings, He gains greater glory by overcoming our weaknesses and failings through the power of Christ and His Holy Spirit.  He accomplishes His purpose through me, a weak vessel.
 
God desires for us to live in humility.  Again, an honest evaluation of self in relation to who God is.  Humility recognizes our struggle with the lust of the flesh and the need to be saturated by the Spirit.  Until we stop the pride and surrender to humility, we will never win the battle for spiritual maturity.  We will live in a constant battle—really not a battle at all, because pride submits completely to the ravages of the flesh.
 
Lord Jesus, I pray that I would live in the center of Your will and not give myself to dishonest scales, pride, or perversity.  I pray that what I am, with all the warts, will be handed to You with honesty and integrity so that You will gain greater glory as You accomplish Your purpose in my life.  I pray that I will not bend my knee to myself, but that today and every day You would be the center of my heart and life.
 
Lord, show me the path that will lead this church to the best of life.  Integrity will guide us.  Help us to submit to Your perfect will no matter what the cost.  I pray that we might not (I might not) be guilty of subverting Your purpose and will through false measures.  Show us clearly the path that You would have us to take.
 
Lord Jesus, I pray that we would be a “soul-winning” church.  I pray that we would give ourselves completely to the task of developing the saints and evangelizing the lost.  Make us to be the Shining Light of Your Glory and Love in our community.