Integrity

(Prov 11:1 NIV) The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon contrasts those who use honest scales with those who use scales that have been altered to give the possessor of the scales an advantage. To understand what this means to us today we must understand what the scales were used for. In Biblical times the two main sources of income were flocks and fields. Most men were either farmers (working the fields) or herdsmen (working with animals); some did both. Scales were used – and still used today – in the marketplace. Customers paid for items based upon their weight. So in this type of business, the scale is a key factor, determining how much customers pay.

It was a common practice for unscrupulous vendors to altar their scales, so that the customer would pay more for an item than they should, giving the vendor an unfair advantage and an ill-gotten profit.

In Deuteronomy the Lord told the Israelites to avoid this practice, saying: “Don't try to cheat people by having two sets of weights or measures, one to get more when you are buying, and the other to give less when you are selling” (25:13,14). The Lord’s point was that the Israelites – and we, as believers – should not participate in the unrighteous practices of the world. There should be something different about us. People should know us as honest, industrious, and hard-working men and women of integrity. Once your integrity is in question, most people of integrity will make every attempt to avoid doing business with you.

Look at the language Solomon uses. He does not mince words; making it clear that the Lord is vehemently against dishonesty in the marketplace. Other translations of this text use the words “hates” and “detest.” The Message Bible translation of this verse makes is plain, saying, “GOD hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.” Later on in Proverbs Solomon says, “GOD cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business” (16:11 MSG).

Think about that for a moment. Many don’t make the connection between the Lord and their business. They see God as someone who they interact with at church, on Sundays, but not daily or throughout the week. That is a major problem, because either He is LORD OF ALL or He is not LORD AT ALL! Your family is His business, your health is His business, your overall wellbeing (mind, body and soul) is His business, and your business is His business.

We don’t serve a God that expects to only interact with us at church. As a matter of fact, what we do at church should be just a small part of our relationship with Him. We should not do anything at church that we are not routinely doing at home. We should sing to Him, worship Him, pray to Him, and commune with Him daily! That way He is involved in every area of our lives.

When we walk with Him daily, when we get Him involved in our daily affairs, when He alone sits on the throne of our lives, then it is hard for us to be deceitful in business. If you are walking with Him, speaking to Him, hearing from Him, and receiving His guidance, then how can you steal from others? If sin doesn’t bother you, then there is something wrong. The closer you get to God, the more you develop a distaste for the unrighteous.

So what does this mean? It means that you should be honest in business and in every area of your life. Never violate your integrity, especially not for money. Whatever you compromise to gain, you will wind up losing in the end. So do what’s right, because it’s right, and then seek to do it right – everyday! Walk upright before God and man and you will be able to walk with God with a clear conscious and clean hands.

Father, I know that You desire to be part of every area of my life and I declare that I welcome You to do so. I want You involved in my family, my friends, my relationships, and my business. As I walk with You daily and You walk with me, I develop a hunger and a thirst for righteous. I also develop a distaste for the unrighteous. I shall be known as a person of integrity. I walk upright before You and man in business and because of it, I know that You will bless the work of my hands! In Jesus’ name. Amen!