September 4, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have." — Leviticus 19:36 · KJV

Weights, scales, and measures were all to match the standard of justice. Surely no Christian needs reminding of this in his business, for if righteousness were banished from all the rest of the world, it should still find shelter in believing hearts. But there are other balances that weigh moral and spiritual things, and these often need examining. We will call in the inspector tonight. The balances in which we weigh our own and other men's characters — are they quite accurate? Do we not turn our own ounces of goodness into pounds, and other people's bushels of excellence into pecks? See to your weights and measures here, Christian. The scales in which we weigh our trials and troubles — are they up to standard? Paul, who had far more to suffer than we do, called his afflictions light, and yet we often reckon ours heavy; surely something is wrong with the weights! We must see to this, lest we be reported to the court above for unjust dealing. The weights with which we measure our doctrinal belief — are they quite fair? The doctrines of grace should weigh the same with us as the precepts of the Word — no more and no less; but it is to be feared that with many, one scale or the other is unfairly loaded. It is a grand thing to give just measure in truth. Christian, be careful here. And the measures by which we estimate our obligations and responsibilities look rather small. When a rich man gives no more to the cause of God than the poor contribute, is that a just measure? When ministers are half starved, is that honest dealing? When the poor are despised while ungodly rich men are admired, is that a just balance? Reader, we might lengthen the list, but we would rather leave it as your evening's work to find out and destroy all your unrighteous balances, weights, and measures.