Trustworthy

Do you trust the calibration of the gasoline pumps? When you receive 15.64 gallons of fuel, are you sure? Or do you measure out your gallon container of milk to make sure the store sold you the correct amount? How about the scale you step on to check your diet? OK, on that last one, we’ll assume the scale is wrong, on the high side, of course!

We tend to be a trusting kind of people. And really, if you made a big deal at the grocery store demanding to see the milk weighed and measured, you’d likely make the news, and not in a good way.


Archeologists have discovered standard weights and measures in the ruins of ancient cities, and found that merchants often carried two sets, one for buying, one for selling.

“Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD...
“Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.” (Prov. 20: 10, 23)

Apparently, dishonest business practices and relationships were potential problems. Prior to currency being coined, goods and services were traded using precious metals, or other valuables, and their weights were what determined the amount. Imagine buying milk, and instead of spending $3.00, you actually spent 12 ounces of copper. That’s the idea. If we did that, we would expect the scale that weighed the copper to be accurate. In fact, we might think to bring along our own scale to check against that of the merchant.

You see, cheating is just not right. Such dishonesty was and is despised by the Lord.

The real issue, obviously, is in the hearts of people. To willfully take advantage of someone’s trust breaks down the very foundation of human relationships. But people take advantage of each other all too very often. God calls that kind of behavior, the motivation behind cheating someone, “abominable”, “not good”. If God can simply call something “not good”, I take His word for it.

So, how does that apply now? I mean, we don’t use counterfeit money to try to buy merchandise (I hope). We don’t keep extra money when a cashier gives us the wrong change (I hope). Those who say they love and fear God are expected to live honest lives, which just might be a key way to show the world how we are actually different.

As much as God wants us to be honest with others, He wants us to be honest with Him. He started it. He gave us His Word, He gave us the Savior, if we would accept Him. He told us what He expects in our homes, our families, our church, our communities, and first and foremost, in our relationship with Him. God can be trusted at every turn of life.

Along with honesty in character, God then expects us to practice wisdom, understanding, and faith in Him. Yes, He can be trusted, indeed. And the more we trust Him, the more our lives will reflect His holiness.