16th FEBRUARY 2023
“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” —Proverbs 11:1
We are all different in many ways; no two persons are identical in behavioural, emotional, and psychological makeup. How then do we live together in harmony despite these various dichotomies? Proverbs 16:11 states: “A just weight and balance are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are His work.” That means all things are God’s and that He is and must always be the standard by which we judge ourselves and others. Therefore, when we desire peace and harmony, we use God’s principles and character as a yardstick. Also, when we are thinking of how to relate with others, we must employ God’s standards in doing that.
Perhaps, you may wonder why it is necessary to live peacefully and happily with others. First, you must understand that the world is in balance; everything in the world is held together harmoniously and peacefully by the word of God – the eternal and creative essence of God. The harmony or balance created by the word of God is the reason we are alive today; It makes the sun, moon, and stars remain in harmony with each other, without falling off the sky or destroying one another. In that wise, we are expected to maintain balance and harmony in our relationships, in our body and mind, in our family and in the world at large.
If we maintain harmony in our body and mind, we will be healthy, and nature will reduce diseases drastically from manifesting in our lives. Also, if we balance our relationships, especially family relationships, peace and fellowship will reign, while deaths and other negative spirits will give way.
Today, the scripture tells us that as God expects scales and balances to be used with fairness and equity, so too are His principles and ways to be measured against our thoughts and conduct. Therefore:
1. We must live in harmony with God’s word. God has given us a blueprint in the Bible of how to live a balanced life. Everything is contained in the Bible; Successes and failures, ups, and downs, the heroes and the heathens – All written in the bible for our edification and development.
2. We must live in harmony with times and seasons. The scripture says there is time for everything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3). Otherwise, we will be left behind in the scheme of things.
3. We must ensure peace and understanding in marriages and family circles. Forgiveness is the key for family peace and harmony.
4. We must always live among others and express love and peace to them, irrespective of what or who they are. Therefore, we must live peacefully among those God has called or not called to any Ministry, work for unconverted bosses to provide for our families and send our children to the world’s best educational facilities without sacrificing our relationship with God and our efforts to build strong marriages and raise godly children. We have to do all that while still remaining unspotted for unblemished from this world (James 1:27).
Beloved, none of us is the same. We have different backgrounds, education, and experiences, but God overcomes these differences. Balance makes us put into action those things that are God-centered and God-inspired and refuse to do those that are selfish and unhelpful. We apply balance when we understand, accept, and fulfil our God-given roles in life. When we realize that God is the final, just, and faithful standard and arbiter of all things—that His way is the balanced way of life—we have found a Christian balance, and we will consistently make proper godly decisions.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, I believe in God’s plan for my salvation; therefore, I give thanks to God in all things. Lord, I live by faith in obedience to your commands and principles. I ask this day for the power to live a balanced and harmonious life. AMEN.
FURTHER READING: Philippians 2:3-4; Colossians 3