Tipping the Scales in Your Favor

One of Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post paintings shows an elderly woman buying a large Thanksgiving turkey. The butcher is standing behind the counter, weighing the turkey on his scale. Both the butcher and the customer on the other side are eyeing the scale with pleased expressions on their faces.

At first glance, it appears like a regular transaction. But upon closer examination, we discover the reason for their self-satisfaction. The butcher is pressing down on the scale with a thumb to increase the registered weight of the turkey, while the woman is pushing up with a finger to decrease it. Both are oblivious to the other’s deception.

Do you try to “Tip the Scales” in your own favor? Any dishonesty in our speech or actions is like a false set of weights.

A False Set of Weights

Many people in Bible-times carried around their own set of weights. Ancient weights were stones with flat bases that were carved into shapes of animals such as turtles, ducks, or lions. The stones were carried in a pouch or wallet and were used to weigh trade goods. Their weight was to adhere to the standards set by the merchants (Gen. 23:16). However, some people, in order to deceive and take advantage of others, had two differing sets of weights – one for selling and one for buying. The set they used for buying was heavier and the one they used for selling was lighter. Thus, the weights would always favor them. They would get more goods for their money when they made purchases and more money for their goods when they made sales.

The people of Israel were warned against this practice (Deut. 25:13-15). They were to deal with each other honestly, by using honest scales and accurate weights (Prov.11:1). God wanted them to avoid deceptively tipping the scales in their own favor.

What’s the big deal? The difference between a false and accurate set of weights is barely perceptible. A false set of weights only tips the scales a tiny bit. The falsehood hardly costs the trading partner anything. From the perspective of the deceiver, there is little or no harm done.

On the surface, an inaccurate set of weights seems virtually inconsequential. But according to Scripture, even a small deception is incredibly destructive. Deception is a behavior that God absolutely abhors:

“The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” (Proverbs 11:1-3)

These verses associate accurate weights with humility, wisdom, and integrity. They associate dishonest scales with pride, disgrace, unfaithfulness, and duplicity. Duplicity means being “two-faced” or “double.” The dictionary defines it as the practice of “speaking or acting in different ways in relation to the same matter with the intent to deceive.” The term “dishonest scales” therefore encompasses much more than just inaccurate measurements used for trade. Any dishonesty in our speech or actions is like a false set of weights. Whenever we tell a “little white lie,” conceal part of the truth, mislead others, or wear masks, we are guilty of using dishonest scales.

Accurate Weights

Are you ever tempted to tip the scale in your own favor? Do you exaggerate or embellish stories to cast yourself in a positive light? Do you hide details or misrepresent facts to avoid looking bad? Do you mislead others and justify it by reasoning that “there’s no harm done”? Are you less than totally honest? Dishonesty includes any behavior or speech that misleads or conceals truth. It’s more than just telling lies. According to Proverbs 11:1, even a small distortion or deception makes a big difference to God.

God delights when we interact with others with honesty. Honesty involves being openhearted, authentic, and truthful in all our dealings. It doesn’t mean that we tell everybody everything, but it does mean that we do not mislead. If I am honest, I do not lead people to draw the wrong conclusions about who I am or what I mean. I say what I mean and mean what I say. I am transparent and “real.”

As you interact with others, keep an eye on the weights you are putting on the scale. Are you being transparent and real? The Bible says an honest answer is like “a kiss on the lips” (Prov. 24:26). In other words, honesty is a mark of love. If we are not openhearted, authentic and truthful with others, we do not love them as we should. The Lord wants us to be honest. “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” (Prov. 20:23) He detests dishonest lips, but delights in people whose lips speak truth. (Prov. 12:22)

Bringing the Word to Life:

Do you use false weights? Take a careful look at the list. Take note of any false weights that you have used. You might want to print out this page for your journal and circle the false weights that you tend to use:

Take a moment to pray and ask the Lord to give you the humility and courage to be honest in your interaction with others. Ask Him to fill your bag with accurate weights. Scripture says, “Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.” (Prov. 16:11)

Your challenge today is to evaluate the honesty of your speech and to “fill your bag with accurate weights.”

AUTHOR NOTE: Mary Kassian is author of several Lifeway Bible Studies. She and her husband Brent have mastered the art of cheering after spending countless hours watching their sons play ice hockey and volleyball. The Kassian clan and their pets, Miss Kitty and black lab, General Beau, live in Western Canada. (Copyright Mary Kassian, 2008)