May 6, 2012
The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. -- Proverbs 20:23 (NLT)
Cutting corners. Skirting the rules. Taking advantage of people by manipulation and deception. Whatever phrases you want to use, this much is clear -- God hates cheating. He hates it. Think about that for a minute. One of the least discussed temptations we will face in this life is the temptation to cheat. We face this temptation every day at work and in the world but it is even more of an abomination to God to see cheating within the house of the Lord. This was at the heart of the scene when Jesus clears the temple.
Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, "My Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" -- Matthew 21: 12-13 (NLT)
It was not just that there was the exchanging of money in the house of the Lord. The money changers and those selling doves for sacrifice would routinely over-charge those pilgrims who were from other countries. The price gouging was often extreme. This is what Jesus found so abominable. Within Christian circles we fancy ourselves as being within the will of God, yet we do so much that goes against His very nature just to accomplish what we think He wants. The Scripture is clear. If you are truly within the will of God then you do not need to break the rules. You do not need to manipulate the systems. You do not need to cheat. Realize how disrespectful this thought even is to God! Job asked these questions once:
"Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake? Will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God's case for him? What will happen when he finds out what you are doing? Can you fool him as easily as you fool people? No, you will be in trouble with him if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor. Doesn't his majesty terrify you? Doesn't your fear of him overwhelm you? Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes. Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot. -- Job 13: 7- 12 (NLT)
A platitude is a trite remark offered as if it were profound. That is what God is saying here. We should never raise our hands in the sanctuary and offer platitudes when the heart of our action is dishonest -- even if we think the dishonesty is somehow serving God. They are ashes before a holy God. Doesn't the majesty of God terrify us? God does not need us to lie for Him. He does not need us to make dishonest arguments for His sake. He does not need us to slant testimony. In short beloved -- God does not need us to cheat on His behalf. If we are truly seeking the will of God in something, we never need to cheat. Once we feel the urge I would suggest that it is a pretty sure sign that God is not on board.
In the Book of Acts we find a couple named Ananias and Sapphira who sold a piece of property and brought the proceeds to the feet of the Apostles. The problem is that they tried to cheat. They held back some of the money for themselves. Now, they were perfectly within their rights to do but their sin was in trying to make it seem that they were giving all of the proceeds. It was a prideful and showy spirit; one that all too easily infects the modern church. Here was the response from Peter:
Then Peter said, "Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God!" -- Acts 5: 3-4 (NLT)
Lying is in the same bed as
cheating. I feel the incredulousness in peter's voice here as he amazingly asks
-- how could you do a thing like this? Realize today that when we cut corners
and cheat, regardless of whether we think it to be righteous, it never is. It
is not just the person involved we are cheating. It is God directly that we are
cheating. It is God directly we are lying to. Wrapping up the offensive act in
the name of Jesus only furthers the abomination. Holiness and righteousness
starts always with obedience. This is even more important in a position of
leadership. Whoever you think you are cheating you need to realize today that
it is God that you are actually cheating and God hates cheating.
Rev. Anthony
