“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21:2 NIV)
Yesterday I mentioned my year as a jeweler’s apprentice. Weighing out gold bullion and finished pieces was a large piece of my job. We had a scale and I can remember taring the scale with each and every use. Accuracy was critical to proper calculations and profit margins. A mis-measurement of a single pennyweight or two could cost hundreds of dollars when the piece went out the door.
Such miscalculations in our spiritual life are disastrous as well. Our actions and motives may feel benign to us, but the Lord knows what is lying under the surface and He knows the outcome of our potential contribution. We reset ourselves in His presence; calibrating our understanding of right and wrong to His standard – which is far more stringent than our own.
“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:2 NIV)
“The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with Him.” (Proverbs 11:1 NIV)
Lord, please help us to carefully calibrate our hearts to Your Word each and every day. Align our living with Your standard. Keep us on the path of life as we pursue You in all our ways. Let us trust Your word over our faulty perceptions. Amen.