The measure of the goodness and purity of a man’s life is established by those who wish to achieve the same measure for themselves. The prophet Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall for the Babylonian King in Daniel chapter five. It was a message from God which said “You are weighed in the balances and found wanting”. God directly explained that the measure, or the value, of things and purposes in the king’s life did not measure up to God’s standard. It would appear that the king was using a different measuring stick than God to value the things in his life. His only hope for redemption was to reevaluate what was important. He was given a shocking and urgent gift from the Lord. If we were given the same gift, would we be able to see that the measure by which we are measured may need some re-measuring?
Desiring to do more is almost an unwritten Christian motto. Actually it is often written on banners t-shirts and bumper stickers. Wanting to be found pleasing to the One who has redeemed you and made you acceptable in the beloved is natural for those who are truly converted. While declaring “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, we plunge headlong into the work and purpose of ministry seeking to be fruitful for His glory. We commit to being sin free. We pledge our giving to be pressed down, shaken together and running over. We promise to be willing to die in the faith and suffer loss without recompense. Above all else we surrender our families, our fame and our future to whatever it takes to impress those around us that we are the real deal. We are believers!
Then we do whatever it takes to keep anyone else from knowing how far we stray from these idyllic goals we profess. Quoting scriptures describing who we would like to think we could be like helps us to avoid confessing our errors. It is pretty common for us to talk about success as if it is riding in the saddle with us. So is pointing out how liberal everyone else is compared to us. And then there is the ever popular promising to pray for those who are bold and honest enough to confess they can’t keep up the pretense. All the while we are hiding in the bushes like Adam and Eve, afraid to reveal our nakedness and fears.
Why? Why is there such a contrast between the measure of success and the reality of it? Where is it written that every good man and every perfect man is expected to use you as their example? What woman is as pure as Ruth, as beautiful inside as Rebbecca or a soul winner like the Samaritan at the well? Which one Is the poster child for Proverbs Thirty-One? Who is silent in the church, teaches the younger ones holiness and has the perfect husband? Perfection is elusive for mortals. Being less than you want to be is the norm, not a momentary slip. Maybe, it is because our want to is measured against the wrong example. I’m not talking about the patriarchs or apostles. They are all good examples in many ways. I’m certainly not saying Jesus is not our desire exemplified.
But what did He say? Be ye Holy for I am Holy. And be perfect. But in what way and by which standard? Keeping the law of the old testament has long been accepted as not possible. Being an apostle in the early church did not exempt any of them from conflict or failure. Where then do we measure the success of our standing before the Lord of Glory? In Christ, we say it boldly without hesitation. The mind of Christ. The humility, submission and standing against the sin of others will surely be our banner. Until we are the one others point to as wallowing in sin, refusing to submit or holding a proud arrogant attitude.
The measure is wrong. The standard is twisted and flawed. The error is ours and we relish it. It lifts us up to put others down. It increases their admiration when we denigrate and ridicule those with different understandings. We miss the mark by a wide margin because the target we aim for is in a different direction. Mercy masters, Love looses and giving gets. Mercy for the struggles we see in others that mirror or contrast our own masters the prideful judgmental arrogance we pretend is holiness. Love for those who finally crumble under the facade of Christian example opens prison doors and looses the critical attitudes holding us in bondage. Giving way to the compassion which the Holy Spirit puts within each believer allows us to get the understanding we are instructed to gain with Godly wisdom.
Being is preferable to doing. We measure with the wrong end of the stick. Humbling our hearts before a Holy God is better than humiliating those who fall in open sin. Eating with sinners and holding company with those who seldom darken the doors of our church buildings draw a closer rendition of Jesus’ ways. In declaring how strong we stand, we fall in weakness. In divulging our weakness, we declare our dependence on His strength. I have no righteousness of my own, None! Nor is my writing, my boasting, my preaching my walking nor my talking. I fail and fall daily. Measure me by That.