Introduction. Anyone who has chosen a grocery cart with a bent wheel remembers the pressure it needed to move straight. By the time the groceries were in the trunk, we promised ourselves to be more careful selecting a cart. Everything that moves or has a motor requires a balanced center axis. When that balance is incorrect, it will wobble, vibrate, shake, or pull to the side.
But this great principle of physics is universal. We also want a balanced checkbook and a balanced diet. When in court we want our justice with a blindfold and a balancing scale. Balance is also found in Scripture. After the unfair attacks by his “friends,” Job sought an equal balance. “Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know my integrity;” (Job 31:6)
But this great principle of physics is universal. We also want a balanced checkbook and a balanced diet. When in court we want our justice with a blindfold and a balancing scale. Balance is also found in Scripture. After the unfair attacks by his “friends,” Job sought an equal balance. “Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know my integrity;” (Job 31:6)
Balance in Commerce. We buy and sell based on weight. The balance (scale) keeps things honest and fair. “A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight” (Pr. 11:1), “You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, you shall have” (Lev. 19:35-36).
Balance (righteousness) in Judgment. When Belshazzar called Daniel to reveal “the handwriting of the wall,” the first word was balance. “TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting” (Dan. 5:27). God weighs everyone in the same just balance. The just weight of commerce becomes the just weight of moral judgment. Scripture reveals our true weight to God. Belshazzar was not the only one who did not measure up. “Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: in the balances they will go up; they are together lighter than vanity.” (Ps 62:9) As God assessed these men, He found their character, wisdom and value “lighter than vanity”. What God demanded was far more than they did. Such men will go up when placed on a balance and will be “found wanting.”
A Worthy Life. While Jesus did not use “balance,” He chose a word meaning nearly the same thing. The word “worthy,” means “bringing up the other beam of the scales,” “bringing into equilibrium,” “weighing as much as another thing, of like value, worth as much.”
So when Jesus told us “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Mt. 10:37-38), He was describing this balance.
If we want to be His disciple, must measure up to the obligations He has revealed. Nothing can be too hard or too heavy. If we want to be worthy, we will do whatever He asks. Hence choosing to love mother/father or son/ daughter makes us unworthy. We have been weighed in the balance and found wanting, our side of the scale goes up because we are too light to make it equal.
In the same way Paul wrote to “entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1). This worthy manner occurs when we bring up the beam and properly carry our side of the weight of responsibility we accepted. In a similar way we are told to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27), “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects” (Col. 1:10), and “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1Th. 2:12).
So we too are living on this balance. To be considered worthy and bring up the beam, our thoughts, words and deeds must raise to the level of equal weight with the gospel.
Our greatest goal is to be placed on the scale and not found wanting! “That our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and work of faith, with power” (2Th. 1:11). We have the same need of equilibrium as motors or wheels. Our life will only spin smoothly in the spiritual and emotional realm if it is balanced with the gospel.
Conclusion. When our life feels like that shopping cart with a bent wheel this is our only solution. Whether out of balance due to long-term character flaws or just a temporary bad mood, we must bring up the beam by removing its influence. We will need to “repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance” (Acts 26:20). For if we are not careful, by our own actions we will “judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life” (Acts 13:46)
Balance (righteousness) in Judgment. When Belshazzar called Daniel to reveal “the handwriting of the wall,” the first word was balance. “TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting” (Dan. 5:27). God weighs everyone in the same just balance. The just weight of commerce becomes the just weight of moral judgment. Scripture reveals our true weight to God. Belshazzar was not the only one who did not measure up. “Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: in the balances they will go up; they are together lighter than vanity.” (Ps 62:9) As God assessed these men, He found their character, wisdom and value “lighter than vanity”. What God demanded was far more than they did. Such men will go up when placed on a balance and will be “found wanting.”
A Worthy Life. While Jesus did not use “balance,” He chose a word meaning nearly the same thing. The word “worthy,” means “bringing up the other beam of the scales,” “bringing into equilibrium,” “weighing as much as another thing, of like value, worth as much.”
So when Jesus told us “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Mt. 10:37-38), He was describing this balance.
If we want to be His disciple, must measure up to the obligations He has revealed. Nothing can be too hard or too heavy. If we want to be worthy, we will do whatever He asks. Hence choosing to love mother/father or son/ daughter makes us unworthy. We have been weighed in the balance and found wanting, our side of the scale goes up because we are too light to make it equal.
In the same way Paul wrote to “entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1). This worthy manner occurs when we bring up the beam and properly carry our side of the weight of responsibility we accepted. In a similar way we are told to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27), “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects” (Col. 1:10), and “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1Th. 2:12).
So we too are living on this balance. To be considered worthy and bring up the beam, our thoughts, words and deeds must raise to the level of equal weight with the gospel.
Our greatest goal is to be placed on the scale and not found wanting! “That our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and work of faith, with power” (2Th. 1:11). We have the same need of equilibrium as motors or wheels. Our life will only spin smoothly in the spiritual and emotional realm if it is balanced with the gospel.
Conclusion. When our life feels like that shopping cart with a bent wheel this is our only solution. Whether out of balance due to long-term character flaws or just a temporary bad mood, we must bring up the beam by removing its influence. We will need to “repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance” (Acts 26:20). For if we are not careful, by our own actions we will “judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life” (Acts 13:46)