STANDARDS

The Bible says Justice and judgment are more acceptable than sacrifice.  But you cannot  have them without standards.  For anyone to be able to do justice or judgment they must know the standards.  There is no justice if there is no one correct standard because any way is as good as another.  If no one thing is correct (right, truth) then all things are of relative value.  When one way is the right way, the others are not right, or at least not as good as the right way. 

The one who does justice makes sure the right way is done.  There is no judgment if there is no one correct way to decide.  Judgment chooses between two ways.  The one who does justice and judgment knows God's ways and selects them. 

We do not sacrifice animals today as they used to because Jesus is our sacrifice.  The things we view as sacrifice these days are offerings or dedications or prayers.  The one who is offering the sacrifices maybe doing the right outward thing with money or promises or prayers, but his heart may not know, or may not choose, the proper standards.  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:  because he is bringing it with a deceived or a wicked mind.  His sacrifice is a payoff, or show, it is not a genuine offering.  He is seeking a way around the standard.

The only way to know the standards I know of is to read the Bible.

HASTY STRIVING

“Go not fourth hastily to strive last thou no not what to do in the end thereoff when thy neighbor has put thee to shame.”  (Prov 25:8)

Here is an example of where it is not good to strive, at least not without giving some thought before you do it.  This must apply also to not letting the imagination rehearse angry confrontations that have not happened (such as a fist fight with the person driving the car in front of you, or imagining being sued in court for being wrongly jailed, or any other thing that is not likely to happen). 

If you are fuming about something there is strife in your mind.  It’s real strife and it’s really in your mind, raising your blood pressure and wasting your time.  Is the object of this strife really worth the ill feelings?  Is this a real battle to be fought?  Is this a real war to die in?  Are you being brave and noble?

I do this way too much.  I wonder how much is a habit, or how much is suggestion and attack from the enemy.  “Take away dross from the silver . . .” (Prov 25:4)  Surely such thinking is dross in your mind.  Best to keep the silver and toss the dross.