God’s Scale of Values

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with the span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance" (Isa. 40.12 NRSV).

In our daily lives, whatever our vocation may be, we are governed by a scale of values. Deeds and words are comparable with other deeds and words. We judge an action by its results. We adopt one course of conduct in preference to another course and invest it with inherent value. When we become children of God a change takes place. The process is not changed, but the ideal, the standard, is altered. Things that seemed important have lost their importance; things that seemed unattractive become irresistible. We have accepted a different scale of values.

Four instances in the New Testament demonstrate how necessary it is for a man to take the Divine viewpoint if he is to receive the full blessing of God. He must look at things from the holiest viewpoint and accept God's standard to guide his life. The first is described in Mark 10.17‑22. This young man had high ideals but he did not feel sure of the eternal life promised to those who kept the Law and because he could not feel sure of living eternally; he thought it must be on account of something he had not done. He was perplexed. Could this new Teacher help him? It was in this frame of mind that he came to Jesus and asked "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" and received the reply in effect, "If you would enter into life, keep the commandments". Having been trying to do this, he naturally asked, "What do I lack?" Jesus knew he had been trying. He knew why he was not satisfied, and He gave him the remedy. "You lack one thing; if you would have a mind at rest, go and sell all you have and give to the poor and follow me; lay aside your wealth and take your place with my followers; exchange the relationship of the world for mine." This was the supreme moment in the young man's life, but the answer was unexpected. He found that he valued his wealth above all other things, and above the peace of mind which Jesus promised. In his failure, he went away grieved, but he left behind one who was grieved too. We are privileged to see what he did not see, that Jesus was asking only what the Law asked; he had not realised what was meant by loving the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength and mind. He had made wealth his god and loved it more than the Lord; therefore he was not worthy of that life to which he aspired.

This test is still being applied today. Real consecration demands all. If, when we made our consecration, we withheld something, we shall be lacking when the test comes, and will fail like this young man. We cannot serve two masters, having the smile of the world and the smile of the Lord too. When Jesus said "He that forsakes not father and mother cannot be my disciple". He set a standard that must be maintained.

The second instance is in John 9. This chapter tells the story of a man who had been born blind and to whom Jesus had given sight. Having anointed the man's eyes, He said, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam". The man said to those who questioned him afterward, "I went, and washed, and I received my sight". This man's gratitude constrained him to become a disciple. It was no good trying to tell him he was dreaming; he knew that once he was blind and that he could now see. Jesus had come to relieve spiritual blindness, but he could only do that to those who realised their need. The Pharisees who questioned the man who was healed said "We know this man is a sinner", for Satan had blinded their eyes. The man's reply was "Whether He is a sinner I do not know, one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see" and he revelled in his new-found light.

We came into the light because we felt we were blind and needed healing. So we have been brought out of darkness into the knowledge of God's Son. A realization of something missing, a conviction of sin, must precede cleansing. That these Pharisees did not know they were spiritually blind is revealed by v.40 "Are we also blind?" but the corresponding truth is revealed by the Psalmist in Psalm. 32.1-2 "Blessed is the man.. whose sin is covered". Man cannot cover his own sin, God covers it.

The third instance is Luke 10. 38‑42; 'the one thing needful'. Mary is one who is known as having chosen that part. To get the idea of what Jesus meant we must compare Martha and Mary. Martha thought of the dignity of her house. There was so much to see to; Jesus was such a distinguished guest. Martha's words to Jesus (verse 40) were a direct reproof; but perceive how gently He answered, He said in effect 'you lack a sense of proportion! You have not a proper scale of values. I have come into your house, not because of any need of mine you can supply, but for your sake. I have meat to eat that you know not of; if you had known that, you would have come to me as Mary had done. It is better to partake of my spiritual food than to busy yourself getting a meal for me'. This lesson we can easily apply to life's experiences. The question should be; if we want to entertain the Master, what would He prefer above everything else? But do not let us search our own supplies as Martha did, drawing on our own reserves, without consulting His wishes. Let us first of all find out what He wants us to do. Many have made this mistake in the past, and many do so today; they fret and fume to work out what they think would be to the honour and glory of God, and they find, and will find, that their work is not approved. There was so much to do that Martha had no time to sit at the Master's feet. Many have tried to convert the world and spend money and energy and life to do that, to prepare a kingdom for Jesus, to prepare a 'feast of fat things' for Him, forgetting that the Lord is going to do all these things Himself in His own due time. The one thing needful today is the Lord's approval, and to have this we must adopt His standard of values; but how difficult this is today. The non-essentials are so large, they obscure the more important things. How should we apportion the proper time for providing the necessary things and engage ourselves in witnessing to the Lord and His Kingdom? Have we divided our time in such a way as to win the Lord's approval or have we missed the one thing needful? Are we using the time we are able to give to the study of God's Word to the best advantage? Are we day by day trying to live more closely to the pattern of the Master or are we spending our time in more or less fruitless discussions? We need heavenly wisdom in this matter of reading and studying His Word with a view to our best development. That is the one thing needful. God is guiding His people through his Word; there is in it encouragement in trial, guidance in doubt, promises of help and protection in the dark days of difficulty, disappointment and despair. The food is there on our table, Divinely provided truth! Do not get so busy about other things as to neglect to eat what the Lord has provided, for doing this we shall be starved.

The fourth instance is Phil. 3.13; "this one thing I do". Paul had a busy life in the service of the Lord. He was always an ardent follower of God with a zeal that makes us admire him. He could, no doubt, have made a great name for himself, but towards the end of his career he looked backward, reviewed all his advantages and said "I count all things as loss because of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord". Why had he taken upon himself a life of privation and suffering? He had seen Jesus, and that made all the difference! In the glory of the heavenly vision, all other objects of attraction faded. He turned from his own efforts to seek that righteousness which is in Christ Jesus. He had a vision of the glorified Christ and learned that only by identifying himself with the death of Christ could he take part in the First Resurrection. It was the moving force in his life from the day he saw Jesus on the way to Damascus and not all the experiences he suffered could efface the impression made upon him or dim the supreme hope of being found "in Him" at the last. He must witness to Jew and Gentile and open blinded eyes and turn men from darkness to light. To know the Divine will was to do it; to have a vision of the Holy One and witness for Him was sufficient explanation of his having been apprehended of Christ Jesus.

We have likewise been apprehended of Christ Jesus for a similar work of witnessing, to tell forth the way of consecration. Paul longed for the Kingdom to be set up; and so do we, but we are much nearer the kingdom than he was. Faithfulness to the call, to the end, is the only way. Paul realised that, although he had preached to others, he might himself become a castaway if he proved unfaithful (Phil. 3.12‑13). "Not that I have already attained, but this one thing I do". He was willing to give himself for Him who had laid hold on him and bound him to His service with the cords of love. Only so could he be found "in him" at the last and attain that honour, glory and immortality that is the reward of faithfulness.

(1) The young man who could not make the great denial of self. He failed to appreciate heavenly values and he lacked the one thing necessary. But how good it is to know that if he failed to accept the first invitation he will come back again and ask the same question "what must I do to inherit life?". He will remember the last time he refused the Master's way of life and chose his own way. "There is a way which seems right to a man but its end is the way to death." (Prov.14.12 RSV). He found it so. It would be a matter of surprise if he again refuses when the offer of life is made to him.

(2) The young man who rejoiced in his new light would not be long in the company of Jesus before he learned more of the Master's scale of values, unlike the Scribes who, blinded by their own pride, were ready tools for Satan. They adopted his methods and were, as the Lord himself called them, children of Satan.

(3) Martha, who, though she loved Jesus dearly, made sad blunders in the values she put on things, setting too great a store on minor things and neglecting the greater. Surely she took the Master's reproof to heart and learned a great lesson.

(4) Paul, who put all earthly wealth, glory and honour on one scale and found it immeasurably outweighed by the peace of God which passes all understanding, the love which passes knowledge, and the fellowship of Jesus. He looked not on the things that are seen, but on the things which are not seen, things lasting and eternal.