Year of Realization - Day 50: Evil operates with a double standard.

“So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head. Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Back when people used switches to discipline their children there was the practice of letting children being disciplined together, each choose a switch for the other. Then—at the moment of the exacting of the discipline—they found out that they had actually chosen a switch to be used on themselves.

Additionally, you’re probably familiar with the practice of letting one child divide whatever is to be shared and letting the other child choose which portion they want. Yep, that keeps them honest. (As an aside, it’s kind of fun to do this without first telling the children how they would be choosing. Watching as the one who divided the portions, giving themselves noticeably more than the other, see the other child receive the portion they had designated for themselves, is somehow therapeutic.)

Both of the above practices are intended to teach children not to have a double standard in terms of what is right for them and what is right for others. It teaches them to be merciful and generous.

But it’s not just about how children operate, is it?

Let’s face it, most people tend to be a little easier/more generous concerning themselves in terms of punishment and reward.

I once wrote a humorous poem (not a source of great pride) in which the last line reads something close to, “To each man, his own stench is sweet.” Truth be told, I didn’t use the word “stench.” But the point was that we are much quicker to identify “stank” on another person than on ourselves; we don’t measure our doings with the same measure we apply to others’ doings.

This is just the point that Jesus was making when he gave this advice:

““And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As a matter of fact, there are several scriptures in the Bible referencing the evil of unjust scales or balances. This is one of those:

“False weights and unequal measures— the Lord detests double standards of every kind.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Indeed, the Levitical law outlined what God expected in terms of our measuring out to others.

““Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or volume. Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry materials or liquids must be accurate. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭35‬-‭36‬ NLT

In our opening scripture we see that Haman—having assumed that the king is wanting to honor him—has prescribed quite the fanfare for himself. But, just like those children picking out switches for each other, or portioning out some treat for each other, he’s about to find out how quickly the balances can be reset.

Be fair. Be just. Don’t afford yourself a different balance concerning punishment and reward. As we saw earlier, “the Lord detests double standards of every kind.”

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#yearofrealization