"Differing Standards"

“Differing Standards”

Years ago a comic strip in our local newspaper featured an elementary school girl. She was walking with an “intellectual” friend one day looking elated while her sidekick looked glum. A neighbor lady asked the first girl why she was so happy, to which she replied, “I got a 98 in spelling!” She then asked Student #2 why she was so sad and was told, “I got a 98 in spelling.” I recently played a round on our community’s par 3 golf course and shot a 76—pretty good for me (given my handicap) but many others would have been horrified had this been their score.

These examples show how much standards can vary between people. No problem. However, when there are no set guidelines (as some maintain to be the case) the outcome can be chaotic as described in Judges 17:6 and 21:25: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as (he or she) saw fit.” With no agreed upon authority the result can be turmoil. This explains a lot about our “do your own thing” society.

Among the people of God individual gifts and abilities vary greatly. The Lord’s friend and apostle writes, “Each one should use whatever gift (he or she) has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10). The apostle Paul applied these principles to giving when he wrote, “…If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what (one) does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12). In other words, none of us can do everything but all of us can certainly do something with our level of ability.

Whatever differing standards may be in us are subject to the unchanging Word from our unchanging God. The Lord says through His prophet, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6), so would He give us a written Revelation that brings mixed messages or changes with the times? I say no—and so does the psalmist (“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens…Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.”—Psalm 119:89,152). So we have divine sources of stability in an unstable world.

Recognizing the differences between people keeps us from falling into the trap of judging others by our personal standards. Paul warns, “…Let us stop passing judgment on one another….” (Romans 14:13). The Lord’s brother says, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge….” (James 4:12). And it ain’t me! Or you either!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan