“TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting” Daniel 5: 27

A child that has not taken time to learn from family history will potentially fall victim of the same issues that affected his parents before him. Besides, while humility fits for all functions, people in very high roles or positions are expected to display it even more as it is written: “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Psalm 75:7

Because he overlooked the above truths, Belshazzar prematurely put an end to his kingship, spoiled his future, that of his kingdom and eventually deprived his descendants of the prestigious legacy he received from his father. He had the audacity of using sacred vessels dedicated to God’s service to drink wine with his concubines and “… praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone” (Daniel 5:4). God felt provoked and immediately sent an armless hand to write a few words on the wall including TEKEL.

At first sight, we could think this story is about a king and since we are not one, there is little or no lesson we can draw from it for our lives. If however we would give it a 2nd thought, I bet something useful and assuredly profitable can come out of it for us. In 1 Corinthians 6: 19 the Bible says “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”. Please let’s take notice of the last segment of this verse and let’s think about it for a few seconds.

Are we conscious that this body does not belong to us and that we therefore need to use it in the way the owner will feel happy, honoured and proud about? If God were to weigh us as he did for King Belshazzar, how would he find us, wanting?

God generally weighs against some standards that include his commandments (James 2:10), the law of love (Luke 10:27) and the work that as Christians we do for him (Revelation 3:8). What about taking a few minutes to examine ourselves in the light of the above standards and implement whatever actions will bring us back on track?

Allow me to conclude with Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”

God bless you this week and throughout the month of June 2020!