“What is her ring size?”
I confidently divulged the information. “It is 5 ½.”
The jeweler smiled. “Great! That will make it easier!”
Many years ago, I surprised my wife by purchasing a ring for her to celebrate our anniversary. Fortunately, when I was at another jeweler, I had her current ring measured at that store. I did the same with my ring since I was going to purchase a matching band. Suddenly, the jeweler looked up and exclaimed, “You know, a few years ago, the jewelry industry changed the ring sizing. I know that jeweler you went to uses the older standard, a ¼ size smaller than what I have.”
“Wait, what?”
“Yup. They don’t want to change since they have been in business for over a hundred years and their rings have become the de facto standard in jewelry making.”
I was wearing my ring and since they had sized it at that other store, I thought it would be a good comparison. “Here, size my ring.”
The jeweler obliged. “6 ¾”
I shook my head. “When I had my ring sized by that jeweler, they informed me that it was 6 ½! You’re right!”
Two different standards.
It seems inconceivable that in a common industry like jewelry, something as fundamental as ring sizing would have two different standards. What about our relationship with God? We may think that we live by God’s standards but the truth is we too often substitute the world’s standards or our own and live by them, convincing ourselves that we are justified to do so. Like the venerable jeweler who refused to accept the new standard, we justify and rationalize our choices out of convenience for others. We should be tolerant and accepting of abortion because others are. We should ignore the biological definitions of gender since it is not inclusive. We should not believe in hell because it is an archaic concept. Slowly, we allow even more subtle compromises to creep into our lives until the distinctions between God’s standards and ours are blurred. Who is right? What is the absolute standard?
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
God promises to give us a new heart and His Holy Spirit within us when we turn from our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When this happens, God’s standards become ours.
Two different standards.
The world informs us of its standards. Changing, relative, and unfixed. God’s standards are permanent, absolute, and written in our hearts.
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 