“Oh dear, Carole, just pile on the weight,” I muttered while helping myself to a small thin slice of cheese pizza. Which led to a small thin slice of veggie pizza, which led to small thin slice of pepperoni pizza. Last Saturday was the last outdoor Farmers Market for the season, and the Market manager had provided pizza for all vendors.

“That’s all for you,” said the self-appointed pizza monitor after I reached for that third slice. I wasn’t the only person on the receiving end of her scolding for coming dangerously close to taking more than my fair share. But my self-scolding was obviously less about my behavior and more about my appearance.

Diet, weight and exercise

I gained 5 pounds after last Thanksgiving—a reverse of what I wanted, that is, losing 5 pounds. Or losing the 10 pounds I gained twenty years ago.

Like many women, I put on weight in my fifties. The first few pounds seemed okay, since most of my clothes still fit. But the next few weren’t pretty, especially after my body rearranged itself.

When we moved to Vanaprastha in 2012, I set a goal to lose the extra pounds. I decreased consumption of processed food, salt, sugar, and alcohol while increasing my mountain road walks. As the numbers recorded by the scale slipped downward, I felt better, more energetic, relaxed, and light weight on my feet—literally.

But then my willpower slipped, and half the weight returned, and so on went the cycle. Now I’ve slipped again. I could offer several excuses, but the bottom line is I must reverse direction to reach my weight goal. And be more honest with myself.

Which got me thinking: what does the Word say about honesty and weight? 

Honest measuring of length, weight or quantity

“‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Leviticus 19:35-36 NIV

Had my pizza measuring been dishonest? Well, in my defense, as I reached for that third slice of pizza, I’d already done the math. 15 large pizzas of 12 slices each equals 180 slices, divided among 32 vendors, most singletons and some doubles like Keith and me, totally about 50 people, that’s 3.6 slices per person. Since I only took three small thin slices, technically I took less than my share – a very legalistic way to seeing things.

The passage in Leviticus warns us about fairness, honesty, and integrity in matters of judgment and commerce. Honest scales and weights for transactional measurements; balance and equity in human interactions. Honesty and fairness should be the guiding principles in all relationships, whether they involve goods, services, or judgments. And then there’s the reminder that God brought His people out of Egypt to embody the character of the God who liberated them. In other words, fairness and justice are integral to the identity of the redeemed.

And that points us to the Gospel.

Laying aside weight to gain eternal weight

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 ESV

In context—the “therefore” referring to the previous “witnesses” to godly faith, and their success despite hardships, and in light of God’s loving patience—this verse points to the proper response of a Christian. To purposefully shed our sins and selfishness and “hold fast” as we strive to fulfill the plans God has in store for us, pointing us to another “weight.”

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

Weighed on a scale, the suffering in this life is far outweighed by the glory of the life to come. Paul knows this to be true and refuses to lose heart, to give up, even when his suffering feels unbearable. But he does more than just compare suffering to the glory to come; Paul describes it as preparation. Suffering is not meaningless; it serves a purpose, getting us ready to experience the eternal weight of glory.

Next week, Winter Market at the Rockfish Valley Community Center begins and first Saturday mornings include a community pancake breakfast. Another opportunity to watch my weight, measure my weight portions honestly, shed the weight of selfishness, and look forward to the weight of eternity’s glory.

Linkup with Five Minute Friday: https://fiveminutefriday.com/2024/10/24/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-weight/