“Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang” This was a title from a classic Tagalog movie. Never thought that this was actually taken from a verse in the bible “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.” written in Daniel 5:27. This was the meaning of one of the inscriptions in the wall which Daniel interpreted. I don’t want to further elaborate but what I got from this is that all of us are being measured in some ways.
Stadiometer for the height back when we were still growing vertically. Weighing scales for the weight which is not really reliable as experts said because of gravity. There’s IQ test for a person’s intellectual capacity and EQ test for our emotional wellness which are highly debatable as well. I don’t want to argue with that but we all agree that we do measure things in our lives that are of importance to us whether it’s physical or intellectual simply because it indicates our current status and possible growth.
But how about that thing called spiritual life? have you ever wondered how to measure our own spiritual growth? Well, maybe if we’ve memorized verses as if it’s our native tongue or maybe if we’ve prayed like there’s no tomorrow. Maybe if we’ll attend all church services or volunteer to every ministry. How do we really know?
How do we measure our progress in our walk with God?
In Matthew 22:34 – 40, the Pharisees were also wondering the same thing although it was motivated rather on testing Jesus than really learning. Nevertheless, they’ve been following all the laws required and they’re probably thinking what else can they do? What’s the greatest commandment that they could follow anyway?
To this, Jesus replied “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
These two are the greatest commandments and therefore we should measure our growth from these. We better ask ourselves Have I been loving God with all of my heart and soul and mind? Have I been loving my neighbor-the people God values-as myself?
If our love for God and love for His people is increasing, then we are growing in our spiritual walk with Him.
Therefore, it’s never about reading the Bible, attending services or life groups, serving in the ministry or praying hard. These are really good tools but we better ask ourselves this question “Are the things that I’m doing leading me to an ever-increasing love for God and for His people?”.
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