“MEASURE TWICE - CUT ONCE”

Ephesians 5:15 – “See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise…”

An old bit of carpenter’s advice is: “measure twice, cut once”. The lesson learned is: The more consequential an action is, the more carefully it needs to be thought out. Wise people know it is never a waste of time to ensure accuracy. It is far better to make sure one is right - deliberately, cautiously, and carefully - than hastily and thoughtlessly to act in ways that turn out to be wrong. Not being careful and cautious can cause us extra work. Not being careful and cautious can cause us trouble, pain, and suffering. It is important to realize that it is possible for a person’s life itself to be “ill-measured”. This is easily seen simply by watching the news. Perhaps we have friends who have not carefully measured their actions. In regard to God, many are sometimes shockingly and frightfully careless.

WE NEED TO MEASURE TWICE IN THE MATTER OF RELIGION IN GENERAL

The casual and haphazard way in which many have tossed aside “religion” is mind boggling. The average person who has rejected religion, has done so on the basis of hastily made assumptions from inadequate information, and not a serious consideration of the genuine. Many have never taken the time to try to investigate the stereotypes, caricatures, and prejudicial slogans that turn many people against religion. John Lennon said that “religion is simply an opium for the people”. Jesse Ventura, former Governor of Minnesota said that “religion shows the stupidity of the people.” Many of the television “worship services,” and many denominations, have made religion into some kind of a circus sideshow. People simply shake their head in disgust as they see such foolishness. Often, modern people do not even have the curiosity of the Athenian philosophers to hear the case for Christianity - Acts 17:16-21, 22-34.

Many today are more like those in Athens who hurriedly mocked - than those who wanted to hear more before making up their minds (Acts 17:32). Many have never truly “considered” the evidence (Psalm 8:3-5). Choosing religion - or not - is a matter that needs to be “measured twice” - that is, careful consideration must be given to it.

WE MUST MEASURE TWICE IN THE MATTER OF “CHOOSING A CHURCH”

How thoughtful is the average person’s analysis of what is going on in the world of “Christian” denominationalism? Many say “one church is as good as another”. Many are saying, “attend the church of your choice”. Many people’s approach to choosing a church is little better than hit-or-miss, or a reach into a bag and see what you pull out. If all the seven churches of Revelation 2-3 were in our locality, on what basis would we decide where to identify ourselves? How carefully do we check the “accuracy” of churches and their practices against the authoritative standard of the Scriptures? The question of whether a doctrine is true is no trivial matter, and it takes some searching find out! … (2 Corinthians 13:5; Proverbs 14:12; 1 Peter 4:11; 1 John 4:1). Dealing responsibly with the problem of modern religious division requires at least the attitude of the Bereans (Acts 17:11; 1 Corinthians 1:10).

WE MUST MEASURE TWICE IN THE MATTER OF THE LIFE THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD LIVE

In a world filled with evil, there is no realistic hope of living acceptably before God without a circumspect or a careful approach to the matter godly living – (Ephesians 5:15-17). Imagine your life as a speech. What kind of speech is it: a painstakingly prepared text or an impromptu performance that you make up as you go along? Which will have the best result? The prepared speech, of course. Our lives are much like the building of a brick wall – it is built one brick at a time. As a mason builds a brick wall he will check it with the plumb line as he builds (Amos 7:7-8). We need more men and women who will consciously and carefully distinguish right from wrong (Hebrews 5:14).

CONCLUSION

Socrates is reported to have said, “The unexamined life is not worth living” - life is too consequential not to be thoughtful and deliberate about its examination. We ought to carefully settle on our convictions and then fit our lives to those convictions. Too often we merely do what comes naturally - and then make up a set of “convictions.” (Jeremiah 10:23). The spiritual consequences of “ill-measured” deeds are eternal-we cannot afford to cut now and measure later.

We get one life, and only one. Once done, that life cannot be undone. What kind of words describe the quality of your life’s “workmanship” up to now? Haphazard, slipshod, makeshift? Purposeful, meticulous, thorough? (2 Timothy 2:15). It is vital that we: Study to find the truth; think about the significance and implications of the truth; and act on the basis of the truth.

Jesus warned us to “count the cost” (Lk. 14:25-33) of discipleship. This would involve an equally sober assessment of the cost of non-discipleship. The fact is, it costs much more to refuse discipleship than to accept it. How carefully are we considering this? So far, is your response to Jesus the result of careful consideration and deliberate action? He deserves nothing less. Have you measured twice and cut once with regard to your salvation?

Tom Moore