The BIPM also maintains a single, official Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
In addition, the BIPM is the keeper of the international prototype of the kilogram.
So, what is a standard?
According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a standard is “a recognized unit of comparison by which the correctness of others can be determined.”[1] In other words, a standard is a unit of measure against which other similar units are measured and/or calibrated.
Thanks to standards, an ounce is an ounce, a pound is a pound, and a foot is a foot. With standards in place, a gallon of gas should be the same volume from one gas station to another. A pound of beef should be the same weight from one grocery store to another. And six inches of gold chain should be the same length from one jewelry store to another.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a standard as “a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable.”[2] Other words that are sometimes used as synonyms for standard are gauge, criterion, and benchmark. Each of these indicates a means of determining what or how something should be. Below is a list of items which rely on standards with which we are all familiar.
- Thermometer
- Rain gauge
- Yardstick
- Postal scale
- Compass
- Electrical outlet
- Decibel meter
- Traffic sign
Birdhouse bottoms (an illustration)
As a young boy, Nick was a Royal Ambassador in his church. At each weekly meeting the RAs would be given a project of some kind to engender individual participation and teamwork. Each boy would be given a specific responsibility and the end result would be a finished project to which each boy had contributed.
On one particular evening the group project was to build birdhouses. Each boy was given a set of instructions and a pattern which he was to use to trace out on a blank piece of wood the specific part of the birdhouse for which he was responsible. The traced pattern was then to produce a piece of the precise size and shape needed for birdhouse assembly. Once all the parts were cut out, they were distributed amongst the boys to be assembled into completed birdhouses.
Nick’s assignment was to draw and cut out the bottom for each of the birdhouses. As such, he was given the pattern for the bottom piece. He was to transfer this pattern to a blank piece of wood which he would then cut out. The finished bottom pieces would then be distributed to the other boys to use in assembling their birdhouses.
Nick carefully traced the pattern onto his first piece of wood and then cut it out. It looked just like the pattern, so rather than go through the tedious process of tracing the paper pattern onto the second piece of wood, Nick used his first cut piece as a pattern and traced around it. Pleased with how much simpler and quicker his method was, he continued this process, using each new cut piece as the pattern for the next one before handing it off. Unfortunately, since Nick had deviated from the standard, each birdhouse bottom he cut was slightly larger in dimensions than the pattern and did not fit with the other pieces.Lack of compatibility
Standards are necessary for many reasons, not the least of which is compatibility between materials, products, methods, and services. This is vital for safety, efficacy, efficiency, mass production, and quality control. Imagine the catastrophes that could result in engineering, building, science, and medicine were it not for standards.
Clearly standards matter. Without them there would be confusion, complications, and inefficiency which create hazardous conditions and could lead to catastrophe.Standards apply to things other than products as well. They help to regulate important services, policies, processes, rules, and laws. There are quality standards, procedural standards, standards of service, safety standards, and standards of conduct. Virtually every area of our lives depends on standards to keep us safe, healthy, productive, reasonable, and ethical.
Standards in the Bible
We find mention of standards in the earliest books in Scripture.
“Abraham agreed and weighed out the amount that Ephron had mentioned in the hearing of the people - four hundred pieces of silver, according to the standard weights used by the merchants” (Genesis 23:16 GNT).
Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, put two quarts of manna in it, and place it in the Lord's presence to be kept for our descendants.” As the Lord had commanded Moses, Aaron put it in front of the Covenant Box, so that it could be kept. The Israelites ate manna for the next forty years, until they reached the land of Canaan, where they settled. (The standard dry measure then in use equaled twenty quarts.)” (Exodus 16:33-36 GNT).
“Everyone included in the census must pay the required amount of money, weighed according to the official standard” (Exodus 30:13a GNT).
“Take the finest spices - 12 pounds of liquid myrrh, 6 pounds of sweet-smelling cinnamon, 6 pounds of sweet-smelling cane, and 12 pounds of cassia (all weighed according to the official standard)” (Exodus 30:23-24a GNT).
“Its value is to be determined according to the official standard” (Leviticus 5:15b GNT).
“They presented their offerings in the following order: The offerings each one brought were identical: one silver bowl weighing 50 ounces and one silver basin weighing 30 ounces, by the official standard,…” (Numbers7:12a GNT)
Moral standards
Merriam-Webster defines standards as “ideas about morally correct and acceptable behavior.”[3] Standards are necessary to regulate our behavior, but who determines these standards? As Christians, we find our moral standards clearly set forth in Scripture: God’s inerrant, infallible, and eternal Word. Below is a passage that gives good advice about the basis for how we should live.“1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. 2Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. 6God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things” (Colossians 3:1-6).
God’s Word provides standards for virtually every area of our lives.
· God’s design for marriage
“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (Genesis 2:24).
“‘4Haven't you read the Scriptures?’ Jesus replied. ‘They record that from the beginning God made them male and female.’ 5And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 6Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together’” (Matthew 19:4-6).
· Sanctity of human life
“27So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and told them, ‘Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.’ 29And God said, ‘Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food’” (Genesis 1:27-29).
Yes, you must execute anyone who murders another person, for to kill a person is to kill a living being made in God's image” (Genesis 9:6).
· Proper regard for our bodies
“1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is” (Romans 12:1-2).
“19Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
· Proper attire
“At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves” (Genesis 3:7).
“And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife” (Genesis 3:21).
“The woman approached him, dressed seductively and sly of heart” (Proverbs 7:10).
“9And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do” (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
· Proper response to government
“God blessed them and told them, ‘Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals’” (Genesis 1:28).
“1Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. 2So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow” (Romans 13:1-2).
“Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do” (Romans 13:6).
“13For the Lord's sake, accept all authority -- the king as head of state, 14and the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish all who do wrong and to honor those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14).
· Proper attitude toward others
“1Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. 2For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. 3And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? 4How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can't see past the log in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5).
“15If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).
“19My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back again, 20you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins” (James 5:19-20).
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).
“For you have been called to live in freedom -- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
· Proper stewardship
“A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy” (Leviticus 27:30).
“Say this to the Levites: ‘When you receive the tithes from the Israelites, give a tenth of the tithes you receive -- a tithe of the tithe -- to the LORD as a gift’” (Numbers 18:26).
“The people responded immediately and generously with the first of their crops and grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tithe of all they owned” (2 Chronicles 31:5)
“On every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once” (1 Corinthians 16:2).
“You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Since God is the Creator of everything, including standards, should we not measure everything we think, say, and do against His Word, the ultimate Standard?
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