Brian Edwards on "Do not steal"

Some jottings from Brian H Edwards, The Ten Commandments for Today (Day One, 1996, revised edition 2002):

“The Home Office estimates that more than 8% of the people visiting a large store are likely to be stealing.” (p218)

“Agur, the wise man of Proverbs, appears to have been well acquainted with the Ten Commandments, for in one powerful poem he includes the substance of at least seven of them. Here is the way he refers to four of the Commandments: ‘Keep falsehood and lies far from me (9^th); give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the LORD?” (3^rd). Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God (8^th). Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will pay for it (9^th). There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers…’ (5^th). (Proverbs 30:8-11).” (p218)

“In the United Kingdom half a million shoplifters cost the nation over 10 million pounds every day. In 1994 Marks and Spencer alone spent 20 million pounds in security costs and still lost 30 million in stolen goods.” (p224)

“Within a two-and-a-half hour period on one January day, British Rail Transport Police detained one hundred people on Victoria Station in London travelling without a ticket.” (p226)

“Pay as you would be paid” (p227)

“According to the UK Christian Handbook for 1996/7, British churchgoers give around 1.8 billion pounds each year to Christian organisations. That doesn’t sound too bad until we realise that it is approximately 2% of their average income!” (p228)