Me on "Do not steal"

With due acknowledgments to those mentioned in previous blog posts, here are some jottings on the 8th commandment which might have been on a handout had I provided one.

An audio recording of the sermon I preached this morning should appear on our church website in due course.

10 commandments: duties to God then duties to others

Respect others’ lives (6^th commandment), marriages (7^th), property (8^th)

Stealing – taking what belongs to someone else without right or permission

Stealing often born of coveting (10^th commandment) and virtually impossible without lying (9^th)

8^th commandment: actions; 9^th: words; 10^th: thoughts

Stealing widespread, serious, costly

God is the ultimate ruler and owner of all thing by creation (Ex 19:5; Ps 24:1; 50:10)

Christians belong to God by redemption (1 Cor 6:19f)

All stealing is a sin against God (Eden)

Stealing God’s honour and glory

Making a god / idol of money or possessions (Lk 16:13)

God has assigned property rights (Gen 1:28-30

Ps 115:16) – wise loving dominion under God

All “ownership” is really stewardship, a trust

Types of stealing:

At work (Col 3:22), expenses, tax return (Mt 22:17-22; Rm 13:6-7)

Dishonest selling or services – a stealing mentality, take if I can

Piracy of music / videos / illegal file sharing

Delayed payment or unpaid debt (Rm 13:8)

Permanent “borrowing”

Idleness, waste or avoidable dependency (2 Thess 3:10)

Cheating in an exam – stealing marks

Stealing someone’s spouse, reputation, dignity

Failure to give to God’s work (Mal 3:8)

Antidotes / positive counterparts to stealing:

Honest hard work (Eph 4:28; 1 Thess 4:11-12)

Living within our means and saving (Prov 13:22)

Trust in God who is a wise, able, generous giver (Mt 6)

Family (1 Tim 5:8) and church family (Gal 6:10)

Generous cheerful proportionate giving & sharing (also of time, effort, hospitality) (2 Cor 9:7-8)

Restitution – make amends (Ex 22:1; Num 5:7; Lk 19:8)

Salvation for the thief (Lk 19:9; 23:39-43)