You shall not steal.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God, so that we do not take our neighbor’s money
or goods, nor get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and
protect his goods and means of making a living.
Have you ever caught yourself
thinking, “he doesn’t need that” or “he could do without that”? Sometimes it’s hard not to think those
thoughts when surrounded by people who have plenty. It often turns into an argument with yourself
about how you deserve those things much more than the other guy. Besides, we know all of his faults and it’s
just not fair.
I often have to remind myself
that I’m not someone else. I am who I am
and there is nothing I can do to make me into someone else. Each of our callings have their rewards, not
all of which are monetary. God demands
that I work for my daily bread and beyond that it is up to Him to provide the
increase. If no man works, neither shall
he eat. Yet, everyone is guilty of stealing
in thoughts, words, and actions. Man has
stolen from others by failing to provide for those in need, he has mismanaged
time and left things undone that should be done, and he has stolen by treating his
belongings as though they were solely for his own benefit.
The Psalmist wrote, “The earth
is the Lord’s, and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell
therein.” It’s humbling to note that
everything which man claims as his own all belongs to God. It is not our own things or time that are
being misused, rather it is God’s things and God’s time that is being misused. Everything we have is on lease from Him. He still owns it. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away,
blessed be the name of the Lord. Whether
we eat or drink or whatever we do, do it all to the glory of God.
Unfortunately, our actions often
only show how we would like to glorify ourselves. Our actions place us in the role of the
creator, not the created which we are.
We assume that we answer to no one but ourselves. Ultimately, though, we all have to answer to
God. It is God who says, you shall not
cheat your neighbor, your employee, or your employer. It is God who says we should always have the
best interest of everybody else’s belongings in mind…not the best interest of
ourselves. The psalmist says we are His
people, it is He who made us and not we ourselves.
Has anyone always thought of his
fellow’s property instead of himself?
Has anyone always used the goods entrusted to his care for the benefit
of his neighbor? No normal human ever
has, nor can we. We were steeped and
covered in sin when we were born, and for each sin we are deserving of
death. A punishment which is far to
painful for us to withstand.
Yet, we have a gracious Lord,
who desired to love us, in spite of our sin.
He sent His Son to be perfect in our place, even going without in order
to help others. And not only did he do
right on our behalf, but God inflicted upon Him the punishment which our sins
deserve. Jesus willingly paid a price
greater than we can imagine so that God would not hold us accountable for our
sins. May the comfort of that gift
encourage you to give to others as you have been generously given.
O Lord our God, You have commanded that we should
receive Your may blessings with thankful and generous hearts. Give us your grace, we pray, to use all of
our talents and abilities for Your glory and for the good of others. Help us to respect the gifts and possessions
You have given to others, so that we might encourage all people to trust Your
mercy and love in Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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