EXODUS 20:15: “You shall not steal.”

When does someone become a thief?
It’s when someone is not content with what he/she has and he/she covets other people’s possessions.

What is Stealing?

Most people are probably thinking about shoplifting (five-finger discount).

**Dictionary.com defines stealing this way: to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, esp. secretly or by force.

[In Islam, Shariah Law teaches that under certain circumstance, (if you are sane and if you steal a certain amount of gold/money) you will lose your hand for stealing.]

Stealing from People

Why do teenagers steal? Some are stealing because it’s cool or daring and because it gives them a thrill. Others steal because their friends shoplift and they want to be part of the gang. Others steal because they want things their classmates have, but can’t afford.
These days we don’t take stealing very seriously. In fact, media romanticizes stealing – television programs portray police officers using a “pick” to break into locked quarters, where they steal incriminating evidence.

On the other hand stealing is more complex today than it was in the ancient times.
In the ancient world, very tangible objects were stolen: cattle, property, wives, and the like. One could hardly argue that he had not taken anything if it were found in his possession.
We now live in an age of sophisticated technology. For example, we have ideas which are patented and materials which are printed, both of which can be stolen. Credit cards and electronic banking have made matters even more complicated. And then there are the electronic gadgets. Satellite dishes are available to “steal” electronic signals from the sender, electronic recordings may be duplicated, so that the owner does not get any remuneration for his labor^.[1]

Have you thought about illegal download of music and movies as stealing?
It is a fact that today people struggle with the stealing of the intangibles more that they struggle with the stealing of the material things.

Every one of us has been tempted to download music and movies and then share it with our friends.

The music an artist produces is his livelihood. Sometimes they will give away some free music, but most of the time they want to sell it. That’s how they will be able to pay their bills.

Someone may argue that artists have enough money and that they won’t go hungry if someone steals some of their music. That may be true, but just because someone has enough money does not make stealing ok.

How about sharing the music, you purchase; is it ever ok to burn CD’s for all your peers?

Under US copyright law, you are allowed one backup copy for fair rights usage. You may not distribute this copy, lend it out, nor ever permit both copies to be used concurrently.
You all would like to make big money, don’t you?

What do you think?

Recently a teenager was discovered to have made thousands of dollars by investing in $2 stocks. After purchasing the stocks, the teenager, using many different names, would enter many “chat rooms” on the Internet and encourage others to buy the same stocks. He would assert (without any knowledge of the companies’ financial state, nor the quality of their product or service) the stocks were sure to increase greatly in value quickly. The teen would then sell his stock shortly thereafter when others, following his advice, bought stock thus raising the value of it. Do you think that the teen was guilty of breaking the 8th commandment? Why or why not?^[2]

Tell me, does it matter how you make money? Does it matter we are deceitful and dishonest?

Stealing of Reputation – Can you steal someone’s reputation?
If you ever wanted to make someone look bad in front of someone else (peers, teachers, parents, etc), you attempted to steal that person’s reputation. You didn’t care they would be looked at as stupid, lazy, untalented, weak, etc. When we care, we treat people kindly, with patience and we do our best to make them look good. It feel good when someone makes us look good, doesn’t it?

The bible teaches us to go talk to those we see doing stupid things and try to win them for Jesus. If they listen to us, we saved our brother or sister. (Matthew 18:15-20)

If he or she does not listen to us, take another person with you and then go talk to your sister or brother.
Sometimes they will not listen at all -people are stubborn and do not want to change. I’m sure you have no idea what I am talking about J.

In each instance, we must not share with the whole world what happened. Our gossip, will steal that person’s reputation. If someone is acting foolishly, they will ruin their own reputation, but God will not hold you and me accountable for it.

Stealing From God

MALACHI 3:8-9: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

In the Old Testament, when someone would give their tithes and offerings to God, they would take them to the temple. Today we take them to the church.

Some people give money to good causes and consider that as “tithe”. Friends, I am afraid that our reasoning is not good. HERE IS A HIGHER STANDARD – We ought to do both… give 10% to God (the church) and on top of that we ought to give to others.

Again, we see from these verses that God takes stealing from Him seriously.
* What should our attitude be in paying tithes and giving offerings?
** Can we steal spiritually and not physically?

Adam and Eve stole from God – Read Genesis 3:1-6.

They took and ate from a tree that belonged to God. Adam and Eve knew that because God told them not to eat of his tree. Adam and Eve stole their way out of (the paradise) Eden.

No one can steal his or her way into paradise. On one of the crosses next to Jesus was a thief. That man realized in his last hour on this earth that he deserved to die, because what he did (stealing) was wrong (sin). The thief nest to Jesus realized that he can’t trick God and therefore he asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus was in His Kingdom.

“In the final analysis, stealing evidences a man’s lack of faith in God, and in His promises to provide for His people, who keep His commandments. Men trust in stealing because they refuse to trust in God. In the final analysis, the thief trusts himself more than God.
Stealing is an act that is completely contrary to the character of God. Perhaps the reason why God hates stealing so much is that it is a crime which completely contradicts His character. God is gracious; the thief is greedy. God gives; the thief takes. God responds to the cries of the needy; the thief callously creates needs and tragedy. Nothing could be more contrary to the graciousness of God than the cruelty of the thief.”^[3]

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

Paganism would rob others of what is rightfully their own; Christianity leads me to give to others what is rightfully my own.^[4]

Questions:^[5]

1. Can you steal only objects? Does the cost of something make stealing it okay or not okay?
2. How does stealing differ from borrowing? What is the Christian approach to borrowing?
3. Have you ever had anything stolen from you? If so, what was your emotional reaction? How did it make you feel?
4. List ways in which people can steal from others: (a) at school; (b) on the job; (c) playing games.
5. What are some consequences for stealing? What is the ultimate punishment? (Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and comment.)

[2] http://www.ucg.org/teenstudy/8thcommandment.htm

[3] http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=155

[4] Pulpit Commentary Software, Exposition on Ephesians 4: 28

[5] http://www.ucg.org/teenstudy/8thcommandment.htm

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