What's Mine Is... Mine [38 mb]

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This is the tenth sermon in a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. This message discusses the Eighth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Steal.

Written Excerpts:

Exodus 20:15   Thou shalt not steal.

Introduction:

Today we are going to be discussing the Eighth Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Steal. As we have done with all the previous commandments, I plan to point out the “negative meaning” of the command; followed by the “positive principle” that is emphasized by the command; and then take the time to examine some of the ways the commandment applies to our lives in the “Exposition of the command.” So let us turn our attention now to the eighth commandment as it is given in Exodus chapter 20.

VIII.    Thou Shalt Not Steal

A. Negative Meaning: Do not take anything that belongs to another person without his/her consent.

B. Positive Principle: Personal property is sacred.

If it is wrong to take anything that belongs to another person, then it seems obvious that God recognizes and endorses the idea of personal ownership of private property. This may seem like a pretty simple point to make, but it is very basic to an orderly and civilized society.

(Keil & Delitzsch) “Property was not to be violated just as the sacredness of marriage was not to be violated.”

Let me say here that I do not see how anyone, whether they are a political leader or spiritual leader, can endorse the idea of communism or socialism as long as this commandment is part of the Decalogue. When you get down to the basic meanings of both communism and socialism, there is no true ownership of personal property. In both of those systems, property is ultimately owned by the government or by the community or group not by any person.

This may get me in trouble with some people, but I believe that the eighth commandment applies to governments as well as to individuals. That may be one reason why our founding fathers threw a “Tea Party” over “Taxation without representation.” In my opinion, taxation, without the consent of the governed, becomes a legalized form of theft.

While I’m on this subject, let me warn you of another growing trend in this nation. We are being “bombarded” these days with an orchestrated effort to get low income people to envy and to hate higher income people, and to vote for people and programs that are designed to take more and more money from high-income folk and give it away to the lower-income people.

Let me read a quote to you from a man that is now deceased, but at one time was the President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.  What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005)

Dear friends, let me warn you today of the general spirit that has swept across this land legitimizing the “theft” of wealth from one person in order to give it to another person. That whole spirit and attitude flies in the face of the principle behind the Eighth Commandment – You Shall Not Steal!

C. Exposition: How does this commandment apply to everyday life?

1. This commandment forbids theft in all its various forms.

It really is very simple. Do not take anything that belongs to another person without their consent. That includes “borrowing” something (with/without permission) then “forgetting” to return it.

a.) Outright stealing personal property belonging to someone else.

Children steal from their parents. Stealing often starts out when we’re children.

People steal from their employers.

Burglars and robbers steal from everybody they possibly can.

Improper use of copyrighted material.

It is actually amazing the rationalization that people go through in order to justify their illegal use or theft of other people’s property!

b.) Stealing by deception, fraud or cheating.

Some writers tell us that there is more than one Hebrew word used in the OT regarding theft. The word “steal” used in the Eighth Commandment represents acts that are done secretly without notice of others. However, other related verbs emphasize the violent aspect of seizing the property of another. (Harris, Archer, Waltke) (Emphasis mine.)

Misrepresenting a product or service in order to get more money than it’s worth.

Lying about age of a child or an adult to get discounts at restaurants and other places.

Refusing to acknowledge or report a mistake when clerk gives you too much change or fails to charge you for a product.

Dishonest reporting on income tax returns.

Dishonest reporting on employee time cards, expense accounts etc.

c.) Stealing by overspending without reasonable ability to repay.

There are many individuals who spend way beyond their income without any regard for the means of paying for the items they have bought on credit. I don’t believe it is pleasing to the Lord for anyone to max out their credit limits on just material stuff and then default on their payments and shrug it off as if it doesn’t really matter.

2. This commandment emphasizes the importance of contentment and stewardship over selfishness.

When we consider the whole issue of personal property and individual ownership along with the legitimate use of work and payment for the things we own, it becomes necessary to talk about the principle of contentment.

The Bible is very clear that contentment is something that ought to characterize the life of a Christian.

1 Tim. 6:6-10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

The Tenth Commandment, which we will discuss in a few weeks, emphasizes the matter of contentment with what we have and not envying or coveting the property of another individual. All of these passages point out the destructiveness of a selfish attitude that places our wants and desires over the rights of others, so that we may feel it is okay to take what belongs to them in order to satisfy our desires.

Let’s face it… the temptation to steal what belongs to another person ultimately stems from the discontentment with what we have and from a non-biblical viewpoint of material possessions and stewardship.

The parables of Jesus regarding the Steward (Lk. 16), the pounds (Lk. 19), and the talents (Matt. 25), all stress the fact that we are stewards of the money and goods that God has provided to us. They all emphasize the fact that we need to be more concerned over the proper use and investment of the things God has given to us rather than being so concerned with grasping and grabbing more stuff by whatever means we deem necessary to acquire it.

Proper stewardship also includes voluntary and compassionate giving of our goods and finances to aid and help those in need.

3. This commandment emphasizes the importance of a biblical work ethic.

Ephesians 4:28 states, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Rather than expecting others to simply provide for our needs and our wants, the Bible tells us that we are expected to work for our own needs if we are able. Our culture has certainly emphasized the idea and pursuit of “getting something for nothing.”

4. This commandment emphasizes the importance of making amends for stealing.

The OT requires, and the NT seems to endorse, the whole concept of making restitution for stolen property.

Restitution is a topic that you don’t hear preached about very much at all these days! I will tell you this; I’ve heard some great stories over the years of store owners and merchants that were won to the Lord because of people who came back to make restitutions for things stolen and/or to pay off long-standing accounts after they were genuinely converted to Jesus Christ. Restitution is one of the most effective ways to witness for Jesus!

Various passages in the OT laws required the payment of restitution for stolen property. The required restitution payments ranged from 1/5 of the original value up to 5 times the original value. These varied according to the type of theft and the importance of the item stolen. In every case, the restitution was always more than simple replacement value – it included replacement plus some.

In the NT the best example I know of is the conversion of Zacchaeus. He promises “…if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”  When he says this, Jesus does not respond by saying, “Oh no, that’s not necessary. You need not worry about repaying those folks.” Instead, Jesus says, “This day is salvation come to this house…”

It is almost as if Jesus is saying that his willingness to repay (make restitution to) those he defrauded was evidence that real salvation had taken root in his heart.

I admit that I don’t have all the answers to every question that might arise regarding restitution. For example, what about the individual that stole on a daily basis for years before they came to Christ and they can’t even remember who all they stole from?

Conclusion:

Finally, as we close this message today, I want to touch on the aspect of forgiveness and clearing my conscience before God. There may be some here today that have heard God’s Spirit speaking to your heart regarding some issues that you may have never thought about before. Some of you may have thought of things that haven’t crossed your mind for years.

What to do?

If you’re not currently walking in faith with the Lord, then I urge you to recognize that what you feel is conviction from God’s Spirit and He is trying to draw you to the place of confession and repentance so that He can save you from your sins; including the sin of stealing.

Then, once you have come to Christ, along with those who already know the Lord, if He is reminding you of any specific instances – names, places and images are going through your mind – then by all means, take every effort to clear your conscience by making amends for the things you have stolen.

I can tell you this, if you will do that, God’s sweet presence and blessing will fill your soul as you obey the leading of His Spirit. And, who knows, there may be many people you could witness to for Christ by simply going back to them and making amends.


Next sermon in this series is: Truth or Fiction (link available in blog archive on right)