A study of Exodus 20
#8 Don't You Believe It! It's Wrong
Even If .. Exodus 20:15
Exodus 20:15 -- "You shall not steal."
Ephesians 4:28 -- 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.
Nearly every day we read in the paper
or hear on the news of someone arrested for stealing of some sort -
1. According to Paul Harvey, recently
CBS sent a camera crew to Ft. Worth, Texas to do a special story on big city crime. As the
crew was unloading its equipment, their $30,000 camera was stolen. That sounds like a good
introduction for their story.
2.
The Baltimore Sun reports on a husband who drove home in his brand new car and ran
into the house, inviting his wife to see his brand new car. She, anticipating his delight
said she had a gift for him, something to do with his brand new car, and she presented him
with The Club, the device that attaches to the car steering wheel to protect it from
thieves. And the grateful husband said, "that's great honey, thank you so much for
your thoughtfulness." And then with The Club in hand, they went outside together to
where his brand new car had been stolen
3.
Many are the lives that
have been touched by theft. Millions of dollars are lost every year in this country over
the theft of goods and services. One estimate says that 1 out of every 52 shopper’s
carries something out of the supermarket for which they haven’t paid. According to
the U.S. Department of Commerce, 4 million people are caught shoplifting every year. But
for every one caught, 35 others get away with it. This means that there are over 140
million incidents of shoplifting every year in America! What’s really tragic is that
only 10% of all shoplifters come from low incomes. 70% are middle class and 20% are
classified as wealthy.
These
facts are astounding! America appears to be a country of thieves. I suppose that if
everyone who was guilty of theft were arrested, there would be no jails to hold them or
arresting officers to lock them up! One new hotel reported that in their 10 months of
operation, they lost 38,000 spoon, 18,000 towels, 355 silver coffee pots, 1,500 silver
finger bowls and 100 Bible to thieves.
On
October 28, 1987, the rear door of a Metropolitan, Inc Armored Car swung open on
Interstate 71 in Columbus, Ohio. Bags of cash were dumped on the highway. Moments later,
200 people converged on the site. One person had a video camera and taped the free-for-all
Company officials and police refused to say how much money was lost but sources indicated
it was more than $1 million. One man turned in nearly $57,000 that he said he found in a
single bag. He was about the only one who turned in cash.
The mayor was so upset he put together
a campaign to promote honesty in Columbus.
He really raised eyebrows with the person he chose to head the campaign: Rev. Jeb Stuart
Magruder, a Presbyterian minister. Magruder had also spent 7 months in jail for crimes he
committed during the Watergate political scandal.The campaign highlights citizens who act
honestly. It has also borne some fruit. Two motel housekeepers returned a box containing
$65,000; a man returned a wallet with $1,200.
There was an article in
the Washington Post Weekly titled: "Honesty may no longer be the best
policy." The article revealed a study done by a California based foundation
concluded: There is a hole in the moral ozone layer, and it is probably getting
bigger." It is increasingly common for young people to lie, cheat and steal at
school, on the job and in personal relationships. It revealed that American kids today are
lying, cheating and stealing in unprecedented numbers.
Michael Josephson, president of the
California based foundation concluded that unethical behavior is so common among the
younger generation because adults have been poor examples and because society fails to
impose negative consequences for dishonest words and actions. He says, "Their
misbehavior is more often the product of survival strategies and coping mechanisms than
moral deficiency." ("Honesty may no longer be the best policy" by Richard
Morin. Washington Post Weekly, Dec 7, 1992. Page 36.)
In a survey of U.S. high school
students, 36% said they would plagiarize in order to pass a test; 67% would pad their
expense accounts; 50% would inflate an insurance claim; 66% would tell a lie to reach a
business objective; and 59% would risk six month's probation in order to make $10 million
on an illegal business deal.
Bryant Park in downtown Manhattan
reopened recently after a two-year renovation project. Security guards are posted in all
the new marble- and-tile restrooms, and some 200 of the new shrubs are wired with burglar
alarms to discourage thieves. (U.S. News & World Report, May 4, 1992)
Asked if they would commit a crime for
$10 million if they thought they could get away with it, nearly one out of four people
surveyed by Money magazine said they would do it.
If you found a wallet with $1,000 in
it, would you return it? Your answer may depend on your age. In the survey, people age 18
to 34 were ten times more likely to keep the money than people 65 and above. (Pulpit
Helps, Oct 1994)
In the United States every 24 hours 65
murders, 299 rapes, 3,088 aggravated assaults, 4,413 auto thefts, and 8,164 burglaries are
reported. (U.S. News & World Report, Nov 15, 1993)
Some personal examples: Vee Craddock had a purse stolen out
of a car last month…they smashed the window. Terry had a purse stolen 2-3 years ago
from the fellowship hall from a woman here for benevolence help; This past week Tonia had
a window broken in her car and her purse was taken. While some things were not recovered,
she did receive two calls from individuals in the neighborhood where is happened call to
return different items they found on their property.
We
continue our sermon series on the Ten Commandments. God has commanded us to respect the
life of others, the marriage of others, and now God calls on us to respect the rights and
property of other people.
In
a world where many have the attitude that "What's Yours Is Mine" and I will take
it when I want it, God gives a clear command in how we should act.
The
morality of this command appears self evident, but we live in a day when robbery is
commonplace. Many live by the dictum: "get something for nothing". "Doing
business" means "ripping someone off". But business suffers as everyone
from the janitor to the president pilfers. So we mistrust everybody. We are skeptical of
mechanics, doctors, clergy, politicians, parents, teachers, - everyone. We say we're tired
of being taken advantage of, of being victimized, of being robbed, yet we try to get away
with as much as we can, whenever we can. We perpetuate our own demise by our avarice.
The
morality of the 8th commandment is rooted in creation: God created man to have
possession of personal property. Man, accountable to God, was given ownership of all the
plants, animals, and the earth (Gen. 1:27-30). Man was also placed on earth to labor.
(Gen. 2:15). Honest labor and personal property go hand in hand. The fourth commandment
states: "Six days your shall labor and do all your work". "In all labor
there is profit" (Prov 14:23a). It is morally just for us to labor and obtain
personal property.
But
the thief violates both the fourth and the eighth commandments. He steals the profit of
another's labor. "The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, for his hands refuse
to work; all day long he is craving" (Prov 21:25,26a). Selfish pride and greed
motivate a thief. Laziness and dishonesty mark his character. Why work for things when you
can steal them?
The essence of theft.
1) Stealing is a sin against God because
it betrays our trust in Him.
2) It is a sin against society because it
denies love and concern for others.
3) Theft is a violation of our sense of
security more than the taking of our stuff.
4) Not because we worship our stuff, or
derive our meaning from it.
5) An attack on our property is an attack
on us.
Is it valid to own things?
A. A French socialist
once said, "Property is theft."
B. The Bible can seem to be against private property.
1) Year of Jubilee. Lev
25:8f
a)
Property is really leased, not bought.
b)
Every 50 years it is all returned.
c)
But property still belongs to original owner.
2) Jesus’ condemnation of excessive wealth.
a) Don’t gain whole world
and lose soul. Matt 16:26
1. Must have view of eternity. Luke
12:16-21
2.
Don’t neglect spiritual life.
b) Rich young ruler.
3) Communism of early church. Acts 2:44-45
C. Property affirmed in the Bible.
1) Old Testament teaches respect
for private property.
a) God
owns everything, but he entrusts it to us.
b)
Don’t let wealth make you selfish and isolated. Isa 5:8
2) Jesus affirms private property.
a) Parable of talents.
b) Rich people affirmed - Joseph
of Arimathea, others.
3) Christian communalism was voluntary.
a) Ananias & Sapphira
were free to do as they wished.
4) Work is upheld as a way to have
surplus to help others.
Starts a vicious cycle.
1) Never provides
enough.
2) Easier to do it again.
3) Turns you from reliance on regular work.
Everyone knows the eighth commandment
by heart: "You shall not steal," but we may not equally apply it to ourselves as
easily as we apply it to others.
The people I know would never ever
consider going into someone's house and taking their possessions. That's stealing! But
there are varieties of ways in which "You shall not steal" can be applied. Some
are obvious and some are subtle.
Obvious forms of stealing.
The most obvious way that we steal is
when we take something from someone else without his or her permission.
Robbery generally takes things
directly, often by the use of superior force (frequently involving a weapon). Stealing
suggests stealth. A pick-pocket for example, uses stealth, as does a burglar.
Fraud may also be included here.
Fraud involves getting what belongs to another by deception. Here, the victim often gives
what is stolen to the thief, thinking that doing so will be profitable. The only one who
profits, however, is the thief.
Embezzlement is the misuse or
misappropriation of something that has been entrusted to us. Embezzlement is frequently an
offense of a bank employee or of a comptroller of a corporation.
Extortion gains possession of
another person’s property by threats, but without the use of a weapon. Extortion
sometimes takes place during a disaster and some commodities that people need have
exorbitant prices. In many parts of the world, government officials and the police use
their position to demand some type of payment for items that should not have a price on
them.
When some soldiers questioned John the
Baptist about what they ought to do to live a righteous life responded, "Do not
take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your
wages" (Luke 3:13-14).
Some people steal from their employers.
Petty theft is one of the most costly losses of American business. Tools mysteriously
disappear, along with supplies ranging from paper and pencils to much more costly items.
Then there is the stealing of time. Padded expense accounts are another tempting way to
steal from our employer.
We often attempt to justify theft at
work by the use of some rather questionable reasoning. One of the popular excuses is,
"I’ve put in a lot of extra time." If such is the case, turn it in as
overtime, or at least be sure that your boss is willing to exchange a given amount of
services for your extra time.
Another justification is that "I’m
worth a whole lot more than they pay me." If that is so, ask for a raise. If your
requests for payment of overtime are ignored or if you feel that you are worth more than
you are paid and no raises are forthcoming, find another job, but don’t steal from
your employer.
And our excuses - we've heard them
all
Subtle forms of stealing.
1. One of the most common forms of
subtle stealing is borrowing something and simply never returning it. Do you have
things that you have borrowed and have had for months, even years? Perhaps it's a
neighbor's extension cord, or hand tool. Maybe it's a serving tray or kitchen utensil. You
may have had good intentions of returning them but you never did. We need to recognize
this is stealing.
2. You also steal when you cheat.
It doesn’t matter whether it is on your taxes or your spelling words. If you cheat…if
you copy that paper, or get the answers to the test from the person next to you, you have
stolen. Or if you allow someone else to cheat off of you, you are guilty of stealing!
3. Still another way of stealing is
deception, even in its most ordinary forms. When we shade the truth, or misrepresent
our product in business, when we deal in half-truths or tricks or slick sales pitches
designed to get the business whatever the cost to the customer or client, then we are
guilty of stealing.
Sometimes we deceive in the name of
getting a good deal. If we get a good deal because we withhold information that would
change the price of something, it is stealing. How many older people have thought they
sold something they have for a reasonable price when the buyer knows that it is worth many
times what he is paying?
4. Padding an insurance claim by making
false statements.
5. Falling behind in making child
support payments.
6. Reputations are "stolen"
by people lying about person, slandering them, and ruining that person's good name.
7. Bankruptcy can be a means for
structuring the payback of debts, and as such is honorable, but as a legal pretext for
non-payment of debts it is robbery.
8. Lawsuits provide another
means of forcibly taking money from another.
9. Here’s one I’ve saved:
people even rob God and steal from Him. We steal from God by not returning to Him the
things that are His. We steal money, time, and talent from God on a daily basis.
Malachi 3:8-10 tells us that if we neglect to give our tithe to the church we have stolen
from God.
We rob God when we do not give Him
time. When our lives get so cluttered and busy that we cannot find time for God, we
are stealing from Him. We are given this time on earth, and we should gladly give some of
it back to God, yet we forget that it is His time to begin with and claim it all for
ourselves.
God is "due" our worship
- whether in the form of living holy lives on a day-by-day basis, giving financial
resources and time to His work, or in as "worship service" like this- and to
withhold these things from Him is to rob Him, to steal from Him.
God’s Plan for Possessions
There are only 3 ways of getting
anything in life:
By GIFT - an act of grace, the
receiver may or may not deserve the gift. Salvation falls into this category. We don't
deserve to be saved, but God offers us His salvation by our simple request. There is
nothing we can do to deserve it, we just simply cast ourselves at His feet and confess our
sins and He graciously forgives and saves us. The act of getting a gift is an act of love
on the givers part, the receiver is usually overwhelmed and grateful.
By WORK - a way of getting by
earning. This way of getting things has a lot to do with us, we receive by deserving what
we get, for services rendered. Since this kind of getting involves our efforts it usually
produces a sense of self respect because what we receive is connected by sacrifice on our
part through work. This is why God created work even before Adam's fall into sin, God had
Adam work the garden before he sinned, this way the fruit he enjoyed would bring self
respect and satisfaction, this is an honorable way for people to get things. This way of
receiving often motivates us to work even harder and more sacrificially since we are
blessed by what we receive - thus it makes self and society productive.
By THEFT - this is the only
other way to receive something, by simply stealing it or taking it! This does not create
self respect, rather, it creates self hatred. This does not create productivity, it
creates loss. This does not produce trust, it breeds suspicion. Because it both destroys
the soul and society God has issued a command against it.
Someone has said that "There are
roughly four kinds of people in the world."
1) The robber, who says, "What's
yours is mine and I'll take it."
2) The miser, who says, "What's mine
is mine and I'll keep it."
3) The humanist, who says, "What's
mine is yours, so I'll share it."
4) The child of God, who says,
"What's mine is God's so I'll use it wherever and however He wants me to."
There are two question for each of us
to consider: "Which category should I fit into following God’s Word?" And
the second "Do I need to move into the category which would be pleasing to God?"
Whatever we possess that is either
given to us or earned by us is actually not ours it belongs to God.
Behind the commandment "Thou shall not steal" lies the biblical idea of
stewardship To help us to understand the idea of stewardship let’s consider a story
told in the book of 1 Chronicles. The time was when King David was collecting materials
for building of God's Temple in Jerusalem. He gathered materials and monetary resources so
that the temple could be built by his son, Solomon. David and other leaders of Israel
asked the people to give gold, silver, and other precious, valuable items for the
construction of the Temple and the people of Israel gave generously. They responded to the
plea by giving huge amounts of material. In a public meeting David commended the people
for their generosity. And King David prayed:
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the
power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth
is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and
honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your
glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as
generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from
your hand. (1 Chronicles 29:11-14)
This is the basic idea of stewardship:
everything comes from God. He has made us caretakers of all we have. This is a temporary
arrangement for we will die and someone else will become the caretaker or steward. Our job
is to use them wisely for God's purposes. This means that when we steal, we are
circumventing God's actions and purposes. If God has blessed you with something that I
don't have, it is certainly not right for me to take it away from you. On the one hand,
this Commandment affirms our right to own things - we can call them "ours." On
the other hand, it also calls us to remember that these things are not really
"ours," but God's, and we need to act accordingly.
This leads to the thought that we can
call things "ours" but we must never get too attached to material things. We all own things and we get rightly
upset when someone steals from us. We have a God-given right to own things, to call them
ours; but our "property" should not define us or become a "god" to us.
If we hold too tightly to our things, then we'll be unwilling to use them for God's
purposes. In Matthew 25, Jesus told whole story about sheep and goats to make that point
that we can call ourselves "God's people" all we want, but if we refuse to help
other people with the resources that God has given us, then we're not really following
Jesus' example and we're not really the people of God we think we are. To rob other people
of our compassion, our mercy, and our help - that is the same as robbing God Himself.
Steal no longer. Eph 4:28 Restitution is an important Biblical
principle.
Stealing is wrong in the eyes of God.
He’s given us the eighth commandment to make that declaration. Most of us would not
consider ourselves thieves. We’re not involved in real, serious stealing. We don’t
rob banks or embezel from our employers or extort money from others. However there is a
more subtle side to keeping this commandment. God’s Word reminds us that stealing is
wrong whether it is obvious or subtle.
The eighth commandment dealt with
differing aspects of stealing. The Old Testament had extensive laws to regulate the buying
and selling of property. These laws reveal the nature of the commandment, "You shall
not steal." These laws taught the Hebrews how to deal honestly with their brothers.
Neither could you swindle others out
of their freedom. Under
the ancient law, in dire times, a man could sell himself and his family to another,
however the person buying their servitude was not allowed to take advantage of the
situation. The seventh year of jubilee prevented abuse because it was a year when those
who sold themselves into slavery were freed. It was also a year that debts were erased.
Leviticus 25:23-43 "'The land must not be sold
permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout
the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the
land. "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his
nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold. If, however, a man
has no one to redeem it for him but he himself prospers and acquires sufficient means to
redeem it, he is to determine the value for the years since he sold it and refund the
balance to the man to whom he sold it; he can then go back to his own property. But if he
does not acquire the means to repay him, what he sold will remain in the possession of the
buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and he can then go
back to his property. "'If a man sells a house in a walled city, he retains the right
of redemption a full year after its sale. During that time he may redeem it. If it is not
redeemed before a full year has passed, the house in the walled city shall belong
permanently to the buyer and his descendants. It is not to be returned in the Jubilee. But
houses in villages without walls around them are to be considered as open country. They
can be redeemed, and they are to be returned in the Jubilee. "'The Levites always
have the right to redeem their houses in the Levitical towns, which they possess. So the
property of the Levites is redeemable-- that is, a house sold in any town they hold-- and
is to be returned in the Jubilee, because the houses in the towns of the Levites are their
property among the Israelites. But the pastureland belonging to their towns must not be
sold; it is their permanent possession. "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and
is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary
resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him,
but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. You must not
lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. I am the LORD your God, who
brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. "'If one
of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work
as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is
to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released,
and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. Because the
Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves.
Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. (NIV)
The fiftieth year was also a year of
Jubilee. This year
made provisions for property that had been bought or sold to revert to the original
owners. There was to be no hoarding of land for the rich to get rich and poor to get
poorer.
Leviticus 25:8-17 "'Count off seven sabbaths of
years-- seven times seven years-- so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period
of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the
seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate
the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It
shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each
to his own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap
what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy
for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. "'In this Year of Jubilee
everyone is to return to his own property. "'If you sell land to one of your
countrymen or buy any from him, do not take advantage of each other. You are to buy from
your countryman on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And he is to sell
to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. When the years are
many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the
price, because what he is really selling you is the number of crops. Do not take advantage
of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God. (NIV)
Israel was guilty of taking advantage
of the poor and needy.
Amos 8:4-6 Hear this, you who trample the needy
and do away with the poor of the land, saying, "When will the New Moon be over that
we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"-- skimping the
measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with
silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
(NIV)
Church is warned about taking
advantage of others.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-6 Finally, brothers, we instructed you
how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you
in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by
the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you
should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a
way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know
God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The
Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. (NIV)
Laws governing embezzlement and
negligence.
Leviticus 6:2-7 "If anyone sins and is
unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left
in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and lies about
it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do--when he
thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or
what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, or whatever it was he swore
falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give
it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering. And as a penalty he must
bring to the priest, that is, to the LORD, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one
without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him
before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him
guilty." (NIV)
Failing to return something to its
owner is stealing.
Deuteronomy 22:1-4 If you see your brother's ox or sheep
straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to him. If the brother does not live near you
or if you do not know who he is, take it home with you and keep it until he comes looking
for it. Then give it back to him. Do the same if you find your brother's donkey or his
cloak or anything he loses. Do not ignore it. If you see your brother's donkey or his ox
fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet. (NIV)
Laws governing fraud and extortion.
Leviticus 19:13 "'Do not defraud your neighbor
or rob him. "'Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight. (NIV)
Leviticus 19:35-37 "'Do not use dishonest standards
when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest
ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. "'Keep
all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD.'" (NIV)
Deuteronomy 25:13 Do not have two differing weights in
your bag-- one heavy, one light. (NIV)
Proverbs 11:1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but
accurate weights are his delight. (NIV)
Micah 6:10-11 Am I still to forget, O wicked house,
your ill-gotten treasures and the short ephah, which is accursed? Shall I acquit a man
with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? (NIV)
Luke 3:12-14 Tax collectors also came to be
baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't
collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked
him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't
accuse people falsely-- be content with your pay." (NIV)
Worship must not become a means of
stealing from God.
Malachi 3:8-14 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob
me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a
curse-- the whole nation of you-- because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into
the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD
Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so
much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from
devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says
the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a
delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. "You have said harsh things against
me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' "You
have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements
and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? (NIV)
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now about the collection for God's
people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each
one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so
that when I come no collections will have to be made. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man
should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that
in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
(NIV)
God's house must not become a den for
thieves.
Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My
house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
John 12:4-6 But one of his disciples, Judas
Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and
the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this
because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he
used to help himself to what was put into it. (NIV)
The needs of the poor must not be
overlooked.
Acts 6:1-7 In those days when the number of
disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews
because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the
Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to
neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven
men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this
responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the
word." This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith
and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from
Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and
laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem
increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. (NIV)
Job 31:16-22 "If I have denied the desires of
the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not
sharing it with the fatherless--but from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from
my birth I guided the widow--if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or a
needy man without a garment, and his heart did not bless me for warming him with the
fleece from my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had
influence in court, then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the
joint. ( NIV)
Many steal for self-preservation.
However, God promises to take care of those who trust him.
Leviticus25:18-22 "'Follow my decrees and be careful
to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. Then the land will yield its fruit, and
you will eat your fill and live there in safety. You may ask, "What will we eat in
the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" I will send you such a
blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you
plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from
it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. (NIV)
Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with
the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your
vats will brim over with new wine. (NIV)
Matthew 22:21 "Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is
God's." (NIV)
Romans 13:7 Give everyone what you owe him: If
you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor,
then honor. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man
should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that
in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness
endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also
supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
(NIV)
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are
rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so
uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our
enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
(NIV)
We live in times when
"things" define our personal value, and, if we buy into this materialistic value
system, we will inevitably want more and more things. There will come a point that we are
tested morally as to what we will do in order to get more "things."
Matt 16:26-27 What good will it be for a man if he
gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his
soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then
he will reward each person according to what he has done. (NIV)
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out!
Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the
abundance of his possessions." (NIV)
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever
belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,
which is idolatry. (NIV)
There must be a balance. It's all right to own things, but that right does not justify grabbing for everything we can get.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 Whoever loves money never has money
enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little
or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. (NIV)
Jeremiah 7:9-11 'Will you steal and murder, commit
adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and
then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are
safe"-- safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name,
become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD. (NIV)
Three Ways To Surrender.
Cultivate a thankful spirit.
Thanksgiving is not a holiday for God's child; it's a lifestyle. People of character
remember how much God has given them and how much more that is than they deserve.
Share whenever you can. Many
early Christians were former thieves. A lot of others lost their jobs or businesses as a
result of becoming Christians and, so, faced the temptation to steal.
Ephesians 4:28 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. (NIV)
Proverbs 11:25-26 A generous man will prosper; he who
refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain, but
blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. (NIV)
Trust God. It is the only way we
can keep our proper perspective on things. Have you noticed how each principle has
a way of coming back to the first? If God is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all.
That's why and how people of character keep "things" in perspective.
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also. (NIV)
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its
own. (NIV)
Conclusion:
God's provision for us is sufficient.
We must give ourselves to overcoming the evil each day presents to us.
Matthew 6: 19-34 "Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will
be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If
then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! "No one can serve
two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. "Therefore I tell
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what
you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than
clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you
by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not
even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes
the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he
not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we
eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has
enough trouble of its own. (NIV)
Last modified:
April 18, 2006