Once again, as we look to the portion of Scripture that we refer to as the 10 Command-ments, we find a very simple and straightforward statement from God. Thou shalt not steal! The Lord does not want to make it difficult for us to understand how He wants His people to live. He gives ten principles for living here in this passage, and it is His desire that we be obedient to them.
This commandment is the eighth. It falls in the section of commands where God is instructing us in how to deal with others. 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.
I. The Sin of Dishonesty.
A. Simple Stealing.
1. This isn’t hard to understand.
2. Someone who takes something that doesn’t belong to them is a thief.
3. Walk into a bank and demand money, and you are a bank robber.
4. Slip something into your pocket in a store without paying for it, you are a shoplifter.
5. Honest people must pay for these thefts by paying the increased prices on items.
6. Stealing from employers:
a. Many rationalize their behavior.
b. It doesn’t really matter...they don’t care.
c. If they paid me what they should, I wouldn’t do it.
d. What about stealing time?
7. God said, "Thou shalt not steal!"
B. Sophisticated Stealing.
1. The world has made a distinction between ‘blue collar’ crime and ‘white collar’ crime.
2. The person who embezzles is not referred to as a bank robber...but he is just as guilty.
3. The government official is charged (sometimes) with misappropriation of funds.
4. The company that intentionally promises what they cannot deliver.
5. Example: On-line fraud is rampant. I received an e-mail message clueing me in on a deal that was too good to be true....it was!
6. Companies who steal from their employees.
a. Broken promises.
b. Reclassification.
c. Downsizing.
d. Call it what you will it is still stealing.
(JAMES 5:4) "BEHOLD, THE HIRE OF THE LABOURERS WHO HAVE REAPED DOWN YOUR FIELDS, WHICH IS OF YOU KEPT BACK BY FRAUD, CRIETH: AND THE CRIES OF THEM WHICH HAVE REAPED ARE ENTERED INTO THE EARS OF THE LORD OF SABAOTH."
C. Spiritual Stealing.
1. Through gossip and slander we steal a persons good name.
2. Through our failure to witness for Him we steal opportunities for others to be saved.
3. Through selfishness we steal from God.
a. Money:
(MAL 3:8-10) "WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YE HAVE ROBBED ME. BUT YE SAY, WHEREIN HAVE WE ROBBED THEE? IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. {9} YE ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE: FOR YE HAVE ROBBED ME, EVEN THIS WHOLE NATION."
b. Time:
(EPH 5:16) "REDEEMING THE TIME, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL."
c. Talents:
(ROM 12:1-2) "I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE. {2} AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD."
II. The Prescription for the sin of dishonesty.
A. Self - examination and repentance.
1. A man passed a note to the bank teller demanding money, the teller replied, "Straighten your tie stupid, you’re on camera."
2. God knows what we have done, we need to examine our hearts and agree with Him. (that is what confession is)
3. Then we must repent, change our thinking and action to what God wants in our lives.
B. Restitution
1. Note the example of Zacchaeus.
2. Luke 19:1-10
3. We need to make restitution to those we have wronged through stealing.
C. Integrity.
(EPH 4:28) "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."
1. Stop stealing....
2. Start working...
3. Start giving....
The greatest need of man is not to be honest, it is to be saved! Jesus came to Zacchaeus to meet his needs spiritually first. Then the rest came. You cannot be honest, upright, and righteous without the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Do you know Him today? Jesus died for you and for me. Have you accepted shed blood as payment for your sin? Trust Him today!
Some of us may think that this message has nothing to do with us, but I doubt that. We are all thieves at heart. Selfish and ruthless when it comes to what we want. God’s desire is that we think of others and their needs. Christians, have we been guilty of stealing from others...stealing from God...come today and make it right with the Lord.