The 8th Commandment: No Stealing

Ex 20:15 How do we define stealing?

To take something (not sufficient)
To take or keep something (not sufficient)
To take or keep something that you do not have the right to take or keep (better)

The added ingredient that makes our definition sound better is adding “rights” … any law against stealing assumes as an existing condition that individuals have a right to own property… stuff we can legitimately say “this is  mine”. Without the concept of ownership the command against stealing is meaningless.

There must be something intrinsically good about property rights and ownership that God would give a command that has the effect of endorsing and protecting ownership and property rights.

Why does God want us to have property? Aren’t possessions a weight on our soul that threatens to keep us out of the Kingdom of God… What is the answer?

FIRST let’s take a look at some judgment, statutes and case studies:

Exodus 22:1-4 these are examples of obvious intentional theft. The key legal principle is Restitution or paying back the victim. If the person is caught but the property is unrecoverable they pay back 5 times or 4 times the value based on the type of animal. If the property is recoverable the penalty is only 2 times the value. Note: God’s law seeks to address and remedy the level of harm done rather than the type of crime committed. Also, this allows the judge to apply leniency based on circumstances.

Exodus 22:5-15 laws of restitution apply also in cases that are not obvious intentional theft. These are cases where the owner loses possession of their property because the other person has not taken the proper care, been negligent, sloppy or stupid. These too are a form of stealing from another.

We have talked about cattle, sheep, grain… but also silver (money), goods (furniture, merchandise etc.)… donkeys, clothing... stuff.

What it we include ideas? Plagiarism, copying someone’s test answers, copyright violations, music, software … the age of the internet has become a wild west environment where disregard for intellectual property has infected an entire generation benighted with a spirit of lawlessness.

What about “borrowing’ stuff and never returning it… lazy, sloppy, or just plain greedy. What about people who refuse to help out but are more than happy to share in the reward?

What about time? Time is money… what about employees who intentionally steal time away from their employers (arriving late/leaving early)… or perhaps steal through negligence & sloppiness? What about employers who threaten and bully employees into working extra without compensation (the salary trap).

Luke 3:10-14

Tax collectors = compare to padding your expense accounts or per diem

Soldiers (using power of govt to extort money) = compare to Tyson Chicken in Indiana

Verse 11 – brings out an interesting concept... using your excess to help out others. BACK TO OUR QUESTION:

Why Does God Want Us to Have Property?

Some people say the biblical approach to property is capitalist with a focus on freedom, reaping what you sow, a promise of reward for hard work… Others say the biblical approach to the issue is socialist with a focus on the welfare of all citizens, equality, redistribution according to need, relief from oppression etc.

The truth is you find ALL these principles equally emphasized in scripture. What draws them all together is the expectation of GODLY RIGHTEOUS STEWARDSHIP.

Stewardship: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care <stewardship of natural resources>

Gen 1:27-28 - a human being is a physical being with a spiritual destiny… currently given authority and dominion over the material stuff of what we call planet earth. And in God’s plan, each of us gets our little slice of the pie (some very small… some very large) which we can use or rule. What God’s interested in… is what we do with it.

3 John 1:2 God wants us to be successful, productive and enjoy increase from our labors. BUT, not to live with possessions as our main pursuit in life Matt 6:25-33  our main pursuit is the righteousness that is characteristic of the KOG… a large part of how we pursue that righteousness is through Godly stewardship of the resources He has given us… whether great or small… whether intellect, money, property, time, etc.

Luke 6:30-35 the prime directive of godly stewardship is GENEROSITY… verse 38 God will work together with you as you generously serve others… not as a type of payment or quid pro quo … but, He will bless you more so you can do that much more! 2 Cor 9:6-15

What About People Who Are Lazy?

What will keep the church from becoming a haven for freeloaders? I mean if I wanted something for nothing I think hanging around with Godly people would be a bonanza… a sweet ride. 2 Thess 3:7-15

1 Timothy 5:3-16 (read verse 3, 9-10) those (widows) who were destitute and seeking support from the church were expected to work and serve within the church… but better yet people should take care of themselves and take care of their own within the God-ordained family structure.

Giving Directly To God

Starting with Abraham God’s faithful servants acknowledge that He ultimately owns everything and offer Him the first tenth of everything we earn. It’s called tithing. And when His servants do not honor Him with their tithes He considers it stealing. Mal 3:7-10 (that money is used to fund the teaching an preaching of the truth)

Ephesians 4:28 God is looking for a change of heart, that you repent, turn around and head in the opposite direction. In the broadest of applications, this means you stop being a taker and become a contributor.

What Does The Bible Say About Being Wealthy?

God’s word is not against making money. It never says that possession of riches is sinful. However, Jesus warns us all (in the strongest language) that riches can easily be a dangerous trap… tripping us up and keeping us out of the kingdom of God… the family of God.

Luke 12:13-21 become rich with God through righteous and generous stewardship of the resources He has given.

Luke 18:24-25 This man received a personal invitation from God in the flesh to become one of His followers… but He turned it down for money. Note: each case is different--compare to Zacheus who was not instructed to give away all his money Luke 19:1-9 Zaccheus volunteered to give away half and make restitution to those he had cheated.

Luke 16:13-14 – Pharisees reasoned that wealth was a sign of God’s approval and a blessing given to them because they were righteous… like Abraham, Job or David… all fabulously wealthy. God does not bestow blessings and wealth but as a tool to serve Him, serve others, and grow in holy righteous character.

Sometimes the OT is considered to be pro-wealth (Abraham, Job, David, Solomon) while the NT is a course correction from God that is anti-wealth. Not so fast… scripture is consistent in focusing on Godly stewardship… what people actually do with the blessings God gives them.

The OT is full of admonishments about caring for the poor and needy:

Ex 22:21 – don’t abuse cheap immigrant labor

Ex 22:22-24 – don’t abuse the weak and powerless

Ex 22:25-27 – break the cycle of poverty with interest-free loans, be considerate

Ex 22:29 – give generously to God

Ex 23:10-11 – Gleanings for the poor

Ex 23:12 – Give workers appropriate time off

Let’s take a look at how these concepts apply in the “love your neighbor” chapter:

Lev 19:9-10 – provide for the poor (but done in a manner that requires they do some work)

Lev 19:11 – Don’t steal

Lev 19:13 – Don’t cheat or neglect to promptly pay the wages you owe

Lev 19:18 – this is a short list of how you demonstrate love toward your neighbor

Lev 19:33 – treatment of immigrant labor

Lev 19:35 – principle covers a long list of possible business practices that amount to stealing!

Is The Bible Anti Rich People?

The word of God is neither pro-wealth nor anti-wealth. His concern is the effect wealth has on your salvation. Generally, the Bible cuts a middle-of-the-road path: better to have less and be content than to have a lot and be always craving more. The NT scriptures acknowledge that there will be some who are wealthy in the church… what is God’s instruction to such people: GODLY STEWARDSHIP.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Money, land and other possessions matter nothing… you can’t take any of it with you beyond the grave. What you can take with you is the Godly righteous character you build through responsible and spirit guided use of the resources you have.

God clearly intends that people have stuff of their own… and He provides an over-arching commandment that confirms the right to own property. He also provides us with laws, statutes, and judgments to help us judge ourselves and live in a manner that respects the right of others to have their own stuff. And as we have seen there are many, many, many ways we can violate that basic right.

The antithesis of trying to grab other people’s money, their property, their time… is to practice generosity with the resources we have… our stuff. It’s a change of heart… that we stop taking, keeping and holding on tight and become a giver and a contributor… and we ALL have resources we can draw out of and give… intellectual wealth… monetary wealth… a wealth of time…

… and this is the love of God that we keep His commandments not merely to the letter but to the spirit.