Commandment 8 Series

Thou shalt not steal Exodus 20:1-15

Tom invited his mom over for dinner. She was from out of town and she really wrestled with the fact that he was living with a girl but as he said, Julie was just a roommate, who had been a friend of a friend and it was cheaper than living alone. During the meal she noticed how beautiful Julie was and over the course of the evening as she watched them interact she wondered if there was more to this relationship than met the eye. Reading his mother’s thoughts Tom said, “I know what you are thinking mom; but I assure you, Julie and I are just roommates and that’s it.”

About a week after she left Julie came to Tom and said, “I hate to bring this up but ever since your mom was here for dinner; I can’t seem to find our silver gravy ladle. You don’t suppose your mom took it do you?” Well, Tom said, “I doubt it, because I don’t think she’s a thief but just to keep you happy, I’ll write a letter and ask.” So, he wrote and said, “Dear mom I’m not saying you took the gravy ladle and I’m not saying you didn’t, but the fact is; it’s been missing ever since you were here for dinner.” A few days later, Tom received a letter from his mother that said, “Dear Tom, I’m not saying you’re sleeping with Julie and I’m not saying you’re not; but the fact remains that if Julie was sleeping in her own bed she would have found the gravy ladle by now.” Love mom.

“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal.”

I was in to see my doctor for my annual check-up a few weeks ago and he said I have the body of a 35 year old. As a matter of fact, he even told me where the guy was buried. And then he gave me three bottles of pills and he said, "Take the green pill with a big glass of water when you get up. Take the blue pill with a big glass of water after lunch. Then just before you go to bed, take the red pill with another big glass of water." I was rather concerned about taking another bunch of pills so I said, “What exactly is my problem?" And he said, "You’re not drinking enough water."

Well, we’ve been looking at the Ten Commandments, and we’ve seen that each of these commandments reveal; not only who God is but also how He wants us to relate, not only to Him but to one another as well. For instance, He told us to honor our mothers and fathers and the idea behind this was to show respect for their authority. You see, part of the purpose of parents is to teach us how to function in the world. And as I said before, God knows exactly who you and I are; He knows about all of our strengths and weaknesses and He also knows the direction we need in our lives to be the people He created us to be. So, He gives us parents to rub off the rough edges and if that doesn’t work He brings out the big guns and gives us kids as well.