Eighth Commandment (10 Of 12)

1. Through gossip: We can say many things about people that can rob them of their good reputation.

2. Through being a bad employee. Not doing the job that we are being paid to do, or even perhaps dipping our hands in the till.

3. Through being a bad employer. An employer can easily steal from his employees by not giving them money that is rightfully theirs.

4. Through bad workmanship. We can sell things that are shoddy to people who pay with money that they had to work hard for.

5. Through bad-business practices. Every day businesses steal from the public by charging perhaps by the pound and not have the full pound in the packages. Some call this, "good business," but God calls it robbery. Deut, 25:13-15 says, "Thou shalt not have in thy bad divers weights, a great and a small, Thou shalt not have in house divers measures, a great and a small, But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shall thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

6. Through bad representation. Many, each week, never rob a bank of thousands of dollars, but they think nothing about lying about their age to get a senior citizen discount, or lying about the age of their children to get reduced rates.

7. Through not paying bills. When we buy something, and agree to pay for it and then do not do so, we are not only stealing, we are lying also.

8. Through lack of integrity. Many men will seduce a lady with his smooth talk and actions, leading her into sin, thereby robbing her of her virtue.

9. Through actions. Bad, hurtful, actions rob others of happiness in life.

10. Through beliefs. We can live a careless life before others and rob them of their opportunity of coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

11. Through disobedience. God tells us the tithes are His, and if we take that money to buy things for ourselves we are letting God know we consider those things more important than obeying His Word.

Illus: Charles Finney was holding a meeting in a town and a man wanted to be saved. Mr. Finney was praying with him at the altar. Mr. Finney prayed, "Lord, here is a fellow who wants to give his whole life to you.' The man said, 'Amen.'

Mr. Finney prayed, “Lord, here is a man who wants to share his home with you.” The man said, “Aman.” He prayed, “Lord, here is a man who wants to share his business with you.” This time the man was silent. Mr. Finney stopped his prayer and said, “Why didn't you say, “Amen?" He said, “Because, I am not willing to do that!”

Many, each week prove they are not willing to do that. Each week they prove they love things more than they love the Lord.

Illus: A magazine reports that during the first ten month’s operation of a New York hotel, these items were stolen:

• 38,000 spoons.

• 18,000 towels.

• 355 silver coffee pots.

• 1,500 silver finger bowls.

• 100 Bibles.

Across the nation thefts from motel and hotels each year are estimated at 500 million dollars a year.

We are also told thieves take from 200 to 500 books a year from the average library - a national loss of 25 million dollars a year.

The U. S. Commerce Department has given some figures that are shocking. About four million people are caught shoplifting each year, but for every person caught, 35 go undetected. If the estimates are accurate, it means that 140 million shoplifting incidents occur each year.

We wonder why our prices are soaring. Someone has to pay for the items, so the loss is passed down to the consumer every time someone steals..

Illus: You hear statements justifying stealing like: If the child steals, he'll grow out of it. If the young man steals, it is because he has gotten into bad company. If the poor man steals, it is because he is poor. If the grown up steals, he is a kleptomaniac.

In God's sight anyone who takes something that is not his is a thief.

Illus: This article was found in the "Democrat Herald newspaper out of Oregon: "To whoever stole the fire extinguisher out of my 1971 Ford station wagon: where you are headed, you'll probably need it.'

There are many ways we can violate this commandment, "Thou shalt not steal."

But whenever a man chooses to break it is because he has the attitude that all lost sinners have, the ATTITUDE OF GETTING.

He is convinced that things are what are important, and if he can get this or that he will find the happiness he is seeking for. He is a man that will not allow anyone or anything to stand between him and a particular thing, even if he has to break God's commandment, "Thou shalt not stee.”