The Truth About Truth #9
Stealing; A Bad Problem
Exodus 20:15
* Since September we have been slowly but surely making our way through a study covering the 10 Commandments. We have called the series- The Truth About Truth. We find ourselves on the 8th commandment and thus, almost through. Tonight is a commandment which, if we get honest before God is indeed a problem for many. Let’s read our TEXT.
* It was in a SS where the teacher asks the students to express the difference between right & wrong. To illustrate she asked, “If I were to go into a man’s pocket, take wallet & money, what would I be?” Little Johnny’s said, “I know, I know. His wife.”
* Candidly, today we seem to think about stealing in 2 dimensions; a) The bad people (I.E. the robbers, thieves, burglars, etc) and, b) no big deal.
* Not long ago, I returned money to a cashier who had given me the “wrong change”. She was noticeably shocked. What do we think of when we remove an item from office? Or maybe, what do we do “on the clock?” Maybe we are NOT so innocent after all. I submit that “stealing is a sin” which we almost come to wink at and say, “it’s okay.” This nonchalant attitude erodes our integrity.
1) ORIGIN - I offer 3 thoughts about how this all began.
* However, consider one truth. There is only one not hurt by stealing and it is Satan. Next, consider the first crime scene. And never forget, Sin is progressive. It’ll take you farther, keep you longer, & cost more than you think
a) Serpent Stole Eve’s Mind – The mind is still “the” battleground. Satan asked Eve, “Did God really say?” and at the moment she doubted God, Satan had her, just like he does us. We give him a place in our minds and He takes over. That’s why Rom 12 says we are transformed by the “renewing.”
* Satan wants and wills for us to have a Sinful mind. Because Rom 8:7 tells us that a “sinful mind is hostile toward God.”
* There is one more thing of interest here, and that is this; Satan used a friend to steal her mind. In the garden all of God’s creation walked in harmony, they enjoyed each other’s company. She wasn’t afraid of the serpent. In fact, the serpent sounds much different than the snake. Of all the ways and means Satan uses, he loves to use friends to gain access.
b) Eve Stole God’s Fruit
* There was only one thing God withheld from the 1st couple, it was His fruit. Some suggest it was poison. If it was poison fruit, the real poison was that it represented disobedience.
* Although Eve would have never thought of this without the prompting of Satan, she listened, she considered, and then decided to put herself & her own wants above God’s words.
* In the Church today, we can enjoy God’s working and His people enjoying His blessings, then Satan slips in over the lips of a “friend” comes the venom and bit of the serpent. You see, the fellowship of God’s people is God’s fruit. He says, “Don’t touch.”
c) Fruit Stole Eve’s immortality
* When Adam and Eve were caught they actually played the first round of “pass the buck.” Adam Blamed God, Eve blamed the Serpent, but God held everyone accountable.
* Again, it appears that nothing was innately wrong with fruit. There is no indication it was unhealthy, the issue was DISOBEDIENCE.
* TRANS: One act of disobedience changed the eternal destiny & destination for all of mankind. Make no mistake; stealing originates with Satan.
2) OPERATION – Come on, what’s the problem with stealing? The real problem not the religious stuff.
a) Violation of Law – The 8th command is clear. Every system of law in history recognizes to gain other people property by force is illegal. The two hanging by Jesus were thieves. Jesus described thieves as those who “steal, Kill, and destroy.” The word steal comes the the greek word “Kleptos” meaning to take something that is NOT ours. Every culture and society has a law against this.
b) Violation of Loyalty – Because of the culture the Bible speaks of these things in terms of “Master and Slave”. Today’s language would be “Employer and Employee.” To steal from your employer is to not give what is expected of you in effort, time, and the like. To steal from your employee is to not pay a fair wage. Years ago, I heard Grant Taft, football coach at Baylor; give a talk in which he said, “Very little will substitute for loyalty”. The old hymn says, “Loyalty to Christ”. The way to be disloyal is to be a thief.
c) Violation of Love – to steal is to violate “God’s Love.” Contrary to some old teachings, God wants us to “have”, but He has given us approved ways to gain or get. These are a) inherit, b) Investment , 3) Gifts, someone is led of God to give you something. 4) Work – believe this or not, the really old fashioned way is to earn it. The Bible rebukes those who are able to work and refuse to get a job and do so. I’ll remind us of the command which says 6 days you “labor”. It builds self-respect, self-image, and honors God.
* Never forget that “God is a working God” & He want s His children to work just “like their Father.
* How about the non-approved ways of getting?
* Stealing heads the list & creates nothing good.
* If we steal from man, we dishonor “God’s image”.
* If we steal from God, then we fall under the same judgment we see in “Malachi”. In fact, Haggai also tells us that Israel infested with “me-ism”. They put their own “self-interests” first instead of bringing their first fruits to God. Haggai says, “You live in Paneled houses while God house is in ruins.” What follows is an ominous warning to “consider carefully your ways.” It’s my belief this is a word for us today because a person who will steal from God has no problem stealing from Man. Relationship to God is Covenant NOT Contract.
3) OUTCOME
a) Deceit – if you are a thief, there is no way to be honest. You’ll be a “double-minded” person & you will reap what you sow! The story is told of a hard-working Carpenter who was asked to oversee construction of house. He thought if I can cut costs with less than quality materials, maybe the boss will use me again. He walked away some materials and substituted materials of a lesser grade. When the house was finished, the contractor presented the carpenter with the keys for all of HIS faithful service. You see, when I believe I can steal something, I fool me.
b) Damage – Let me offer you 3 thoughts.
* It breaks relationships. You steal something; it’ll never feel right again.
* It bruises your reputation. You’ll become known as a thief and life will never be the same. And just like every other sin,
* It blurs your reality. When you steal, it affects your thinking. The common thinking goes like this “what yours is mine, and I’ll take it.”
c) Destruction – Stealing destroys a part of you.
* Self - you lose self respect. Because you know what & who you are.
* Spirit – A thief becomes angry, frustrated, and even frightened. He is angry because he is a thief. He is frustrated because he really wants to quit. He is frightened of being found out. In the midst of these feelings, his spirit is destroyed.
* Soul – why do I say this? Paul writes for us in;
* 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals,10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.
* Seems to me that the spirit of thievery is removed when the soul is transformed.
Years ago, I preached a similar message on this command and developed several more thought about this command. Tonight, let’s end with one very personal question; what is the worst thing you can steal? (Solicit answers) I’ll submit that the worst thing you can steal is twofold;
“Your life from God” and
“Your personal relationship with God”
If I seal these from God, then stealing from man is a breeze. So let’s give God our lives, our hearts, our allegiance, and our all.
