PROSPERING WITH INTEGRITY
Ten Commandments That Build Strong Families - Part 8
Exodus 20:15
We're looking at the 7th Commandment today -- "You shall not steal".
I. HOW DO WE STEAL?
It's amazing the number of ways that we can think up to steal or rip off somebody else. I've listed six but there are many I could have put down.
1. Deceiving customers.
Three thousand years ago this was a problem. Amos 8:5, "They overcharge, use false measures, and fix the scales to cheat the customers." That sounds pretty current. When a repairman makes unnecessary repairs, a doctor makes unnecessary tests, a salesman skips over the fine print, when you sell a car and don't tell the problems with it that's called stealing.
2. By defrauding employers.
I'm not just talking about employee theft here where you pad your expense account or take home supplies or equipment or merchandise. But I'm talking about when you waste time on the job. The Bible calls that stealing. If somebody's paying you for your time and you come in late, leave early, take three coffee breaks and a long lunch there isn't a whole lot of time left. God says that's stealing. Don't do it.
3. By delaying payments
"Don't take advantage of anyone. Don't hold back the wages of someone you've hired, not even for one night." If you've got some employees or suppliers or friend and you owe them some money don't say, the check's in the mail, do it now.
4. By defaulting on loans.
"The wicked man borrows and never pays back." A lot of people have no intention of paying back. The worst loans are made to friends and relatives. Anything borrowed. Tools, skis, punch bowls, records, video -- any stuff. God says that's not long term borrowing, that's stealing. It's wrong.
5. By defrauding or deceiving the government.
"The authorities are working for God. Pay what you owe them, pay your personal and property taxes." Tax evasion is illegal. God says it's stealing, don't do it.
6. Don't defraud the Lord.
Mal 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you ask, "How do we rob you, God?' By withholding tithes and offerings!"
The Bible teaches tithing is a tenth or ten percent. The first 10% of all I make goes back to Him in gratitude because I owe Him everything. I wouldn't have anything if it weren't for God. He could have said 20%, 50% but He just said 10%. God says if I am paying my bills before I pay the Lord back out of gratitude for what He's done, that's robbing God.
"I'm breaking the eighth commandment because I'm not tithing."
II. WHY SHOULD I BE HONEST?
1. I am being watched.
2. I will reap whatever I sow.
3. Dishonesty damages my character.
4. God will reward my honesty.
1. I am being watched by God.
People steel because they think they can get away with it and think nobody is going to know about it. If you knew when you stole something (like towels in the motel) that everybody was going to know about it, would you steel? Not likely. So Satan comes along and he says, "Nobody's going to know. Besides you owe it to yourself. That employer is ripping you off. You should be paid more. It's OK to take those supplies home. It's OK to take that equipment. Nobody's ever going to know. Nobody will ever find out." Wrong! The most important person knows. That's God. He's the one you're going to have to give an account to, not anybody else.
Job 34:21-22 "God carefully watches the goings on of all mankind, he sees them all. No darkness is thick enough to hide evil men from his eyes." Nothing escapes God's view. I may fool other people. I may fool the government. I may fool the insurance company when I turn in a dishonest claim. But I'm not fooling God, He's the guy I've got to report to. One day I will stand before Him and give an account. I will explain to God why I stole something that wasn't mine and why I did steel when He said clearly don't do it. That's when it's going to count. I'm being watched by God.
2. I will reap whatever I sow.
Gal. 6:7 "Don't be misled, remember ... a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!"
Whatever you give out in life is what you're going to get back. If I cheat other people, I'm going to get cheated. God says it will happen, count on it. If I take advantage of other people, I will be taken advantage of. I will reap what I sow.
On the other hand this will work for you if you use it the right way. If you are honest and you maintain integrity in all your decisions, God says I will make sure you're blessed. Whatever you sow you're going to reap.
Prov. 15:27 "Try to make a profit dishonestly and you'll get your family in trouble." The newspapers are full of that. Men and women who got their families in trouble because they were making a dishonest profit. Don't do it. You will reap what you sow.
Prov. 21:6 "Dishonest gain will never last, so why take the risk." God says it's not worth it. You're eventually going to be found out -- here on earth or in heaven, why take the risk.
Why do we steel? What motivates dishonesty?
1. Greed. The Bible says "The love of money is the root of evil." It is the idea, the myth, that we can get something for nothing -- that's what stealing is. You don't get something for nothing. There is no free lunch.
2. Laziness. If we're always looking for short cuts, looking for the quick fix, the fast deal, the short cut. Many people look for the easy way out. But an honest man or woman will do it the right way, even if it means it will take time and sacrifices.
3. Pride. Have you ever heard anybody say, "I made a steal today!" He's proud of it. When you con somebody else out of some money, you’re wrong if you think it proves you’re better than they are. It really proves inferior character. It proves that you'll step lower to rip somebody off.
3. Dishonesty damages my character.
IJesus said "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but lose his soul." I can give you a dozen ways to make a lot of money real quick. They're all dishonest. It never profits a man to gain the world and lose his soul.
Prov. 10:2 "Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life."
The Bible says that satan is a thief. "The thief comes to kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have life."
On the other hand, God is always truthful, always honest, never dishonest. Every time I make a decision to steal, it doesn't matter how small or insignificant, I am choosing to side with the devil rather than with God.
The devil wants you to steel because every time you do it you become more like him. He is the thief, the father of thieves. Every time I'm making the decision: am I going to go the devil's way or God's way? Am I going to become more like satan or more like God? Satan is a thief and God is the truth and there is no deception in Him.
For your own sake maintain integrity. Don't let anybody buy your soul for a few bucks.
4. God will reward my honesty.
Proverbs 28:20 "Honest people will lead a full, happy life but if you're in a hurry to get rich you're going to be punished."
Honesty leads to a full, happy life. Why? Because you don't have any skeletons in the closet. But if you're trying to get rich quickly, you're going to fall into problems and you'll eventually be punished for it.
God is testing you right now. He's testing you three ways: through trials and problems; through temptation; through money. The Bible says God uses these three things to test your life, to see what's important to you, what's valuable to you. If I respond to those tests well, then in eternity I will get greater rewards and I will have greater responsibility. If I flunk those tests here on earth and I respond poorly to trials, temptations, and money then I will have fewer rewards and responsibilities.
Jesus said in Luke 16 "If you're dishonest in a little, you're going to be dishonest in a lot." If you are unfaithful and cheat with worldly wealth, God will not trust you with true riches in eternity. It's a test.
If I respond correctly and I'm honest with my money and with reputations of other people -- I don't steel ideas, money, property, time, etc -- God says there will be great rewards for you in heaven.
"Well done, you've shown you can be faithful in small things. I will trust you with greater ones, come and join in your Master's happiness." There will be rewards in heaven.
There are three steps to follow a lifestyle of integrity:
1. Make restitution when possible.
A good example of this is Zacchaeus in the Bible. Jesus came to town one day and Zacchaeus couldn't see above the crowd so the Bible says he climbed up in a tree and as Jesus was walking by He looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, I'm coming to your house today." That was quite a scandal. Zacchaeus was a dishonest tax collector. In the Roman system, tax collectors were not paid, but they just got to skim off the top whatever they could collect. They were the wealthiest people in town and the most hated. They were the most dishonest. Jesus says that's the guy's home I'm going to go to.
Jesus goes and has dinner with Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus realizes "I've been doing the wrong thing. I'm going to get my life right. I'm going to do what God wants." He says "I want to follow you Lord. If I cheated anyone I will pay him back four times as much." There's a guy who is putting his money where his mouth is. That's called real Christianity, restitution.
In Luke 19:9 Jesus says, "Salvation has come to this man's home." This guy is a real believer. It's not a matter of just belief it's a matter of behavior.
2. Give God my full tithe.
"Is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not. Bring the full amount of your tithes to the Temple and I will pour out on you in abundance." God has more promises about giving than any other thing in the Bible. He says, bring the full amount the 10% to the temple. Where is the temple? Wherever you worship.
The fact is God says if I'm not tithing then I'm paying my bills with stolen money that belongs to God. If I'm not tithing, the money in my wallet is what I'm ripping off from God. One day I will give an account to Him for it.
If you're going to start tithing, don't delay it any more. Do it now.
3. Make a living honestly
Eph :28 "The man who used to be a thief must give up stealing, and do an honest day's work with his own hands."
Work as if you're working for the Lord, not whomever your employer happens to be. Make money honestly so you can live with a clear conscience at night.
In ALL Thy Ways Acknowledge God!
