Summary: We all need "stuff" -- but are we getting our "stuff" God’s way? *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

For a CD of over 100 of sermons by Darrell Stetler II (most complete with handouts), please e-mail darrellstetler2@sbcglobal.net.

EIGHTH COMMANDMENT

“You shall not steal.” (Ex. 20:15).

“Jesus is watching you.” A burglar broke into a house and began to steal all of the valuables. At that moment he heard a voice that said “Jesus is watching you.” He was so scared he froze for a second. He regained his composure and started stealing again, when the voice came louder, “Jesus is watching you.” He just about lost it right there. After regaining his composure he began to steal again this time watching very intent around him when he heard the voice again this time he recognized a shape in the corner as he approached he realized it was a bird cage. He removed the cover to find a parrot. He almost laughed. “What is your name?”

The parrot replied "Moses". The thief then said what kind of person would name a parrot Moses? The parrot replied the same kind of person that named a Rottweiler "Jesus".

A Sunday school teacher was teaching her class about the difference between right and wrong. "All right children, let’s take another example," she said. "If I were to get into a man’s pocket and take his billfold with all his money, what would I be?" Little Johnny raises his hand, and with a confident smile,

he blurts out, "You’d be his wife!"

Everybody needs stuff. Let’s name some basic needs:

Here’s what this commandment is all about:

Everybody needs stuff. Everybody has to get stuff. This commandment says, “Don’t get stuff any way but God’s way.”

People continually are trying to get stuff any way but God’s way. The problem is the unnecessary pain that it will bring into your life every time!

A London taxi driver used to wrap up his garbage each day and leave it in the backseat of his cab. Always by the end of the day, it was gone. Someone had taken it and gotten a big surprise. -- Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).

One woman decided to start her own business disposing of pets in New York City. (It’s difficult to find burial ground in New York, which is mostly concrete. . .) So she charged only $25 while the city charged $50 to dispose of a pet. How did she do it? She’d go and buy an old briefcase, put the dead pet inside, and go to the subway or bus. She’d sit down, turn her back on the suitcase, and read a magazine. Sure enough, in a few minutes, the briefcase would be gone – and someone was getting a nice suprise!

A thief decided to siphon gas from Dennis Quiggley’s motor home in Seattle. When Dennis, inside the motor home, heard the noises outside he investigated [and] discovered the thief curled upon the ground violently vomiting. Intending to suck up the contents of the gas tank the thief had put his hose into the wrong hole--and had sucked up the contents of the sewage tank instead. The thief, a boy 14 will not be prosecuted, Dennis and the police agree that he has suffered enough.” --Associated Press.

A. INTRODUCTION: HOW DOES GOD WANT US TO GET STUFF?

1. Work hard for it.

“Let him that stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something good”

Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV)

Many years ago, a wise old king called his wise men together and gave them a commission. "I want you to compile for me the wisdom of the ages. Put it in book form so we might leave it to posterity." The wise men left the king and worked for a long period of time. They finally returned with twelve volumes and proudly proclaimed that this truly was "the wisdom of the ages." The king looked at the twelve volumes and said, "Gentlemen, I’m certain this is the wisdom of the ages and that it contains the knowledge we should leave to mankind. However, it is too long and I fear that people will not read it. Condense it!" Again the wise men worked long and hard before they returned with only one volume. The king, However, knew that it was still too lengthy so he commanded them to further condense their work. The wise men reduced the volume to a chapter, then to a page, then to a paragraph, and finally to a sentence. When they wise old king saw the sentence he was absolutely elated. "Gentlemen," he said, "This is truly the wisdom of the ages, and as soon as all men everywhere learn this truth, then most of our problems will be solved." The sentence simply said, "There ain’t no free lunch." - Zig Ziglar

2. Make it yourself using your skill.

"He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen...” Exodus 35:35 (NKJV)

3. Invest what you have already.

“Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. His lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things...” Matthew 25:20-21 (NKJV).

The power of investment is awesome.

4. Inherit something from others.

“That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” Proverbs 8:21 (NKJV)

5. God will give it.

“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

It’s not the job of government to give you your stuff. It is the job of government to stay off your back so you’re free to work and make what you need. It is your responsibility to earn it, and learn how to manage it. We live in the greatest nation on this earth, and if someone is unable to work, then the government is able to do their part – but it is not the first responsibility of the government to support you and your family.

What are some common ways people break this commandment?

1. Thief.

This is someone who takes something by stealth. . . a burgular, a person who slips the candy bar or something larger into his pocket.

2. Robbery or mugging.

“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him . . . leaving him half dead” (Luke 10:30).

To take illegally by force.

3. Using without permission.

Using without permission, taking company assets, using and abusing another’s possession, etc.

4. Deceiving others.

“The Lord hates dishonest scales and dishonest weights”

Proverbs 20:23

Mechanics charging for work not done, scam artists, adding to expenses, false advertising, false claims, exaggerations, promises you cannot keep.

5. Refusing to keep obligations.

“The wicked borrows and does not repay...” Psalm 37:21 (NKJV)

“Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. . . Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Ephesians 6:6-7 (NLT)

To withhold something rightfully due. Refusing to pay debts. . . Also, not giving employer eight hours of work for eight hours of pay. . .

I read about one young man who went to look for a job at a place where they really weren’t looking to hire anyone. The conversation went something like this. Manager: "I’m sorry I can’t hire you, but there isn’t enough work to keep you busy." Applicant: "You’d be surprised how little it takes." - Unknown (PULPIT HELPS, Sept., 1990)

6. Failing to ______________ _______ to God.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ’In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. . . Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:8 (NKJV)

Let’s look at the most common excuses for stealing:

1. I have to live/feed my family.

2. They stole from me.

3. They’ll never miss it.

4. They’re a giant corporation – they steal from everyone.

5. Honest guys don’t get _____________.

6. I want it.

This really gets down to two questions we need to ask ourselves.

* Am I content?

I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

* Do I trust God?

Php 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Mt 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

If you are doing life God’s way, then you can depend on Him – not to make you rich, but to meet your needs. He will give you the strength to work, and make up the difference EVERY time in some way.

If you don’t have the guts to trust God and you want to take it into your own hands by stealing from your employer, or Wal-Mart, or the government, or others. . . then you are definitely going to have a lot of stress! Here’s why: YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN!

None of this, “God’s got my back. I know he’s there and looking out for me.” No, you’ve got your own back. That’s all. When you step into getting stuff your way, you step out of God’s line of blessing.

If I’ve had a problem with stealing, how can I make it right?

1. Confess the sin to God and forsake it.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

2. Confess and make restitution when possible.

Restitution = pay back

"Suppose some of the people sin against the Lord by falsely telling their neighbor that an item entrusted to their safekeeping has been lost or stolen. Or suppose... they have taken something by theft or extortion. Or suppose they find a lost item and lie about it... or they commit any other similar sin. If they have sinned in any of these ways they must give back whatever they have taken by theft or extortion...

Leviticus 6:2-4 (NLT)

NOTE: This sermon outline is a modified version of a sermon on sermoncentral.com by Elmer Towns from his series on the 10 Commandments.

_______________

HANDOUT

_______________

Getting Your Stuff God’s Way

You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

Everybody needs stuff. How does God want us to get stuff?

1. _________ ________ for it.

“Let him that stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something good”

Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV)

2. __________ it yourself using your skill.

"He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen...” Exodus 35:35 (NKJV)

3. ______________ what you have already.

“Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. His lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things...” Matthew 25:20-21 (NKJV)

4. ______________ something from others.

“That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” Proverbs 8:21 (NKJV)

5. __________ will give it.

“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

What are some common ways people break this commandment?

* ____________.

* _______________ or mugging.

* Using without __________________.

* _________________ others.

“The Lord hates dishonest scales and dishonest weights.” Prov. 20:23

* Refusing to keep ___________________.

“The wicked borrows and does not repay...” Psalm 37:21 (NKJV)

“Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. . . Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Ephesians 6:6-7 (NLT)

* Failing to ______________ _______ to God.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ’In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. . . Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:8 (NKJV)

This really gets down to two questions we need to ask ourselves.

* Am I _________________?

I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

* Do I ___________ _________?

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 (NKJV)

What if I’ve stolen in the past?

1. Confess the sin to God and ______________ it.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

2. Confess and make restitution _________ ____________.

"Suppose some of the people sin against the Lord by falsely telling their neighbor that an item entrusted to their safekeeping has been lost or stolen. Or suppose... they have taken something by theft or extortion. Or suppose they find a lost item and lie about it... or they commit any other similar sin. If they have sinned in any of these ways they must give back whatever they have taken by theft or extortion... Leviticus 6:2-4 (NLT)