November 12, 2017 | Tom Dunham
Passage: Exodus 20:15
Property Rights
“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15
My first crime … … …
A few (slanted) perspectives on the Ten Commandments from society …
You shall not steal. What is implicit & explicit in those four words?
- A world view is implied …
Þ Private property & capitalism … not socialism …
Þ See also Acts 5:4
- God’s system of help/welfare is ‘1 to 1’ & efficient – no government agency …
Þ See Leviticus 25:35-37 …
Þ Also Deuteronomy 15:7,8 – direct generosity …
Þ Also Deuteronomy 23:24,25 …
Þ And Leviticus 19:9,10 & Deuteronomy 24:19-21 …
- God’s justice is revealed when stealing occurs:
Þ The punishment fits the crime & has a deterrent effect …
Þ ‘Multiples’ to be paid back in restitution: Ex. 22:1,4 …
Þ Note: no prison sentences – just restitution …
- ‘Situational Ethics’: Is it ever OK to steal?
Þ Answer: ____________
Þ See also Proverbs 6:30,31 …
- Besides not stealing, we don’t accept credit for what another has done … and we don’t plagiarize …
- Also be sure you’re not ‘kin’ to a vandal: He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. Pr. 18:9
- And, we steer clear of the ‘ultimate robbery’ … Malachi 3:8-10 …
Stealing brings about a guilty conscience. We look over our shoulder & begin to behave irrationally (The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1).
Jesus’ blood washes our sins away & gives us a clean conscience (Hebrews 10:19-22) – which is essential (having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck. I Timothy 1:19)!
Lastly, the antidote/replacement: Ephesians 4:28 – Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
Real freedom is achieved when we funnel our energies into:
honest work … and generous giving!