Theft Is Forbidden⤒🔗

In Exodus 22:1 we read: “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” Thieves must make restitution. A helpful principle, don’t you think? Our government would do well to consider what they could do to increase the implementation of this approach in our contemporary judicial system. Consider also verses 7 and 8 from this same chapter — “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property.” More helpful wisdom, relevant for banking systems in any age.

Are Not Earthly Possessions Irrele­vant?←⤒🔗

You might wonder, though, why God would be concerned about such an earthly, worldly matter as stolen prop­erty. After all, of what concern are our material possessions? As we read in Matthew 6:19-21 — “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Physical treasures on earth are fleet­ing. Spiritual treasures in heaven are the more important riches to be sought after. So, why should we be all that disturbed if our material pos­sessions are stolen? And hey, if we happen to steal something from someone else, well, we would be helping them to be freed from material distractions, so that they could focus on more heavenly matters, right? There is almost something appealing about this line of reasoning. But of course, such thinking is unbiblical, because the Bible is obviously con­cerned about how we treat our neighbour’s property.

Greed Is Not Good←⤒🔗

Mind you, the Bible is not trying to encourage us to be greedy. The Bi­ble makes it clear that we should re­spect private property, but our think­ing on this should not by guided by an unhealthy possessiveness with regard to what we personally happen to own. So, if saying that others should not steal our property, if this is not sup­posed to be motivated by a selfish desire to hold on to what belongs to us, why is it then that we don’t want others to steal from us? Why is theft wrong? Is there something sacred about a person owning something? Perhaps it helpful to look at it this way: when we steal, we are insulting God.

Everything Belongs to God←⤒🔗

To understand how theft is an insult to God, we have to first remember that God is the creator of everything that exists. Because of this, all of creation ultimately belongs to him. Everything we own is first of all owned by God, which means that anything that we might have here in this life is basically a gift given to us by Him. Think about it: the land on which your house is built, along with the house and every­thing in it, it all belongs to God. The fabric from which your clothes are made, it belongs to God. The food you have in your fridge, it belongs to God. As we read in Psalm 24:1, 2:

The earth is the Lord’s and the full­ness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

As for us, when it comes to physical possessions, we are merely stewards. A steward is one who watches over something that belongs to someone else. God has entrusted us with the awesome responsibility of watching over His creation. Everything we have, you could say then, is a gift from Him, but is to be used in His service, not our own.

And so, we are accountable to Him for how we use it. The car for which you’ve worked long and hard, you are accountable to the God who owns it for how you use it. The ani­mals God has entrusted to your care, you are accountable for how they are treated to the God who ultimately owns them.

How Theft Insults God←⤒🔗

All right then, everything belongs to God. We are accountable to him for how His gifts are used. How does all this make theft an insult to God?

Well, what are we saying when we steal? Are we not then saying that we are not satisfied with what God has allowed us to acquire via legiti­mate means? Really, when we steal, we are saying, “Lord, I don’t think you’ve given me enough.” “Lord, you have not given me enough money to get that tool I need so badly, so I’ll just take it home with me from work. So what if my employer paid for it?”

“I don’t want to spend the money you’ve allowed me to earn on that apple, so I’ll just take it from the gro­cery store. So what if you’ve deter­mined that the grocer should make a living by selling food?”

“Lord, I’m going to take matters into my own hands and take what I think I deserve by whatever means possi­ble, lawful or unlawful.”

My friends, this is an insult to God, to think that we know better than He does regarding what we should or should not have and what other people should or should not have. After all, He places each of us in our various situations in life. He provides us with gifts and opportuni­ties. He provides our neighbour with his gifts and opportunities. When we think we deserve more, and that someone else deserves less, and then go on to steal from that person, we are in effect making ourselves into God, making judg­ments that belong to Him. That is not the way God would have us to think and act.

Be Content←⤒🔗

You know what lies at the heart of stealing? Discontent. Discontent with what we have been given by God. Discontent in seeing others have more than we have. Discontent in seeing that others have stuff that we want. Discontent in seeing that God has given property and possessions to them, which He has not given to us.

Consider what the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-12 — “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” See how Paul says here that he can be content in whatever situation he is in, whether he has a lot or whether he has a little.

By the way, there is an important point here that might be easy to miss: not only do we have to be content when we have a little, but we have to be content when we have a lot. It’s easy to think that those who are poor are going to experience more discon­tent. But the wealthy could have just as much difficulty being content. They may have much, but that does­n’t prevent them from wanting more. Consider the ridiculous salaries some professional athletes make. Such salaries can easily become problems when one player gets a pay rise, which in turn makes other players think they deserve more. Instead of being satisfied with their already high earnings, they become discontent. We all need to learn what it means to be content, no matter who we are, no matter what our situation in life. We all need to learn what it means to trust in the Lord God who will provide all that we need.

Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 12:22-26:

Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ra­vens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anx­ious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

And in verses 29-31 —

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the na­tions of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Jesus is not saying here that we shouldn’t put together a shopping list for groceries, since we don’t have to worry about what we are going to eat. And he’s not saying, “Don’t bother getting a job, since you don’t have to worry about money. After all, you don’t need to worry about providing food and clothes for your family.” We must be responsible in as far as it depends on us.

But the thing is, we cannot allow such concerns to run our lives to the point where we are obsessed. Such ob­session could easily lead to stealing. Instead, we are called to be content with what we have been given.

Easy For Me to Say!←⤒🔗

Still, I must admit, I can’t help but think: “Hey, what right have I got to say this! I’ve got an income. I’ve got a place for my family and me to live.” This is true. But I’m not the one who wrote: be content. I’m not the one who wrote: do not worry about your life. These words come from the Word of God. And remember this: God knew the circumstances that each and every one of us would ever face, and yet He still says to us: “Be content. Learn what it means to be content in all situations.”

Mind you, there is something we need to remember here, especially those of us who have plenty. We should not go to our poor neighbour and say to him: “Be content with what God has given you,” and then do nothing about their situation. We have a responsibility to share with those in need. The Bible makes this very clear. If we look at how the Bible tells us not to steal and think, “Hey, everyone else better respect my property, and they bet­ter not expect to get any of it from me!”, then we just don’t get it. My friends, there should be no need to steal. When our selfishness reaches the point where we say, “I want that thing and I’m going to get it even if I have to steal it,” then we are committing the grave sin of not placing complete trust in God. When our selfishness reaches the point where we say, “I’m not going to give anything to anybody, but I’m going to keep it all for myself,” then we have forgotten the generosity of the one who has given us what we have.

I would ask you: are you content? Or are you inclined to envy and self­ishness? May each of us repent of our greed, however it manifests it­self. May we look to God alone as the one who ultimately provides our daily bread. And may we treat the property He entrusts to us in such a way that demonstrates thankfulness to Him.