This is the ninth post in this series on the 10 Commandments. The previous posts in this series were:
1). Does God Change?
2). The 1st Commandment
3). The 2nd Commandment
4). The 3rd Commandment,
5). The 4th Commandment
6). The 5th Commandment
7). The 6th Commandment, and
8). The 7th Commandment
In the 1st four Commandments God teaches us how we are to relate to, honor, obey and respect Him. In the following six Commandments God teaches us how to relate to, honor and respect each other.
So, let’s take a look at the 8th Commandment, and consider what it says to us. It’s actually a pretty simple commandment, and one we’ve been taught about since we were small children.
Do Not Steal.
There it is, black and white, “Do Not Steal”. Don’t take what is not yours.
Unfortunately in our society we have learned to blur the lines when it comes to stealing. We also find it easy to justify the things we do. When most of us think about stealing, we think about someone robbing a bank, or identity theft. We might think about people who shop lift, or break into people’s houses and cars. We all strongly condemn such actions.
With that said, how do you feel about cheating on your taxes? How about falsifying information on an insurance claim? What about if you go to your car after shopping at Walmart or wherever, and realizing that the cashier gave you too much money in return. Do you go back into the store and point out the mistake, or do you say; I’m sure they’ve over charged me in the past so we’ll just call it even?
Do you take home supplies from work without giving it a second thought? If you are a business owner, do you ever over charge when you think you can? Would you take a used product from somewhere, clean it up, paint it and then sell it as new? I know someone who did that with an electrical panel box. He was a deacon in his church. I guess he never read the following scripture.
Micah 6:9-13 (HCSB)
9 The voice of Yahweh calls out to the city[a]
(and it is wise to fear Your name):
“Pay attention to the rod
and the One who ordained it.[b]
10 Are there still[c] the treasures of wickedness
and the accursed short measure
in the house of the wicked?
11 Can I excuse wicked scales
or bags of deceptive weights?
12 For the wealthy of the city are full of violence,
and its residents speak lies;
the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.
13 “As a result, I have begun to strike you severely,[d]
bringing desolation because of your sins.
We live in a culture now that says I deserve this, that, and the other thing. We have people who lie to get food stamps, and all kinds of government assistance when they are perfectly capable of working. Is that not stealing? People defraud the government and often their communities and feel justified.
I’m not talking about atheists here either. There are many Christians who do these things without giving it a second thought. Many of them attend churches and feel no remorse for such behavior.
Of course I think many churches have a certain amount of blame in this. Most churches don’t teach the Bible anymore. Most churches are all about the feel good and prosperity messages. If they start pointing out people’s sins they’re going to start losing members, and there for money. So many people go to church anymore to feel good, not to learn and get closer to God.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a feel good message from time to time. But wouldn’t it be better if we were teaching what God says about life and how we should live? You know like those pesky and inconvenient 10 Commandments that most people think are 10 suggestions.
With the world in the state it’s in I would think more people would be seeking some understanding about what’s happening. And asking, “Why is our country and world in such a state”?
We are in a downward spiral that only Jesus Christ can save us from. We are trillions of dollars in debt with nothing of value to back our money. We are importing about 17,000 Muslims into this country each year and they hate us. We live in a culture that has replace love with sex, and we now live in a moral vacuum that is destroying all that is good and godly.
Life is indeed a gift and a blessing. There is beauty all around us in God’s creation, and a lot for us to appreciate and give thanks for. That being said, this is no time to be looking for feel good and prosperity messages. The time is getting short, and there is coming a time when those who aren’t making God their top priority will end up like the five virgins who didn’t bring extra oil for their lamps. The Bride Groom will return, maybe even in my lifetime, and He will be expecting us to have extra oil for our lamps. For those who don’t, the door to the Wedding Supper will be closed and there will be great weeping.
If a close and personal relationship with God has not been your top priority you need to turn that around right now.
Stealing is a character issue, and God is all about character. The 10 Commandments tell you point blank what God’s character is like. God is not looking for people of low character to share in His Kingdom. He is looking for people of high character, because He wants to share eternity with winners and not losers.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
“If you like what you’ve read, please feel free to share it with a friend; and recommend yourspiritmindandbody.com to them”. Also, please like my Facebook page while you’re at it. Thanks!
The post The 8th Commandment, You Shall Not Steal appeared first on Your Spirit Mind and Body.