BE A WITNESS OF GRACE PART THREE
Eph
4:25-32
Is it ever okay for a Christian to steal? The
automatic answer that comes to mind is “absolutely
never” and you would be right to think that way. For reasons like! We
know it’s forbidden because it’s the 8th commandment that God gave to Moses, to
give to the people in Exodus 20. It’s
also, against the laws of the land in Canada and around the globe. But, what do you do with this question when you read Prov
6:30-31? “People
do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but
if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his
house.” So
the only time it is understandable is when you are desperately in need. But
unfortunately it will cost them plenty if they are caught. The
penalty is server for the thief, even more so over other grievous sins. However,
though it is understandable from a human point of view, it is still not right,
and God never condones it. There
is nothing positive to stealing and there is nothing God honoring by stealing
anything that isn’t yours. Stealing comes from the desire to get
what we want or think we need. We
know that this is a major problem in our society and not going away anytime
soon.
So what do we do to help prevent this from happening to us?
We
lock our doors when were not home or before we go to bed?
We
lock up our cars and have expensive alarms installed on them?
We
have passwords and security questions on our banking, cell phones, tablets or
computers?
Why do we do these things? Because there is always someone out there that
is trying to steal something from somebody. Whether it’s a physical belonging
or cyber theft or identity theft?
Now you’re thinking I don’t steal, so this doesn’t apply to
me Pastor Mike. I’m
a Christian and I’ve answered that question you asked at the beginning with a
resounding NO! You’re
saying to yourself “I would never do such a thing.” And I hope your right!
But! Let me ask you some questions this morning?
Have
you ever cheating on your taxes?
Have
you ever borrowed something and never had any plans on returning it?
Have
you taken advantage of a store clerk’s mistake when given change back?
Have
you ever stolen your child’s candy or chocolate?
Have
you ever cheated on a test by getting the answers ahead of time?
Have
you ever downloaded movies or music knowing that it’s not free to do so?
Have
you ever raided your parents/siblings, change/gunk drawer in their dresser?
Have
you ever taken credit for something that someone else did?
We need to understand something very important about
stealing! Stealing
is more than taking something from someone. It’s an attitude of heart that says “I
can have whatever I want, when I want it and I don’t care about anybody or who
I hurt in the process” Sadly though!
In the past several decades shoplifting has grown alarming, a large percentage
of this has been done by employees. And
for many, stealing is just a game in which getting caught is the only cause for
regret or shame. Until
this wrong is seen in its proper light, a person will continue down this road. That’s
why it’s the truth of God’s word that transforms the sinful man or woman from
their old nature. To
deal with this sin of stealing, the heart needs to be addressed first.
Why is this important to understand? Jesus said this
“The good person out of his good treasure
brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth
evil.” Matt 12:35. Prov 4:23 says
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for
from it flow the springs of life.” The
heart, mind and thoughts, and especially the will, and affections, are immediate
and the effectual cause of all men’s actions. And
from the heart proceeds all the actions, as of the natural and the spiritual. Paul
is warning the body of Christ may this not be seen or said amoung the family of
God. “Steal” in the Greek is “Klepto” for which comes “kleptomanic” and Paul says we are to “no longer” do such things. The
Christian is to steal no longer.
What does the bible say about stealing?
The
bible says it’s an abomination to God
Jeremiah 7:9-10 says
“Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to
Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand
before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are
delivered! ‘Only to go on doing all these abominations? Abomination
is a thing that causes disgust or hatred, in this case towards God
The
bible says it’s forbidden, without exceptions.
Exo 20:15 says
"You shall not steal.
Romans 13:9 we read this
“For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not
murder, You shall not steal, You
shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word:
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
The
bible says that stealing is fraud and that includes fraud in general and fraud
concerning wages.
Lev 19:3 reminds us of this truth "You shall not oppress
your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you
all night until the morning.”
We see this in the New Testament as well “Behold, the wages of the
laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out
against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord
of hosts.” James 5:4
The
bible says those who steal or know of stealing, hate their own souls.
Prov 29:24 says
“The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses
nothing.” The
accomplice would rather risks the punishment, rather than reveal truth.
The
bible says it brings the wrath of God upon those who commit it.
Eze 22:29 says
“The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They
have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without
justice”….. (v31 goes on to say)
”Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them
with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares
the Lord GOD."
So
Paul says “stop stealing
from the family of God….But do what? Stealing
in any form is a sin, and has no place in the life of the Christian. Rather,
as Paul says “Work
honestly” with
your hands. For
the purpose of what? So that you might have something to share with anyone. Paul
says work on honest wage and be useful for those in need. What
this does is opens us to think of others above ourselves. When
a person steals they are only concerned and thinking of one thing…Themselves. When
we are focused on others, it builds and strengthens the body of Christ.
Think about it for a moment! Productive
people produce productive communities….the same principle applies to the
church. When
we work together and do our part to help it’s an amazing thing to see and be a
part of the church as it grows spiritually and in the community for the gospel
confession. The
renewed person in Christ through the gospel confession acts without
selfishness. Paul counters the urge to steal by commanding the flip side! It’s
a four letter word that triggers in those days and many people today. That
word is “Work”
this word still remains an issue in our culture. Studies show
the lack of work goes beyond the stereotype of welfare cheaters and the idle
rich. Studies show
that more and more middle-class young men are less inclined to work in
positions of responsibility because undemanding jobs can provide them all they want:
an apartment, a fast car, l a flat screen TV, and a willing partner.
Do you see something wrong with this picture? It’s
self-focused and self-driven and Paul is telling us that we should work; so that
in doing “something useful” we may
have something to “share” with
others. The
word “useful” has its roots in the idea of
something “good” or “worthwhile”. The
spiritual echo
of this portion of Paul’s letter is moving our minds to consider the impact of
not stealing, by
moving from a position of being a “taker” to a “giver”. Before
the gospel penetrated our hearts we were always looking to take and never to
give. Once
we sought to deprive others of good, but now we seek to share with others our
goods. That’s a witness of grace at work in the church. By
living in accord with the instruction of the gospel, the “thief” becomes a representative of God mercy.
The gospel transforms our hearts to be workers and givers to
others for this reason.
This
principle of working with your hands is a testimony to the unbelievers.
1 Thess 4:11-12 says
“and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with
your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders
and be dependent on no one.”
This
principle of working with our hands is to help guard our hearts against
idleness
2 Thess 3:6-10 says
“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with
the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought
to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat
anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night
and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do
not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For
even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not
willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in
idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and
encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their
own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”
This
principle of working with our hands is a beautiful way we share Christ with our
fallen community.
Jesus said
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then
he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the
nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates
the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to
those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and
you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you
welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I
was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And
when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And
when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer
them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and
his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you
gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you
did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also
will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger
or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will
answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to
you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to
me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life." Matt 25:31-46
In
doing this we get to become Christ to our neighbor. A
witness of grace at work in once a thief, but now a new creation. Giving
rather than taking reflects the nature of Christ to one another and this lost
world. Natural
man and woman are seeking what they want and what makes them happy! But
the man of God and the woman of God are seeking others with the love of Christ
and the gospel that saves. Because
we desire our neighbor to be saved through the gospel and find eternal hope in
Christ alone. Paul reminds of this truth in Col 3:4 “When Christ who is your
life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” As one theologian said
“Jesus is not a theological concept, but
He is our life.” This
is our present and future hope, and knowing this truth should pump our hearts
to work for His glory and honor amoung the church and people who desperately
need saving.
What might the Christian being stealing today?
When
we fail to worship Him as we ought.
When
we fail to honor God with our time.
When
we do not give our very best in the family, at work, or the church.
When
we waste God’s time and God’s good news!
We
need to stop stealing the
time God has given us
and work with our hands so that we have something to share with anyone. Something
as simple as the gospel of salvation! A Christians desire to earn more should
be our purpose of being able to give more and help more. Remember this truth written in the book of Acts as we close. Paul
said “And now I
commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up
and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted
no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands
ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I
have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" And when he had
said these things, he knelt down and prayed
with them all.”
Acts 20:32-35. So
let’s do that!
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