Theft

June 27

Theft by Any Other Name by Dr. D. James Kennedy

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. —Mark 12:17

“A kleptomaniac,” said Henry Morgan, “is a person who helps himself because he can’t help himself—or so they claim.”

A lot of people today seem “unable to keep from helping themselves” to all sorts of things. Consider some ways of breaking the eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal”:

Failure to pay taxes

excessive taxation on the part of an over-reaching government

shoplifting

slum lording

cheating for grades in school

welfare for the able-bodied

wasting time at work

shoddy auto and house repairs

looting in time of disaster

ripping pages from library books

switching price markers at the supermarket

price manipulation

marrying or divorcing for money

false advertising claims

bribing public officials

fraudulent stock market trades

kickbacks on contracts

profit skimming

vandalism

passing unqualified students

fake insurance claims

borrowing and not returning

Paul says let him who steals steal no more, but instead work with his hands to provide for himself, his family, and others.

May God grant us grace that we may not steal in any way, for the temptation to ‘go with the flow’ and join the ranks of those who pilfer what is not theirs may be a temptation too difficult to overcome for some who are weak-willed.

It is very important in our dishonest society that we develop a right view of our own and others’ property; that we recognize our God’s immutable law cannot be compromised by His people, even if everyone around them disregards it.