Exodus 20:15
~15 mins read
💭 Consider this: What resources have you failed to be a faithful steward over? Which part of you are you yet to surrender to your Master?
TRANSCRIPT
Tonight, we will consider Exodus 20:15, which is our eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.”
If there is any commandment that everyone would agree upon, it would be the eighth commandment. Everyone knows and agrees that stealing is wrong. Stealing is perhaps the most common crime in the world. There are many kinds of stealing: robbing, embezzlement of funds, cheating, car theft, shoplifting, extortion, tax evasion, theft of computer data, theft of anything including people like kidnapping.
One clear evidence that stealing is so widespread is the constant concern for security. That is why we need locks, passwords, PIN numbers, alarms, surveillance cameras, fences around our houses, security guards, watchdogs, insurance against theft or robbery, etc. But the problem is that when it comes to stealing, nearly everyone is doing it, but few would admit to it. Martin Luther once said, "The whole human race is a band of thieves, and if we were to hang all of them, where shall we find enough ropes to hang them all?"
Perhaps tonight you may be wondering, "I have not stolen anything before in my life, or at least I have not stolen anything after my conversion." Well, think again. Are you really sure that you have not stolen anything even after your conversion? This is what we want to learn from this short verse, Exodus 20:15. The title of our message is "Thou shalt not steal."
I. The Physical Implication
Firstly, let us consider the physical implication of this commandment and let us examine ourselves if we have committed any one of them.
"Thou shalt not steal." To steal is to take something that does not belong to us. In the broader sense, it prohibits taking unjustly what belongs to others, meddling with another person's property, or claiming for ourselves things that we have no right to claim. It doesn't matter how small or insignificant that item is; stealing is stealing. It cannot be justified in any way or any form. Even if a person steals due to extreme poverty or hunger, it is still stealing. Even if a person steals from those who have stolen from him, it is still stealing. Two wrongs do not make things right.
What are the different forms of stealing? When we use someone's item without asking for permission, when we vandalise or deliberately destroy public or private property, when we borrow money or items from others and do not return them sooner than we should but keep delaying, when we have the money to pay up our debts but use it instead to gain more for ourselves, when we use the funds entrusted to us to pay up our own financial problems even though we may intend to put the money back later on, when we receive more changes or more money than what we ought to receive, like for example, we go to the supermarket and we pay for our groceries and then we do not return the extra money we have received, when we pay less than what is required for the bus fare or car park fees; all that is stealing.
Many years ago in Singapore where I originated from, there used to be this car park coupon system. You have to tear away the date and time on the coupon and display it on the dashboard of your car. The car attendant would then check to see if you have exceeded the time. What most people would do is to look around the car park and when they do not see any car park attendant around, they assume that it would take at least 10 or 15 minutes for them to arrive. So what they will do is to set the time on the coupon 10 or 15 minutes in advance. That is stealing.
What about stealing in our workplace? Obviously, when the employee helps himself to the company's materials or stationery for his own personal use, that is stealing. But we must also bear in mind that an employee is paid a salary to fulfil the responsibilities given to him. And when he does not fulfil the work responsibilities, when he comes late for work and goes back home earlier than he should, or takes long lunch breaks, or drags his job assignment in order to fill up the time. That is stealing. When an employee takes over all the credit for an achievement that ought to be shared with others who have contributed, that is also stealing. The employer is not exempted from this sin as well. When he delays or withholds the employee's salary, or makes an employee do more work than he is paid for, or forces the employee to do something unethical or to make false records. That is also stealing.
What about stealing in business? When the owner of the business sells defective products or less than what was advertised, or sells pirated items, or overprices products, or delivers the goods to his customer late with no good reasons, or under-declares the price of a piece of property in order to have a greater profit or to reduce tax, or steals other companies' secrets, or declares bankruptcy in order to avoid obligations, or delays the payment of bills when he's able to do so, why? Because he wants to have extra interest in his own bank account.
All that are different forms of stealing. A good biblical principle how you and I should apply in our businesses is found in Proverbs 22 verse 1: "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."
What about stealing at school? When the student copies answers, concepts, or ideas of other students for an assignment or test, or copies passages from books into his term papers or thesis without proper acknowledgment of the source in the footnotes or endnotes, that is plagiarism, which is a form of stealing. When he infringes copyright in order to save money by photocopying the whole book rather than buying the original book or uses pirated softwares, or even as simple as what people may perceive when the student cuts into a queue of people instead of going to the end of the line, that is wrong and that is stealing.
But one of the most common thefts that people will commit is stealing time. When we keep people waiting for an appointment, we are stealing their time. Time is precious, and the time spent waiting for us can be effectively used for many other things. I know many of us are familiar with Chinese wedding receptions. Oftentimes, the time for the dinner reception stated on the wedding cards is usually 7:00 PM, but the dinner will not start until 9:00 PM. Some of the guests would arrive at the last minute just before the dinner starts. Can you imagine waiting for 2 hours for everyone to arrive, and then the dinner will start? Everyone is aware of that, and everyone says it is a cultural thing, but it is wrong to hold on to something that is sinful in the name of culture. It is a sin to steal time. Sadly, this practice has been going on for years.
God takes a very serious view of stealing. He requires restitution. In the Bible if a man stole money or material goods and was found, he was to pay back double. If a man stole another person's sheep or ox, he must not only return the animal that he stole, but he must also give one of his own sheep or oxen to the offended party. If a sheep that was stolen was killed or sold, the guilty person had to give back four of his own sheep to the owner in order to compensate for his losses. Five-fold restitution was required for a stolen ox.
This principle of restitution is an eye for an eye. You can read about that in Exodus chapter 22. There were instances in the Bible where the penalty for stealing was so serious that the offenders were killed, like in the case of Achan in Joshua chapter 7. God commanded the children of Israel not to take the spoils of the enemies, but Achan from the tribe of Judah stole and kept some of the items like gold and silver, and because of his sin, the Israelites suffered an initial defeat from Ai. Later on, when his sin was exposed, he and his entire family were executed. They were killed. Most certainly, his entire family was involved in the same sin. Why was stealing so serious that sometimes the penalty was death?
II. The Spiritual Implication
This brings us to our second point: the spiritual implication of this commandment. Like the rest of the Ten Commandments, this eighth commandment has deep spiritual significance. Whenever we take something that does not belong to us, however we do it, we sin against God as well as against our neighbours.
Stealing is a sin against God in at least two ways. Firstly, stealing is a failure to trust in God's provision. Whenever we take something that does not belong to us, we deny that God is able to provide for us everything that we truly need. That is the reason why we resort to stealing. In other words, we fail to exercise faith in trusting God's provision and providence. Secondly, stealing is also an attack on God's provision and providence for others. We are robbing what God had provided for someone else. That is why it is so serious when we consider the spiritual implications.
Now when God commands, "Thou shalt not steal," He is indicating that people have a right to own things; otherwise, this whole concept of stealing would make no sense. Only something that belongs to someone can be stolen from them, right? But the reason that anything belongs to anyone is because it comes from God. God is the giver. You and I have no right to take for ourselves what God has given to others.
Now, this brings us to the positive side of this commandment. What the Bible means by ownership is not possessing things to use just for our own purposes, but rather to receive things from God to use for His glory. Because everything we have comes from Him, it must be used for Him and His glory. So, at the same time, we are forbidden to take things that do not belong to us; you and I are required to use what we have received from God in a way that will please Him. So, this eighth commandment is not just about stealing — that I think every one of us is very clear —but it is also about stewardship.
A steward is someone who cares for someone else's property. He is not free to use it however he pleases, but only to manage it in accordance with his master's instructions. Dear friend, if we come into this world naked and we leave this world naked, that means everything we have accumulated in this world, in this life, does not belong to us. We are just stewards. Whatever we have is God's property, and He has given us the sacred trust and responsibility to look after it. This is the way ever since the beginning. Remember, Adam did not own any property, but just managed it. The Lord God took him and placed him in the Garden of Eden to take care of it. Like Adam, we are called to be good stewards of God's property.
In the final analysis, some people will be reckoned as good stewards; others would be unfaithful stewards. What kind of steward would you be in the eyes of the Almighty God?
Good stewardship means taking care of what we have been given, not letting things fall into disrepair, especially in regards to God's house. Not being wasteful, not squandering money that could be better used on things that would help others, that will further the gospel cause. Good stewardship means working hard. The Bible is very specific about this. The apostle Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "If you don't work, then don't eat." To the Ephesians, he said, "Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the things which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." Ephesians 4:26. In other words, to avoid the temptation to steal is to work hard for honest gains. And with the honest gains, we must help others who are in need.
Good stewardship means helping to meet our family's needs. We have been given an awesome responsibility to take care of our own families. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
Good stewardship means helping to meet the needs of the church. Galatians 6:10 says, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" - the body of believers in the local church so that they would be able to do the gospel work, whether local or foreign missions work.
Someone once said there are three basic attitudes we can take toward our possessions. The first attitude is "What is yours is mine, I will take it." This is the attitude of the thief. The second attitude is "What is mine is mine, I will keep it." This is the selfish attitude of most people. And as we have mentioned a moment ago, naked we come, naked we go. We need not and cannot take a single cent with us when we leave this world. We are just stewards of God's property. The third attitude is "What is mine is God's, and I will share it for His glory." God wants all of us to have this third attitude, and truly what is ours is not ours in that it does not belong to us. We are just stewards. It belongs to God, and we must be willing to share it.
Most Christians would deny that they are stealing from God. They would deny it in the same way the Israelites denied it in the days of Malachi. When the faithful prophet Malachi told the Israelites that they were robbing God, they were deeply offended. "How did we rob Him?" they asked. God answered by saying, "In tithes and offerings ye are cursed with a curse: ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." Then God said, "Test me in this matter. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now here with, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:8-10).
A tithe is 10%, and this is a useful guide for our Christian living. In fact, we should give more than that, given the fact that God has blessed us so abundantly. Dear friend, will God ever say to us, "Why are you robbing me in tithes and offerings?" We pray for jobs and opportunities, and God blesses us with jobs. He gives us the strength, protects us from harm and danger, and grants us journey mercy that we may be able to do the work dutifully and to receive our salaries accordingly. How can we then steal from Him by withholding our tithes and offerings? God forbids.
Another way to rob God is the failure to give Him the best of our time, talents, and services. We want the best for ourselves. We want to keep the best of our youth to pursue our dreams, ambitions, and aspirations, and only when we reach an old age or retirement do we start to consider serving God. We want to keep the best for ourselves. We are just like the illustration of a couple who has three sons: John, Mark, and Peter. The husband and wife said to each other, "Our oldest son John is blessed with wonderful articulative speech skills. We will send him to Harvard; he will be a great lawyer. Our second son Mark is blessed with amazing musical talents. We will send him to Juilliard; he will be an excellent musician. Our third son Peter is a bit slow and undeveloped in his thinking. We will send him to the Far Eastern Bible College; maybe God can use him in His ministry." Do you think God does not know our hearts? We are withholding what we perceive to be best, keeping it for ourselves. Do you think that is acceptable to Him? Most certainly not.
God has blessed us with so many good things. He has blessed us with different gifts - spiritual gifts - whether it be the gifts of hospitality, administration, preaching, teaching, leadership, playing the piano, or singing in the choir. When you and I do not exercise those gifts, it is a form of stealing. Do you realise that every violation of the Ten Commandments involves some form of stealing? What do we mean when we bow down to idol? We steal God's worship. When we use God's name in vain, we steal His honour. When we desecrate the Sabbath, we steal His holy day. When we murder, we steal life which comes from Him. When we commit adultery, we steal purity. When we lie, we steal the truth, and so forth. Every sin dishonours God and steals from His glory that we ought to render to Him.
So, instead of denying that we have violated this eighth commandment, all of us have in some way broken this eighth commandment. But having said that, it is not an unforgivable sin. Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead on the third day to offer the forgiveness of sin, which includes the eighth commandment. This truth is best demonstrated in the fact that when our Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross, there were two thieves crucified beside Him, and one of them eventually turned to Him and said, "Lord, remember me when you enter into your kingdom." And Jesus said unto him, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." In the true sense of the word, Jesus died for the thief.
Are we thieves? Yes. We must turn to Jesus; only He alone can forgive us. And what happens when we realise that we have stolen and God is willing to forgive us? We must be like Zacchaeus the tax collector who immediately made restitution for his many sins. You and I cannot receive God's forgiveness and then go on living as thieves. Whether it is stealing from our neighbours, our companies, our taxes, our tithes and offerings, our services, etc, we cannot go on living as thieves. We must repent, make restitutions, and live our lives with this attitude: "What is mine is God's. I am just His steward, and I want to be a faithful steward to the glory of His precious name."
So, I pray that all of us, as we learn this eighth commandment, let us not just glance through it, thinking that we have not violated this commandment, but we have in some shape or forms. We have violated this commandment. Jesus can forgive us, but we must repent, make restitutions, and live our lives to glorify Him. "Thou shalt not steal." Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven, indeed Thou hast taught us this eighth commandment, and oftentimes we think we have obeyed this commandment. But as we consider the physical implications as well as the spiritual implications, which is more important, we have in some ways broken this eighth commandment. But Thou hast also taught us that it is a forgivable sin. That we must repent, turn to our Lord Jesus who forgave all, also the thief on the cross, and we must make restitutions. Whatever we have stolen, whether it be from our companies, from our neighbours, from our taxes, and more importantly, from our tithes and offerings, from our services unto Thee, oh Lord, we want to repent.
And cause us, who are recipients of Thy forgiveness, that we will be like Zacchaeus, who immediately made restitution for his many sins. So help us. We who have received forgiveness cannot go on living our lives as thieves, but living our lives as honest Christians for the glory of Thy precious name. Help us through the empowerment of Thy Spirit that all of us will live such a life through the glory of Thee. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF EXODUSGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassExodus 1:1-7
From Prosperity to PersecutionFrom Prosperity to PersecutionExodus 1:8-14
God’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesGod’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesExodus 1:15-21
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedExodus 1:22-2:10
Moses in EgyptMoses in EgyptExodus 2:11-15
Moses in the Desert of MidianMoses in the Desert of MidianExodus 2:16-25
Moses and the Burning BushMoses and the Burning BushExodus 3:1-9
Who Are You?Who Are You?Exodus 3:10-15
Who Am I?Who Am I?Exodus 3:10-15
God’s Message to Israel and EgyptGod’s Message to Israel and EgyptExodus 3:16-22
What If They Still Don’t Believe?What If They Still Don’t Believe?Exodus 4:1-9
Send Someone ElseSend Someone ElseExodus 4:10-17
Moses’ Return to EgyptMoses’ Return to EgyptExodus 4:18-20
When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseWhen Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseExodus 5:10-21
When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesWhen We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesExodus 5:22-6:5
Having to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceHaving to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceExodus 6:6-12
Faithful or UnfaithfulFaithful or UnfaithfulExodus 6:13-27
What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceWhat God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceExodus 6:28-7:7
The First Plague - The River of BloodThe First Plague - The River of BloodExodus 7:14-25
The Second Plague - The FrogsThe Second Plague - The FrogsExodus 8:1-15
The Third PlagueThe Third PlagueExodus 8:16-19
The Fourth PlagueThe Fourth PlagueExodus 8:20-32
The Fifth PlagueThe Fifth PlagueExodus 9:1-7
The Sixth PlagueThe Sixth PlagueExodus 9:8-12
The Seventh PlagueThe Seventh PlagueExodus 9:13-35
The Eighth PlagueThe Eighth PlagueExodus 10:1-20
The Tenth PlagueThe Tenth PlagueExodus 11:1-10
The First PassoverThe First PassoverExodus 12:1-13
The Feast of the Unleavened BreadThe Feast of the Unleavened BreadExodus 12:14-28
Departure From EgyptDeparture From EgyptExodus 12:29-42
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12
Redemption and ConsecrationRedemption and ConsecrationExodus 13:1-2, 11-16
Precious Lord, Take My HandPrecious Lord, Take My HandExodus 13:17-22
Between the Desert and the Red SeaBetween the Desert and the Red SeaExodus 14:1-14
Crossing the Red SeaCrossing the Red SeaExodus 14:15-31
The Song of PraiseThe Song of PraiseExodus 15:1-21
Will You Obey Or Not?Will You Obey Or Not?Exodus 15:22-27
The Danger of a Complaining SpiritThe Danger of a Complaining SpiritExodus 16:1-3
God’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsGod’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsExodus 16:1-10
The Test of FaithThe Test of FaithExodus 16:11-20
Lessons About the SabbathLessons About the SabbathExodus 16:21-36
Do Not Test GodDo Not Test GodExodus 17:1-17
Lift Up Your HandsLift Up Your HandsExodus 17:8-16
The Blessedness of ReunionThe Blessedness of ReunionExodus 18:1-12
Why Do We Have Leaders?Why Do We Have Leaders?Exodus 18:13-27
I Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsI Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsExodus 19:1-6
Approach God Fearlessly or FearfullyApproach God Fearlessly or FearfullyExodus 19:7-15
God Reached Out And SpokeGod Reached Out And SpokeExodus 19:16-25
Thou Shalt Have No Other GodsThou Shalt Have No Other GodsExodus 20:1-3
Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesExodus 20:4-6
Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameThou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameExodus 20:7
Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayThou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayExodus 20:8-11
Honour Thy Father And Thy MotherHonour Thy Father And Thy MotherExodus 20:12
Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not KillExodus 20:13
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
The Response To The Ten CommandmentsThe Response To The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20:18-21
How God Wants Us To Worship HimHow God Wants Us To Worship HimExodus 20:22-26
Why Would God Allow Slavery?Why Would God Allow Slavery?Exodus 21:1-11
The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeExodus 21:12-17
The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeExodus 21:18-36
The Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsThe Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsExodus 22:1-15
The Character Of GodThe Character Of GodExodus 22:16-20
Reaching Out To The Down-And-OutReaching Out To The Down-And-OutExodus 22:21-24
The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodThe Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodExodus 22:25-31
Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthTruth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthExodus 23:1-9
Remember Who God IsRemember Who God IsExodus 23:10-19
What Must We Do To Have VictoryWhat Must We Do To Have VictoryExodus 23:20-33
How We Ought To Worship GodHow We Ought To Worship GodExodus 24:1-4, 7
On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?Exodus 24:4-8
Responding To God’s InvitationResponding To God’s InvitationExodus 24:9-18
The Right Attitude Of GivingThe Right Attitude Of GivingExodus 25:1-8
There I Will Meet YouThere I Will Meet YouExodus 25:9-22
Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Exodus 25:23-30
Let Your Light So Shine Before MenLet Your Light So Shine Before MenExodus 25:31-40
The Veil That SeparatesThe Veil That SeparatesExodus 26:1-37
A Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandA Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandExodus 27:1-19
Who Can Represent Us Before God?Who Can Represent Us Before God?Exodus 27:20-28:14
How Can We Know God’s Will?How Can We Know God’s Will?Exodus 28:15-30
If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
