No Stealing

I. You don’t steal because you are a steward.

A. God cares a lot about personal possessions. The eighth commandment assumes the right to and the goodness of private property. The Bible also teaches that God is the owner of everything. Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” God then is the owner of all things on earth. I am just the manager of what He has given me or in the language of the Bible – a steward who works for the owner.
B. When you see yourself as you truly are, as a steward/manager, you look at earthly treasures and you think, “None of these earthly treasures are mine to begin with. So, why would I steal something that God has given to someone else to manage and enjoy?” Luke 12:15: “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” Don’t make an idol of money and things.

II. You don’t steal because it’s not your property.

A. What are some of the many ways we take property that does not belong to us? People get in car accidents and don’t report them. People underreport their income on their taxes. People steal items at work, and they steal time at work. People buy on credit and have no intention of paying off their debt. Shoplifting is also theft. Plagiarism and stealing copyrighted material is stealing. And gambling steals money away that should be used to provide for families.
B. Jacob in Genesis 25 foolishly tried to steal an inherited birthright and blessing that God had already promised him. We also stupidly steal things because we don’t trust God to keep his promise to give us what we need and to bless us with good gifts. Achan in Joshua 7 stole property that did not belong to him. It was God’s own property that he stole, and he paid for his theft with his life.

III. You don’t steal because you are a giver, not a taker.

A. Ephesians 4:28: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” The Christian attitude is what’s mine is God’s, I’ll share it. Jesus forgave thieves. Matthew 27:38, “Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.” Luke 23:42-43: “And (the thief) said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

Application:
Bury your idols of money and people’s opinions and status. Be a giver, not a taker.
Sources:
The Bible
Books by Philip Ryken, Kevin DeYoung, Jen Wilkin, and J.I. Packer.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) What does it mean to be a steward? What are the idols that a thief worships? How can we remind ourselves on a daily basis that we are stewards of all that God has given us?
2) What are some forms of theft that we might overlook in the modern world? How does theft show a lack of faith in God?
3) What should be a Christian’s way of life with regard to money and things? How did Jesus show that He can and does forgive thieves?