Many of you remember days when you did not lock your house or your car. For most of us that time has long since passed. It seems that the new morality is that if you don’t get caught then you are not guilty and there is nothing wrong with what you did. However, I must remind you that thievery is not a new issue. The Ten Commandments contain a prohibition against stealing. Many Old Testament passages speak about dealing with thieves and thievery. Psalms 50:16-18 gives an interesting description of the wicked, “to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth?” For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you. “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him.” (NASU) One aspect of wickedness is happily associating with thieves. John 12:6 identifies Judas Iscariot as a thief long before he sold Jesus to the religious leaders. First Corinthians 6:10 declares that thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God. Satan is a liar and a murderer but he is also a thief.
Ephesians 4:28 adds a new and novel twist to the prohibition against stealing. As part of the instructions to Christians concerning putting off the old man and putting on the new man verse 28 declares, “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” (NASU) The new converts needed to be instructed to leave behind their old way of life.
Christians are supposed to turn from stealing and work. From Genesis on, work is declared to be good and a part of our humanity. We are supposed to work. Second Thessalonians 3:6-12 condemns idleness and exalts honest labor for the purpose of providing for oneself. First Timothy 5:8 condemns failing to work to provide for one’s family in the strongest possible terms. Ephesians 4:28 exhorts us to turn from stealing and work so that we will have something to share with those in need.
Christians ought not just be ordinary good citizens; we should be the best citizens. We should not only work hard enough just to provide for ourselves and for our families but also so that we would have enough to share with those in need. Those who are physically capable of working must work or they should not eat. However, we have always had and will always have those who are handicapped, too old, too sick, etc. to work. When the government takes what is ours in order to give it to others, that is stealing. However, God has commanded us to give to those in need. Our honest labors are to provide for us and our families and in addition to help those who cannot help themselves. Certainly it is true that Christians are not under the Law but rather are under grace. However, I must remind you that in many (if not most) cases the New Testament stiffens the expected behavior for God’s people. Ephesians 4:28 is a case in point.
We are called to do more than stop the negative behavior of stealing; we are further commanded to do the opposite. We are to exhibit love to another person by giving instead of stealing from another person.
