The Eighth Commandment (Q78-80)

Introduction

Connection:

Stewardship presupposes that something has been delegated to as your property and ownership—though it is not ultimate.

Story about me going away on a trip.

Theme:

The Eighth Commandment (78-80)

Need:

We need to know how to be holy in the area of money and property—some of the most important parts of our daily life.

Purpose:

To show us God’s will for our finances and personal property; to convict us of our need for forgiveness in this areas; to comfort us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and to exhort us to obey the Eighth Word out of love and gratitude.

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

Q78. Which is the eighth commandment? A78. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal (Ex. 20:15

If I’m being honest—this commandment is probably the most intuitive to us and doesn’t need much explanation—however, as we’ve seen with all the commandments thus far, they drive much deeper than we would ever expect.

As we unpack this Word it is important to remember what Calvin says about the moral law:

Since the goal of the law is love, the meaning of love must be looked for in the law. This is the rule of love: every man must be secure in his own right, and no man must do to another what he does not wish done to himself.

True love is the goal of the Eighth Commandment, the love of our neighbour as ourself—what does that look like? Let’s pray that the Lord would teach us that tonight, by His Holy Spirit, and through His Holy Word.

Let’s begin by looking at what this Word requires of us:

Q79. What is required in the eighth commandment? A79. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others (Gen. 30:30; 1 Tim. 5:8; Lev. 25:35; Deut. 22:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Ex. 23:4, 5; Gen. 47:14, 20).

As we study any doctrine/teaching from Holy Scripture we must remember that every passage in the Bible that touches the subject has bearing! Thus we cannot just be OT or NT people—we must be whole Bible men, and live up to the name of our church! Let’s begin with Genesis 30. Here we have the account of Jacob and Laban. Jacob had gone to live with Laban in order to win his daughter for marriage. And sadly he got a two for one deal—against his will. Nonetheless, here is what Jacob says to Laban after everything:

Genesis 30:30 ESV

For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”

Here we see that Jacob laboured for the furthering of Laban’s wealth—like a worker for the boss—and he also expected to himself receive a just reward for his work. After this Laban said that he would pay Jacob for the many years of labour. Here we see the principle that the Eighth Commandment requires: namely, that it is good to labour for the blessing of others, and that true work deserves a true wage. Let’s flip to the NT now:

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Here we see again that especially the head of the household is called to provide for the members of his household. His work is not only for himself, but for his family. His work is not only to increase his own wealth and estate, but also the wealth and estate of his people. Paul even goes so far to say that if someone is willfully neglecting and failing to provide for their household then they have denied the faith, proven to be void of the Spirit, and are acting in ways that are worse than unbelievers.

That’s a hard word. And his principle is grounded in the Eighth Commandment. Do not steal also means work and provide. To fail to work and provide is to break this Word and to fail to fulfill God’s calling and commands on your life. Let’s look at another text:

Leviticus 25:35 ESV

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.

Now this is a fascinating text as well. It shows us that caring for one’s family goes farther than just your immediate household—but also for siblings, parents, and etc.

Here we see again the principle of work, provision, generosity, and love. We are called to provide for those who are poor and needy around us—especially our physical family and relations, as well as our spiritual family and relations. Now it’s true that this Levitical law is a part of the old civil law which isn’t binding in its exact requirement—but the moral principle of providing for your family members who are in need is still binding for today.

But what about personal property? Let’s head back to Exodus:

Exodus 23:4–5 ESV

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

Notice that the ox is his, and the donkey is his, and you must bring it back to him.

Here we see that all forms of communism and social is false. End of story. People have possessions that God has entrusted to them, and to steal is to break this very principle. Why is stealing wrong? Because what you steal isn’t your rightful possession.

Even your enemy! Your enemies own things, and just because their your enemy doesn’t mean that you have a right to steal from them. Stealing is stealing no matter who you steal from.

We see this again in Genesis:

Genesis 47:20 ESV

So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh’s.

Here again we see the idea of personal property. For Pharaoh to own the fields, the Egyptians must sell their fields. And if the Egyptians must sell their fields, then (you guessed it): the Egyptians must have owned their fields.

Our deacon Ty did a great job in the book of Acts recently where he showed us that even in Acts 2 where the church shared all their possessions, that this was a willing and voluntary act that was unique to their time, because they knew that just as Jesus had prophesied, that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed and not a single stone was going to be left standing. This was a unique situation, and does not carry over to us as a command to sell all that we have.

Watson again says:

Property must be observed. God hath set this eighth commandment as a hedge about a man’s estate, and this hedge cannot be broken without sin.

Personal Property comes to us from God, which makes us stewards of God gifts, and this is the foundational principle of the eighth commandment and our pursuit of work and building each other up.

So what does that look like today? Procuring and Furthering wealth?

Well, it doesn’t mean living in luxury and indulgence. That is forbidden in Scripture. It does mean that every man must learn to work for a living. Paul says that if you don’t work, then you don’t eat. Each man must discern how God has gifted and called them so that they can pursue a job accordingly, as God opens doors to that end.

This means that laziness and sloth is the opposite of hard work and reward. Thomas Watson says:

Quest. What is to be done to avoid stealing? Ans. 1. Live in a calling, Eph. 4:28., “Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands,” &c. Such as stand idle, the devil hires them, and puts them to the pilfering trade. An idle person tempts the devil to tempt him.

The devil tempts man all the time—but an idle man tempts the devil to tempt him. Thus, the commandment requires that one works for a just reward and wage so that they can make a living and provide for themselves and their families.

And as we noticed earlier, it also means that we will help others make a living, that we will further their estate, that we will work for their benefit, that we will give generously, that we will labour sacrificially, that we will go the extra mile.

Work isn’t just for our individual family, but is also for our collective good as a church family, and as a society. We are called to help each other fulfill the 8th Commandment. 1 Cor. 10:24

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

May God help us to remember that we have two relations to those around us. We are related to everyone around us as fellow creatures made in the image of God, and are related to Christians (and especially our church members) as brothers and sisters in Christ. May we strive to help each other fulfill God’s will for us in this commandment.

Now, let’s look at what this commandment forbids:

Q80. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? A80. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own (1 Tim. 5:8; Pr. 28:19) or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate (Pr. 21:17, and 23:20, 21; Eph. 4:28

Not only does God require that we procure and further our wealth in just measure, and help other’s to the same end—but also that we don’t be stupid with our work and wealth, and that we don’t hurt other people’s wealth.

Proverbs 28:19 ESV

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

Worthless pursuits are forbidden. What is a worthless pursuit? Something that is a poor financial decision as a steward that would damage your wealth or seriously risk it (and the same applies to those around us).

As always—moderation, wisdom and balance is key. But the opposite of moderation is abuse and foolishness. One area that our world seems to seriously struggle with is the abuse of alcohol which damages our wealth and provision for ourselves, our families, and those around us:

Proverbs 23:20–21 ESV

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Drunkenness is a sin in itself for failing to maintain a state of being sober-minded to love God with all your heart and to use his gifts well and not abusively. But it is also a sin because it misuses the wealth that God has entrusted to us. God did not entrust us with wealth so that we would spend it poorly, foolishly, and selfishly. He gave us wealth to use it wisely, for our good, and the benefit of others.

How often do you see families that are really struggling, paycheque to paycheque, but you see them going through a couple packs of beer each week. (I know it’s not that simple always)—but maybe sometimes it is? Maybe sometimes it’s just a failure to steward our money accordingly. This principle applies to all of us. God forbids that we use our stewardship in any way that would harm us, our family, or those around us who are in need. Thus Paul says:

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

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.

This is an incredible verse. Paul here applies the 8th Comandment and reminds us that stealing someone’s property is forbidden, and Paul shows that the anecdote to stealing is good and honest work with his own hands, for the glory of God, because Christ has forgiven us, and has called to holiness—but why? Why does God call us to work? So that we can share with anyone in need.

This is the purpose of our stewardship and finances and property—it’s not inward focused, it’s outward focused. It’s not for luxury, but for sacrifice. It’s not for building our earthly kingdom, but for contribution to God’s heavenly kingdom.

How do we view our money? Do we view our money as if we are a steward of it? Or a master of it? My friends, we are all entrusted with pay so that we can use it for the glory of God. God get’s the firstfruits. God get’s the best of the lump. God’s will for us is not that we harbour our money up foolishly, or that we give foolishly, but that we save wisely and give wisely.

That we store up in a just measure, and that we give sacrificially for his kingdom. How are you doing in that? How am I doing in that? When was the last time we looked at our household budget and how much we were spending on ourselves versus on the Lord’s work? God give us wisdom, repentance if needed, and a greater sacrifice to see His kingdom come and His will be done, on earth as it is on heaven, and may He give us grace and opportunity to be used for the work of the Great Commission.

Let’s hear from our Lord Jesus on the matter of how we are using his talents in relation to the Kingdom of God:

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

How are we investing with the wealth that God has invested with us? Are we storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? Are we living in luxury with much more than we need? Or living with just what we need, and a bit more for enjoyment, but the rest is sacrifice, saving, and giving. I love this proverb:

Proverbs 30:7–9 ESV

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

May we not desire poverty nor riches, but godliness and contentment. May we remember that we are passing away—and to invest in the temporal things is to invest in a sinking ship. But to invest in the Kingdom of God, the church of Jesus Christ, the mission of the kingdom to every nation, tribe, and tongue (both here and to the ends of the earth), this is to invest in eternal realities which shall bring eternal reward in the presence of our eternal King.

Luke 12:48 ESV

But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

May we remember that whatever we have is ultimate God’s, and that we are stewards who are called to use it for his purposes. May God help me, and all of us, to be better and more faithful stewards of his varied grace, gifts, talents, finances, callings, and opportunities. And as we are living in faithfulness in this way, may we be content in the Lord. Watson says:

A. 2. Be content with the estate God hath given you: Heb. 13:5., “Be content with such things as ye have.” Believe that your condition is best, [however] God carved [it] out to you. We shall not need these things long; we shall carry nothing out of the world with us; if we have but enough to bear out our charges to heaven, it is sufficient.

Well, some of you are saying, Pastor—you’ve showed me what I’m called to do with my finances, property, and relations, and what I’m forbidden to do, but why? Why should I obey? Why should I use my money for the glory of God?

To that I give two answers: (1) You are God’s creature and must submit to God as your Creator and Ruler. (2) If you’re a Christian, then you have the joy of following Jesus as your Redeemer and Friend. Oh look to all that Christ Jesus has done to saves wretched sinners, to save thieves and foolish men and women, to save us helpless and evil people. Look to Jesus and you will find strength divine, by faith, in the Spirit, to take all that you are and use it for Him alone.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Jesus Christ was for all eternity past in the presence of his Father, and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The blessed Trinity was rich beyond measure in perfect delight, bounty, glory, majesty, splendour, joy, perfection, beauty, loveliness, might, and satisfaction. God forever existed as the Father, loving His Son, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us about the glory that he had with the Father before the foundation of the world. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit were perfectly and divinely rich in their satisfying and holy fellowship.

Yet, Paul says, yet: though Jesus was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that we might, by his poverty, become rich.

Jesus left the throne of heaven and became a nursing babe. He was born by the Virgin Mary and took upon himself true humanity, with all the afflictions of common life (yet without sin). He grew up from infancy and grew in obedience at every point of his childhood. He never did wrong but continually grew into perfect obedience at all points. He loved his parents, he was content with his estate, he never stole, he never harmed anyone, he never unjustly hindered himself or others. He loved God and his neighbour perfectly, personally, and perpetually for all of his days. And by the time He was 30 he began his public ministry of preaching, teaching, healing, and preparing for the Cross of Calvary. And though He was, according to His divine nature, perfectly and infinitely rich, yet according to his human nature, he became poor and even had no place to lay his head. He left the glories of heaven in order to obey the law in our place, that his obedience might be credited to our account. And He went to the poor and lowly and shameful condition of the Cross, He bore our sins and iniquities, He took the curse of the law upon his shoulders, He bore the wrath of God without measure, He drank the cup as if it was us on that cursed tree—and He satisfied the punishment due to us for our sins.

Though he knew no sin, he became sin for us (by bearing our sins), that in Him we might become the righteousness of God! That we might be forgiven of all of our trespasses and evil deeds. That we might be clothed in his perfect obedience from beginning to end.

Though he was rich in glory, he left the throne above and became a poor and lowly carpenter so that us poor and sinful men might become spiritual rich in salvation and brought to glory by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone!

Oh beloved! This Jesus Christ was then raised from the dead and ascended into heaven where he sits at the right Hand of the Power on High, where he reigns and rules as King over all creation, as Christ the Lord, and He is holding your eternal inheritance of everlasting riches in the New Jerusalem—He is holding your eternal blessing of everlasting life on your behalf. And in Him, you are a co-heir with Christ—you have a right to your Father’s mansion, and there is a room with your name on it.

Is that not enough motivation to love God with our finances and property? Look at all that He has done, giving us the right to become children of God. Oh let us run after Him whom our soul loves, in the power of the Spirit, and let’s use all that we are, and all that we have, to be faithful stewards for the glory of Christ the Lord!

Amen?

Conclusion + Big Idea

Read the Q+A’s Again:

Amen, let’s pray.