The Eighth Commandment: Do We Trust God Enough?

Exodus 20:15 KJV 1900

15 Thou shalt not steal.

BIG IDEA:

Stealing is not merely a problem with our hands; it is often a problem with our trust.

When we take what God has not given me, I am saying, “God, I don't trust You to give me what I need.”

“What we are incapable of doing, Jesus has done for us already.”

INTRO:

Exodus 20:1-15

“Thou shalt not steal.”

Recap:

Last week I showed how we are all Adulterers...

The week before last I should that we are all guilty of Murder…

This week we will take a look at another command, but this week we know we are guilty

I think every single person in this room can admit,

‘Yep. I've broken this one.’”

We have all stolen

loose change

candy

your brother's toy

etc.

So I have to ask the real hard question, are you a thief?

Pause.

“Don't answer out loud.

I don't want to know.”

But we have a tendency to SHRINK God's commandment

until it CONDEMNS something smaller than what we're actually guilty of.

“We don't just BREAK God's commandments. We redefine them so we can FEEL like we're keeping them.”

So maybe the question isn't simply, ‘Have I ever stolen something?’” Maybe the better question is, ‘Why do I steal?’”

And that leads directly into TODAYS MESSAGE:

DO YOU TRUST GOD ENOUGH?

I. THE COMMAND IS BIGGER THAN STEALING

Exodus 20:15 KJV 1900

15 Thou shalt not steal.

Martin Luther said

In his commentary on ten commandments which is written over 500 years ago

“This command requires more than not stealing to fulfill this command, it also requires generosity. So it's not just keep your hands off of what is not yours, that's only half of it, it's also give, freely fully, and lovingly to everyone.

So obviously taking something that belongs to someone else is wrong, but Scripture backs up Martin Luther's quote on this principle.

Ephesians 4:28 KJV 1900

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Paul doesn't simply say:

“Stop stealing.”

He says:

Stop taking and

start giving.

The opposite of stealing: isn't merely keeping your hands off other people's stuff. It's generosity.

“God doesn't just say, ‘Don't take.’”

“God says, ‘Learn to give.’”

“Don't just stop being a thief.”

“Become generous.”

SO HOW AND WHERE DO WE STEAL?

We steal time.

We steal credit.

We steal attention.

We steal trust.

We steal someone's reputation through gossip.

We steal someone's peace through manipulation.

We steal reconciliation by refusing to forgive.

We steal from others when everything has to revolve around us.

AFTER LOOKING AT ALL THAT IT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO SHRINK THIS COMMAND DOWN: And suddenly this commandment isn't nearly as comfortable as we thought it was.”

“What we are incapable of doing, Jesus has done for us already.”

II. WHAT WE TAKE REVEALS WHAT WE TRUST

Ask:

“Why do we steal?”

Because we want something.

Let take that a step deeper, what is underneath that desire ?

“I don't believe I have enough.”

A Little Deeper

“I don't believe God will provide what I need.”

Matthew 6:31–32 KJV 1900

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Then:

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

“Jesus says, ‘Your Father knows what you need.’”

“So what happens when I don't believe that?”

“I start trying to get it myself.”

This is the heart of todays sermon:

“Stealing is what happens when I try to provide for myself what I don't trust God to provide.” REMEMBER: “What we are incapable of doing, Jesus has done for us already.”

III. STEALING EXPOSES THE SIN UNDER THE SIN

The outward sin:

Stealing.

The inward sin:

Unbelief.

TURN WITH ME PLEASE

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

LETS ALSO LOOK @

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

PASTOR HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?

“Why do I steal praise ?”

“Because I don't believe God's approval is enough.”

“Why do I steal recognition?”

“Because I don't believe being known by God is enough.”

“Why do I steal money?”

“Because I don't trust God to provide.”

“Why do I steal attention?”

“Because I don't believe I am secure in who God says I am.”

“Why do I steal love?”

“Because I don't believe God's love is enough.”

“The problem isn't always that I want something bad. Sometimes the problem is that I want something good… so badly that I am no longer willing to trust God for it.”

Lets look at someone who couldn't trust God and give it all up to God.

Mark 10:17–22 KJV 1900

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

The rich young ruler comes to Jesus:

“Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Jesus walks him through the commandments.

And the man says:

Mark 10:20 KJV 1900

20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Basically:

“I've got this one covered, Jesus.”

Has this not been use every week?

Every week jesus has done the same to us that He did to this young man,

Jesus puts His finger directly on the man's heart.

Mark 10:21 KJV 1900

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

What did he decide to do, lets continue:

Mark 10:22 KJV 1900

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

“What did Jesus expose?”

Not merely his possessions.

His trust.

“He trusted his possessions more than he trusted Jesus.”

“Jesus wasn't just asking,

‘Can you give your money away?’”

“Jesus was asking,

‘Do you trust Me enough to let go?’”

DO WE TRUST GOD ENOUGH?

V. WE ARE ALL THIEVES BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SELF-SUFFICIENT

Let’s return to the Ten Commandments.

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

James 2:10 KJV 1900

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

“The law is not a ladder that we climb.” “It's a wall that we crash into.”

“The question isn't,

Can I find a way to prove that I'm not a thief?’

The question is,

What has this commandment exposed about my heart?

VI. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON'T TRUST GOD

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

“Every time I take matters into my own hands because I don't believe God will take care of me,

I'm demonstrating a lack of trust.

“I steal because I don't trust.”

“I hoard because I don't trust.”

“I manipulate because I don't trust.”

“I lie because I don't trust.”

The eighth commandment isn't just asking,

What are you taking?

It's asking, ‘Who are you trusting?’”

VII. BUT WHERE WE TAKE, JESUS GIVES

We've spent a lot of time talking about what we take. Now let me show you what Jesus gives.”

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 8:32 KJV 1900

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

God is a giving God.

“We take.”

“He gives.”

“We steal.”

“He supplies.”

“We withhold.”

“He gives freely.”

“We don't trust.”

“He proves Himself trustworthy.”

JESUS TOOK OUR PLACE

Luke 23:32–33 KJV 1900

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Jesus is hanging between two criminals.

Then:

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree...”

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

At the cross, Jesus was treated like the thief so that thieves like us could be treated like sons.”

IN OTHER WORDS

We took what wasn't ours. Jesus took what was ours.”

Our sin.

Our judgment.

Our condemnation.

And He gives us:

His righteousness.

His forgiveness.

His acceptance.

His life.

IX. THE GOSPEL TEACHES US TO LIVE OPEN-HANDED

LETS GO BACK TO THE BEGINGING

2 Corinthians 9:7

“...God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Acts 20:35

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

“Why can I give?”

“Because I don't have to take anymore.”

“Why don't I have to take?”

“Because my Father knows what I need.”

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION — “DO YOU TRUST GOD ENOUGH?”

So let me ask you the question I asked you at the beginning.” Pause.

“Are you a thief?”

“Maybe you've never walked into a store and stolen something.”

“Maybe you've never taken money that wasn't yours.”

“Maybe you've never cheated anybody.”

“But what does your heart do when you don't think you have enough?”

Do you take?

Do you manipulate?

Do you hoard?

Do you demand?

Do you steal attention?

Do you steal credit?

Do you steal love?

Do you steal peace?”

“DO YOU TRUST GOD ENOUGH?”

Proverbs 3:5 KJV 1900

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.

We don't have to prove that you're trustworthy enough for God.

Jesus has already proven that He is trustworthy enough for us.

We are thieves.

But He is faithful.

We take.

He gives.

We don't trust.

He remains trustworthy.”

The eighth commandment doesn't just ask, What have you taken? It asks, Do you trust the God who has already given you everything you could never earn?

Final Scripture

Romans 8:32 KJV 1900

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Watch this progression:

I steal → Why do I steal? → I don't trust →

The law exposes me → Jesus took my place → Jesus gives what I could never take → Therefore, I can live open-handed because I trust God.

Absolutely. For this message, I would keep the invitation simple, quiet, and centered on trust rather than making it about simply confessing that we're thieves.

Altar Call:

Prayer before the invitation:

“Father, we thank You for Your Word.

Lord, today You have shown us that the problem isn't simply what we take with our hands, but what is happening in our hearts.

Forgive us for the times we've tried to take for ourselves what we should have trusted You to provide.

Forgive us

For the times we've held on instead of giving.

For the times we've sought from people what only You can give.

For the times we've trusted ourselves more than we've trusted You.

And Lord, thank You that where we have failed, Jesus has been faithful.

Help us to trust You.

Help us to surrender to You.

Help us to believe that You really are enough.

In Jesus' name, Amen.”

Invitation:

Maybe this morning,

God has put His finger on something in your life.

Maybe He's shown you something you've been holding onto.

Maybe

you've been trying to get your security from money.

Maybe your approval from people.

Maybe your identity from your success.

Maybe you've been trying to control everything because you don't really trust God with it.

And maybe today you simply need to come and say,

‘Lord, I trust You.’

You don't have to explain it to anybody.

You don't have to tell anybody what God is dealing with in your heart.

But you can bring it to Him.

The altar is open.

If God has spoken to your heart,

I want you to come now.

Come and surrender it to Him.

Come and say, ‘Lord, I don't want to live like I have to take everything for myself. I want to trust You.’

The altar is open. You come.

Dismissal Prayer

“Father, thank You for meeting with us today. Thank You for reminding us that everything we need is found in You.

Help us this week to trust You instead of taking matters into our own hands.

Help us to be generous with what You've given us.

Help us to give freely, love freely, and serve freely.

And when we're tempted to hold on, remind us that You have already given us Your greatest gift—Jesus Christ.

Help us to leave here trusting You more than when we came.

In Jesus' name, Amen.