The Eighth Commandment

Introduction

Today is a bittersweet day. I am so happy for Vikki (and Neil) for their retirements, but the loss of Vikki’s presence, joy, and gentleness will be greatly missed.

However, I am thankful for Alyssa. She has fit right in and fits in with the office dynamics really well - and I am still the second youngest on staff, so there is that.

This week we are continuing in our series “The 10 Biggest Struggles of Your Life.” We have talked about idolatry, anger, worship, honor, rest, and sex. Following along with the decalogue — the 10 commandments, the 10 words — we now find ourselves at the 8th commandment:

Exodus 20:15 NIV

15 “You shall not steal.

I remember a time in high school when my friends and I would go to McDonald’s to eat. We would usually order an insane amount of food from the dollar menu and then proceed to ask for a water cup. Of course, if you have a water cup, you shouldn’t go to the soda machine and take soda. We didn’t pay for it, but every time we went a courageous friend of mine would fill his cup with soda rather than pressing the little water tab.

And — lets be frank. We’ve all done this. We know that no whistles or sirens go off. McDonald’s doesn’t call the police or place customers in captivity.

But one time, my friend thought he could get away with it, like every other time. However, McDonald’s bravest employee showed up for their shift that day. They walked over and said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize we were supposed to charge you for a soda. Let’s go to the register and ring that up.”

My friend turned red very fast that day — and held off for a few weeks before he would try it again. After all, he did get caught stealing.

Do Not Steal

Scripture says in Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal.”

Theft comes in many forms. Bernie Madoff oversaw a Ponzi scheme that went on for years. He stole so much money that we don’t even know exactly how much he stole. They estimate that he stole between nine and twenty-one billion dollars. Biggest Ponzi scheme in American history — and Madoff was the former chairman of Nasdaq!

Stealing isn’t just the fear of being mugged. Stealing happens all over the place.

In early 2009, there was a news story about a Catholic priest in Florida who had been taking money from the offering plates. The Church figured he had stolen over a twenty-year period. They knew he had stolen at least $800,000 from the church in recent years. Over the twenty-year period they estimate he had stolen nearly 20 million dollars from the church. Now, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a priest drive a fancy car or live in a giant home — so what did he steal all that for? To care for the woman he was in a hidden relationship with.

Scripture says, “You shall not steal.” This is not news to anyone. We know this before we’ve ever read the 10 commandments or knew God’s character.

Isaiah 61:8 tells us of God’s character — of his holiness. God says,

Isaiah 61:8 NIV

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

So, why do the Ten Commandments include “you shall not steal?” Because God loves justice and he knew once sin had entered the heart we would not love justice. We just love ourselves.

Jesus understood this reality when he chose the twelve. He knew each of them had their weaknesses. We can see the weakness of the one in charge of the money bag — Judas.

John 12:1–6 NIV

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Before Judas betrayed Jesus, he was a thief. He stole just like the Catholic priest did.

But what is the purpose of including a commandment on stealing amongst a people wandering the desert without any possessions or stable homes?

Some scholars believed the command “You shall not steal” was meant to state “You shall not kidnap.” I find that difficult to believe. In a closely integrated tribal community like Israel a kidnapped victim would be exceptionally difficult to hide nor would it be a common offence.

This, like many of the others, was a general command meant to cover a lot of ground. From the small things to the large things.

In ancient near eastern cultures they would often invoke the death penalty for any form of theft. Good thing that God rejects such a position. He rejects that because there is much higher value on human life than on personal possessions.

But as I said, the command is meant to be interpreted as broadly as possible. Martin Luther wrote,

A person steals not only when he robs a man’s strong box or his pocket, but also when he takes advantage of his neighbor at the market, in a grocery shop, butcher stall, wine and beer cellar, workshop, and, in short, wherever business is transacted and money is exchanged for goods or labor.

It was never meant to focus specifically on an individual dressed like the McDonald’s ham burglar. It includes the CEO who exploits their workers to increase their profit margins. It includes the employees who "steal” things like pens and paper clips from their place of work.

But we are not all here to get a lesson on business ethics or to be reminded that we shouldn’t steal paperclips. We are here to learn the root cause of why God inserted this command among the ten to his people.

I believe the reason this command was included because the human heart has a tendency to gravitate toward the desire to posses more. What we possess and the desire to posses more — whether in material goods, influence (which is a form of possession of people), sex (the possession of persons), or other matters — have the potential to become the primary center of meaning and value in life, the ultimate value and thus the claim that has the force of another god.

We can use our material goods, influence, sexuality, and other matters in very destructive ways. For example, in a world where many advocate the importance of free-market economies, we need to recognize that those who take advantage of such circumstances to enrich themselves inappropriately at the expense of others do not contribute toward the general well-being of society. They are stealing and exploiting others for their own selfish benefit and comfort.

There are plenty of narratives and words of wisdom in Scripture that discuss how theft is destructive to the community and to faith. Joshua 6 and 7 detail how a group of people took “herem” from God.

Herem is used only of taboo property reserved for God. Reservation is achieved by total destruction, and the same applies where the enemy is declared ḥerem. Consequently, taking enemy property as reward instead of destroying it amounts to misappropriation of ḥerem, a crime that will incur divine anger.

In Joshua 6 and 7, when Achan takes booty from Jericho, in spite of the city’s having been declared ḥerem (Josh 6:17), divine anger manifests itself in military defeat for Israel (Josh 7:1–12). In punishment, Achan is to be stoned and burned, along with his family, livestock, and possessions, including specifically the ḥerem property taken by him and also the tent in which it had been concealed (Josh 7:22–25).

This is distrust that God will care for you, so you take matters into your own hands.

Similarly, theft could have disrupted the Kingdom of God in the book of Acts. Acts 5 details the narrative of Ananias and Sapphira who sold their property for the benefit of the Kingdom, then decided to keep a portion of the money for their own benefit. Their theft ended with God’s judgement upon them — a message that theft, nor any vice, will stop the Kingdom of God from advancing. A message that your wants do not come before the needs of others.

Ultimately, theft takes away from the Kingdom mission of God and it is void of love.

The food thief makes other go hungry; the work thief interrupts the organizational mission; the kidnapper tears apart a family; the organizational thief steals healthy family and work place dynamics. All of these thieves, and all the list of every other form of theft — whether it is of time, money, materials, or persons — are void of love. The actions of their heart claim, “I hate my neighbor and I do not trust God.”

But for those who are in Christ Jesus, they are called to a better way. A way of love. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:28

Ephesians 4:28 NIV

28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

We do not steal because it destroys social cohesion. Rather, we work, we give, we support so that we can share with those who are in need. So that we can love our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and we can love our neighbor like ourselves.

Paul writes this because it is not a simple “do not” but a movement toward the working of God in our lives: sharing with those in need, being a blessing, to being a giver.

We have all been a thief — in small ways or large ways. We have exploited the efforts, work, and finances of others. But Jesus came into this world to give us life, not to take it away.

He suffered and was crucified for our sins. Uniquely, he suffered and was crucified between two thieves. Rather than hanging there alone, he was between two thieves, one on his right and the other on his left. Luke 23:39-43 details the exchange

Luke 23:39–43 NIV

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

That is the gospel. The good news. Though we are prone to steal life from others in destructive ways, Jesus came to give life to the full for you and you and you.

Do not steal — Instead, give your life this moment to Jesus. Drink from the rivers of living water. Turn and give life to someone who is need. This is the way of Jesus. Will you pray with me?