4.9.36 7.31.2022 Honoring Work Exodus 20.15

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Exodus 20:15 ESV

15 “You shall not steal.

Entice: It is easy to prohibit. It can be difficult to understand the principle violated or the purpose derailed by what is prohibited.

Engage:

What exactly is violated by stealing?

Is that even the proper question?

Maybe we should ask,

“who is violated?”

What does a thief or potential thief need to be taught about stealing?

Moral lessons?

Be sneakier,

or meaner,

faster,

or more clever?

Additionally, it can be a very abstract conversation or really practical. Is it a matter of morality or property? Is it more about your violated rights or my bad behavior?

Expand: For Israel, all property belonged to God. The key was stewardship not ownership. This is a bedrock Biblical principle regarding all property or wealth. It is all God's. This is taught in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

My goal is not necessarily novel interpretation of scripture. One of the goals of exegesis is understanding the repeatable, sensible principle that forms any passage of scripture. In this case I think it is important, particularly when deriving universal principles from the 10 commandments, to make sure we don't just turn the commands into easy, pointless, rote moralism’s, and leave the details to the government. There is an important principle at stake, and it goes beyond the mere prohibition.

That neglected principle?

Work is good,

noble,

and

necessary.

Stealing denies God’s good work

And

All other Work

Stealing is a "shortcut". Stealing presumes to benefit from the work of others. A few weeks ago, we spoke about work with relationship to the Sabbath. The same underlying, creation principle informs the commandment about stealing.

If I steal

I disrespect God's work

and

your work

by not doing

my work

and gloaming off the labor of others.

Excite: A thief knows neither the sacrifice nor satisfaction which comes from consuming the fruit of one’s own labor. A thief does not know the pride which comes from craftsmanship nor the challenge of a career. A thief does not accept the limitations of work because he expects others to do it for him. Only taking he never gives.

Ecclesiastes 3:22 ESV

22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Explore:

Rejoice in your work and you won't rob God, your employer, the local store, or yourself.

Explain: Theft threatens society, work strengthens society by providing

Body of Sermon:

Stable Living

Not necessarily wealth, not necessarily plenty, but the stability of needs being met

Acts 20:33–35 ESV

33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Paul considered laziness to be a form of theft in which the able-bodied rob the weak or vulnerable.

Paul also understood that our primary audience is not other people, but God. God gave us the skills and abilities by which we earn our keep, as well as the Spiritual gifts which enrich our lives. furthermore he reminds us that...

Colossians 3:23 ESV

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Again, Paul reminds his churches that work builds homes and communities, idleness undermines homes and communities

2 Thessalonians 3:7–12 ESV

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

We are blessed to live in a time when the hours we work are much shorter than our ancestors.

Even now there is nothing more galling than those who rob others through idleness. I’d almost rather be burgled! Either way the principle is the same. God values work. We should too.

Secondly work allows for

Liberal Giving.

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 ESV

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Is there a less willing, able, or more reluctant giver than someone whose reaping is sparse because of little sowing?

In the same way, Paul reminds us that the reformed thief has overflowing integrity allowing him to share with those who have needs

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

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.

Acts 20:35 ESV

35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

The blessing of giving begins with working, providing for your family, being content and using that overflow to help others. It is more blessed to give…but you must have something to give.

Shut Down:

The world is not fair. Many good, godly, Christian people are caught up in large-scale theft, graft, and destruction. We trust that God will provide judgement and vengeance.

Big or small our culture endorses and gamifies various forms of theft. The ethic of the day seems to teach “it isn’t wrong if you don’t get caught.”

God knows. And you know. We make a home by providing. We extend God’s love by giving. You cannot give what you have not earned.

For us the pledge is to honor the work God gives us and help those who are hurting.

Children are often asked: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" This question assumes that our labor is empowering and defining. When someone's dream is deferred or derailed they can find themselves in that difficult place where their labor only is about surviving, not thriving. In those circumstances it almost feels like our time itself is being stolen. This stark command reminds us that we live in a world of givers and takers. Which, will you choose to be?