You shall not steal.

More Than Just the Theft of Goods

Stealing Integrity

There's more. There are immaterial concerns that are of even greater import to a man. Our reputation, our honor, our integrity; all these things certainly ought to mean more to us than our things. A poor man of good repute is in far better shape than a rich man known for doing whatever it takes to get ahead. When circumstances make their outward situations equal, it will be the inward qualities that make the difference. A reputation for wealth will last only as long as the wealth that built it. So also, a reputation for integrity. Each lasts only as long as the supply it is founded on. Yet, when integrity is gone, wealth will not carry you very far. But when wealth is gone, integrity will still serve you well.

If, then, by our actions we injure the reputation of another, if our comments are such as deceive others into thinking him less honorable, we have indeed stolen from the man that which is worth far more to him. The destruction of a reputation is a terrible thing, and so often, it's such an insidious action that we don't even see it happening. We are even less likely to recognize the true situation when it is our own tongue doing the deed. How easy it is to speak poorly of our coworkers, of our neighbors, of whomever, and still think we are clean in regard to stealing. But we're not.

What about cynical, derisive comments? These are common enough, certainly, around the workplace and around other events. They're common, but are they harmless? Hardly. Sure, our targets may laugh them off, but we are slowly chipping away at their worth in their own sight. Not only this, but we are taking away from their joy in what God has made them. These things sound funny to us, but the long-term buildup of such comments on an individual can be devastating.

Stealing Salvation

Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ever think of this passage as an expansion on the commandment we're studying? If our words are not for the purpose of building up our hearer in the Lord, then we are stealing grace from him! God has provided us with the words that fit the need of the moment. If we refuse to speak them, but speak instead our own dead thoughts, we are stealing from all who hear us! All that we do ought to help our neighbor to grow in grace, to come to saving faith and knowledge of Christ Jesus, to walk in holiness. We ought, perhaps, to pray that all their actions and words would likewise aid us. So much of this, as Jesus pointed out, and Paul as well, is simply details of expressing God's perfect love into the world at large. We are His ambassadors, we are His proclamation to the world that there is hope. We simply must come to the place in our walk of faith that we can express that love.

Mt 21:13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a robbers' den."

Jesus spoke these words to a crowd that was profiting off of those who sought God. The earnest hungerers after God were being preyed upon by those who were supposed to be ministering to them. The shepherd had turned out to be a wolf. This still happens all too often today, and it's not just the pastorate that practices such theft upon its people.

There are entertainers and businessmen who seek to capitalize on the selling power of Jesus' name. There are politicians who seek the votes that a toss-off prayer can capture. There are those of us in the pews - soaking up the words of God and refusing to share them back out to those in need. There are those of us who will not pray for the salvation of the lost in earnest. We are robbing them of something worth more than gold and silver, worth more than the best earthly reputation. We are robbing them of life.

Father, may we repent of our easy ways. May we repent of our self-satisfaction. May we repent of our failure to give from our bounty. Oh, God! We have known so much of Your blessings upon us, we hear and hear and hear, we are blessed by more teachers than we can hope to comprehend in our lifetime, yet in so many ways we haven't heard at all. Change us, oh Lord. Soften our hearts to act upon Your command, to pass on the things You have taught us, to set ourselves to the task of doing those good works You have prepared for us, that none may be robbed of the good You have sought to do them through us.

From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

• The eighth commandment requires the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
• The eighth commandment forbids whatsoever does, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbor's, wealth or outward estate.

From Calvin's Institutes: