10C's #8 Stealing part b
You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15
What does stealing have to do with God? It's the ultimate expression of a renunciation of faith in God's provision. When we steal we deny that our Father can provide for us. Apostle James gives good insight into our dissatisfaction with our stuff and the solution to it.
If we want something, we should ask our Father about it. The answer might be "No." The desire might be selfish. The proper response is to humble ourselves before God, not fight or take what isn't ours.
I tend to own inexpensive things so that when they break or disappear, their minimal hold on me leaves me less emotional. But even when small things were stolen from me, I've gotten really mad. Theft is a different form of violation. It diminishes the community trust. When I am a victim of theft I lose confidence in my social network. Theft is more than taking other people's stuff, it's violating community, and community is important to God.
What does stealing have to do with God? It's the ultimate expression of a renunciation of faith in God's provision. When we steal we deny that our Father can provide for us. Apostle James gives good insight into our dissatisfaction with our stuff and the solution to it.
4:1 Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you? 2 You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask; 3 you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions. 4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” 7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. (NET)
If we want something, we should ask our Father about it. The answer might be "No." The desire might be selfish. The proper response is to humble ourselves before God, not fight or take what isn't ours.
I tend to own inexpensive things so that when they break or disappear, their minimal hold on me leaves me less emotional. But even when small things were stolen from me, I've gotten really mad. Theft is a different form of violation. It diminishes the community trust. When I am a victim of theft I lose confidence in my social network. Theft is more than taking other people's stuff, it's violating community, and community is important to God.
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