The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 49
“Do not steal.” (Exodus 20:15).
Theft is the increase of earthly wealth by illegal means, which is outside the boundaries of Yahoweh’s Law. Of course, this means don’t rob the bank, but is there more to this than meets the eye?
Men steal because it is one of the deep-seated evils we accept as comfort, however, “Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, so that he has somewhat to share with those in need.” (Ephesians 4:28). The whole goal of labour is not more and more stuff, but rather the greater riches of giving. A lazy day can never offer as much joy as helping the needy. A quick wrongful gain can offer no joy at all. Yet, for what do we work? Where does our money go?
A minister once told me, “I can tell you, with the greatest of ease, who or what someone worships, simply by looking at what they spend money on. He may claim to love his wife, but he spends more money on their children. She may claim to love her husband, but she spends more on shoes. The family may claim to love the Heavenly Father, but if they spend more on the devil, it is proof that they worship the one who taught them how to lie.”
While I have already written to you on tithing, that is just ten percent, and as I alluded to you therein, we cannot be good disciples, if we give Yahoweh Elohim 10%, and the devil the rest. To keep from breaking this commandment, it is well to make sure our education on handling our finances is up to par.
Over the last fifty years there has been over a trillion dollars given to aid, that has never reached those in need. To truly give, one must make certain that the tithe they are giving actually gets to the people in need. It is wonderful that so many people give, but it is sorrowful that more people do not make sure it is, not just getting to those in need, but is the need of those in peril.
“When we have food and covering, we shall be satisfied with these. But those wishing to be rich fall into trial and a snare, and into many foolish and injurious lusts which plunge men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some, by longing for it, have strayed from the belief, and pierced themselves through with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:8-10).
The church here in town once gave a man my number to call as he had many questions and seemed in need. I answered his questions and then he told me how he really needed some help financially. I asked him what he needed, and he told me that he needed music and a music player, a microwave, some more clothes, and help with renting his place. … This man was not in need.
“Let your way of life be without the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I shall never leave you nor forsake you,’” (Hebrews 13:5).
“He who loves silver is not satisfied with silver; nor he who loves wealth, and increase. That too is futile. With the increase of goods, there is an increase of those consuming them. What advantage then is there to their owners, but to look on? Sweet is the sleep of a labourer whether he eats little or much, but the plenty of the rich does not let him sleep.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
To those of you who steal, and to all of us who desire quick gain, it may help us to remember what is truly valuable. If you were choking to death on one of life’s cherries, then let me assure you that the wants of this world would flee, as all you will desire is air. Something we far too often take for granted. So let each of us give thanks every day for the air we breathe, the soil we tend, and the friends we have. No amount of money can buy the embrace of pure love. No coin can pay for the beauty of the ocean. No toil can earn you the gift of Salvation shared, or received. I beseech each one of you: Give thanks. Give thanks with your soul in praise and appreciation for the wonders of life.
While the gain of goods is by no means a sin, we should gain wealth only by means of labour or by gifts from others. While some see this as a lesser commandment, His Word affirms it is much more grievous than many churches care to examine, “Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the reign of Elohim? Do not be deceived. Neither those who whore, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor greedy of gain, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers shall inherit the reign of Elohim.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Thievery and greed are in the same category as what? Freedom and hope are in Yahoshuah, not in earthly wealth. Not all the glory in the world is worth a speck of the glory in the Kingdom of Heaven. Do not trade Light able to withstand the darkest night for gold that cannot sparkle without the sun.
“Do not oppress your neighbour or rob him. The wages of him who is hired is not to remain with you all night until morning.” (Leviticus 19:13). Robbery by fraud can be just as evil as robbery by gunpoint. Some companies have built their wealth by oppressing the poor through inadequate wages, leading to thievery by the employee who refuses to give an honest day’s work, or steals just so he can eat. Being lazy on the job is just as bad as the employer who steals by refusing to pay a sufficient wage. Yahoweh will deal with these men as noted in James 5:1-5. Those who refuse to give an honest wage will one day be judged by the same measurement they gave and withheld. Do you give an honest wage in your purchases? Or are those cheap prices based on child labour?
“The desire of the lazy man slays him, for his hands refused to work.” (Proverbs 21:25). Those who are lazy, and refuse to give an honest day’s work, soon find themselves unemployable, and, in their state of laziness, they will leech off the system, church, and people. They will rob, and we will help them by handing them our money again and again. If one can work, one ought work. If one cannot, then the town ought care for him or her. However, what one can do, one ought do. Even if all one can do is make small woodcarvings, or sympathy cards, then one ought do it, lest they find themselves unable to leech off the grace of the Most High. For what is faith without works, even if all you can do is pray?
The man who gains his livelihood by means approved by Yahoweh can rest peacefully at night, knowing that his treasures are laid up in Heaven where nothing can destroy or take them. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,” (Matthew 6:19). Sometimes it is hard to give up the sin that pays the bills, but it is wise to. The gold you think you have will turn to rust. Or your honesty will turn to peace. What will be in the storehouse of your heart? I pray it is filled with the trust that Yahoweh will take care of you as He does the sparrows. They toil and have hardships, and they too fall, but not apart from the eyes of Elohim. How blessed they are. How very blessed we are.
With thieves, though, it is not always done when you are not looking. Sometimes it is when a guest comes over and eats your food, but then never invites you, or serves you. This occurs in the ruthlessness of business quite often, and has thereby spread planed exchanges, rather than sharing. Planning, though, is not evil, and prevents, not just thievery, but the bitterness left in the heart of the one taken advantage of.
Once in awhile one of my friends, who own shops, will tell how they caught another shoplifter. I am never told whom, and I appreciate that, but there is something more I appreciate than the lack of gossiping: If someone steals a worthless item, like jewelry, they press charges against the thief, but if he is hungry, and is stealing just to eat, then he is told to never do it again, but then given food to eat.
Now some people are too honest to steal, and so they borrow and never pay back. “The wrongdoer is borrowing and does not repay, but the righteous one shows favour and gives.” (Psalms 37:21). Have you borrowed money, or items, and never returned them? Let us say that you borrowed your neighbor’s shovel, and, it broke. You offered to pay, but he said to not worry about it. He refused payment, so does this relieve you of your debt? No. Return the favor in another way so that your neighbor will know you as a just and caring man, and not just a leech to society. For by giving friendship and kindness, you will become known as Just and Caring, even if today your name is Mister Leech. Love, which is outgoing concern for others, always attempts to be fair in all financial dealings. By being fair, to both yourself and others, you can indeed fulfill the law of love. “Love does no evil to a neighbour. Therefore, love is completion of the Torah.” (Romans 13:10).
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” (Leviticus 19:11). Many things, from the use of false advertising, killing animals, cheating, from the classroom to taxes, government’s illegitimate taxes, taking because we allegedly deserve it, not sharing the gifts we have, or perhaps the theft of happiness by a bad mood, and robbing time from our children by working too much, violate this command. However, one of the greatest robberies of all time is not a heist that takes millions of dollars, rather the theft of a soul lost by our behaving as though we are not a new creation in the Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:17). Never steal Salvation from someone by not peacefully sharing your testimony; it’s the worst thievery you could ever commit.
Stealing can be forgiven, and it has been by our Messiah. However, regarding the most famous thief in history, we will see him in the Kingdom of Heaven. He was the man hanging upon a cross to the side of the Messiah. A man, who, though a sinner like me, had faith in the One to Whom I have yelled a thousand times, “Come back! You are no thief! I am! Come back! That cross … was mine.”
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure.” (John 10:10).
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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Additional Scripture References:
Deuteronomy 25:13-16, Malachi 3:5, Proverbs 11:1, 22:22-23, Ecclesiastes 5:12, Matthew 15:18-19, Mark 10:17-20, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Ephesians 4:11-17, 1 Peter 4:14-15, 1 Timothy 6:17, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Titus 2:9-10
