Stealing

The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28 – NKJV).

Therefore, he who was formerly a thief because he took pleasure in taking possession of his neighbor’s goods by fraud and violence, now he must not steal any longer, but rather he must labor, working honestly, so that he may help the needy. I would like you to notice that Paul says ‘working with his hands what is good’ or ‘doing something useful with his own hands’ (NIV) which means that a believer not only must work with his hands in order to conduct himself in a manner worthy of the Gospel, but he must also work honestly, that is, he must not cheat anybody through his work. Remember that Wisdom says: “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice” (Proverbs 16:8 – NKJV). Therefore, let no one deceive you with the following words which are on the lips of many people: ‘All people steal, so I also steal’.

Stealing is sin, yet the devil makes it appear lawful or innocuous, but it is neither lawful because God says: “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15 – NKJV), nor innocuous because Wisdom says: “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel” (Proverbs 20:17 – NKJV). Therefore, let us not associate with those who steal, lest we set a snare for our soul. I would like to say something else: even stealing something from one’s parents is sin, for Wisdom says: “Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, ‘It is no transgression,’ the same is companion to a destroyer” (Proverbs 28:24 – NKJV). And it is sin also to steal something in order to help the needy (on the contrary, the catholic ‘morality’ allows people to steal for this purpose because the Roman Catholic Church does not consider it an injustice).

According to the Scripture, slaves must not steal from their own masters but they must be obedient to them and show all good fidelity (Titus 2:9-10). Thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10).

Back