Dakota Community Church
August 24, 2014
Taking It
Summer Series at Dakota: The 10 Commandments
Exodus 20:15
You shall not steal.
Key thought:
Because human beings are created in the image of God, the principle of giving God HIS due is carried over to our neighbour. We owe our neighbour righteousness and justice in our dealings with him/her even if he/she is an enemy by virtue of the divine image every person bears.
“We need a new psychological climate based on responsibilities instead of rights.”
Henry Grunwald (Time Magazine 30 March 1992 pg. 74)
The commandments stress what we owe others, not what we have the right to expect of them.
The prohibition of murder defends the value of human life; God forbids adultery protecting marriage and the family, and this decree against theft requires us to respect our neighbours right to private property.
If it is a crime to take something that belongs to someone else THEN the offended party has the right of ownership.
Exodus 22:1-9
If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
5 If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.
6 If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.
7 If a man gives to his neighbour money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbour's property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbour.
A thief must make restitution… paying back double… paying from his best… being sold
Justice in God’s design is meant to satisfy the victim and restore relationship where possible.
No one has the right to invade another person’s property, to use or remove another person’s possessions without permission or to in any other way deny the right to life, freedom & property.
Romans 2:21
…you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
1. All my stuff and the concept of stewardship
Main Idea:
God is the sovereign owner of all He has created both people and things; so then, my ownership of my stuff is not ultimate rather it is derived from God’s kind permission.
We are treat everything as on loan from God.
Jonah 4:11
And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?
Exodus 23:4-5,12
If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.
Deuteronomy 25:4
You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
Proverbs 12:10
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
God owns the land and all that grows, lives, moves, and works upon it. He will not hold him guiltless who raises himself above God to rule as a tyrant rather than as a humble custodian.
2. Taking it: the many ways I am a thief
We violate the eighth commandment by “taking advantage of our neighbour in any sort of dealing that results in loss to him.” - Martin Luther (Large Catechism)
A person steals not only when he robs a man’s safe or pocketbook, but anytime he takes advantage of his neighbour in the marketplace whether by over-charging, under-performing, or failing to deliver as promised.
A.) Just taking it outright
I see it, I want it, it’s yours; but I take it as mine.
Could not be more clear, I dare say most of us have done it at some time. You may find temptation to be more challenging than you anticipate before facing it.
My inheritance and Michelle’s instructions - surprised by the struggle to do right.
We also commit out right theft by fraud.
Failure to honour our commitments, to pay our debts, or to fulfill our contracts.
Outright theft by extortion; Christians are obligated to charge fair prices, not to take advantage just because it is common or legal to do so.
Outright theft by excessive interest is also forbidden.
B.) Generational theft
We really are spending our kids inheritance and it’s not funny.
Greed is a sin.
Isaiah 58:6-10
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
When we live beyond our means, individually and corporately, accumulating debt we can never repay and consuming everything on our lusts; we are stealing from our future progeny.
C.) Exploitation and the fallacy known as “business ethics”
Understand this: there is no such thing as business ethics, either you are ethical in all your dealings or you are unethical.
It is wrong to cheat someone in every environment including the business world. You cannot be a Christian at home and at church and a back stabbing liar who will do anything to make a dollar at work.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
It is not a sin to be rich however the evangelical world is flooded with prosperity teaching to the point that many believe it is a sin to be content with food and clothing.
We have come to view greed, selfish ambition, and materialism as christian virtues; they are not!
We must resist the temptation to drift into an “As long as I get mine” mindset.
D.) Failure to deliver: theft by laziness and waste
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
…aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
We work to win unbelievers and to avoid being dependant on the community.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
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 know that this does not apply to those who are unable to work because Paul takes up collection on his journey for those who are in need whether by economic persecution or by illness.
Christian employers have a responsibility to treat their employees fairly, christian employees are obligated not to steal by laziness or waste in return.
3. The thief on the cross
Are you guilty here this morning?
Do you suddenly find yourself shocked by the realization that you are a violator of the 8th commandment?
I want to close by directing your attention to three thieves in the bible, three thieves hanging next to each other on three crosses outside of Jerusalem some 2000 odd years ago.
They all are suffering the wrath of Rome that day.
On one side of Jesus a mocker will follow that death with an eternal fate far worse than crucifixion for him the wrath of God will soon make Rome’s fury pale by comparison.
On the other side of Jesus a second guilty thief puts his faith in Jesus and is spared the wrath of God; how wonderful is the sweet, sweet unearned mercy of God!
How can I say there are three thieves though?
Jesus never took anything that was not his own. He is there as a thief, taking the place of every guilty thief for all time, all who turn to Him, thieves like you and like me.
Put your faith in Jesus.
This Sermon is largely extracted from the chapter “Trusting God’s Provision” in “The Law of Perfect Freedom” by Michael S. Horton. An excellent resource for any series on the Ten Commandments.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
Follow Dan on twitter: @DanCormie
