Pastor Mike guided us to read Ex 20:1-15.
This is the 8th in the Paradigm of Society Series.
Why do people steal?
1. These want a quick and easy way to get hold of things or money without having to work for it. (Eph 4:28, Pro 10:2, 4)Eph 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Pro 10:2, 4 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. … (4) A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
2. These have been influence / coached into doing it. (1 Cor 15:33; Pro 13:20)
1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."
Pro 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
We must be concerned with the company we keep. It is a reality that we become like out company. Instead of being influenced we want to be influencers for Christ.
3. Nobody was there to tell them that it is wrong and to correct them early. (Pro 22:6, 15; 13:24)
Pro 22:6,15 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. … (15) Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Train a child the moment he / she is born.
Pro 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
We don’t have to teach kids to do wrong. They will know how to. They will do it many times if we are not careful. We need to discipline them right from young. Do not wait until later.
We must never use our hands to discipline our children. Our hands are meant to show love, support and encouragement. Use a cane. Do not confuse the children … they must be clear the hands are to show love. Draw a clear boundary. We must never beat them until it leaves marks … that's violence.
We reap what we sow. If we don’t discipline our children, we don’t love our children. They will grow up to be not manageable and out of control.
What do we do with to children are much older? The cane no longer helps. The way to discipline is to deny them the privilege when they have clearly disobeyed some home rules.
4. Nobody was there to teach them to do right and to model for them right living. (Deut 6:6, 7)
Deu 6:6-7 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
It is in the daily affairs of life that we model our lives to our children.
Implications of this commandment
There are positive implications in this negatively phrased commandment.1. We are to respect all properties.
We want to see this begin in the church. Don’t take things that don’t belong to you.
2. We are not to take advantage of people.
In what ways can we take advantage of people? We can steal time from people or in the company. Those who don’t pull their weight around the office is stealing time from the company. Or paper, paperclips, etc. Employers are also stealing time from the employees. Sometimes meetings are called out of office hours. This is tragic and ridiculous. We can also take advantage of another person’s innocence.
When we hear a rumour. Pull the person aside and tell them what we heard. Tell them we do not intend to pass it along and ask them if it’s true. If it is not true, we will chastise the people spreading lies. If it is true, we have serious business to attend to.
3. We are to be occupied with good, useful and honest work. (2 Thess 3:10)
1Th 3:10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
All of use must work hard and work honestly.
4. We are to work hard and honestly so that we can share with others in need (cf Eph 4:28)
Eph 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
God will honour and bless us when we do good and honest work. When we are bless by God, we help others. That’s the whole purpose for us to work hard. We can earn and bless instead of depending on others.
The results
The results when this commandment is practiced in society:1. No worries about where we have left our things of monies.
We come back and it will still be there. We pray that this is true beginning within DUMC and translate it outside of the church.
2. We don’t have to lock our cars, houses and businesses.
This will be wonderful when we don’t have to worry about locking things out. We pray that we don’t even have to lock our cars in the Dream Centre compound.
3. Everybody lives with peace of mind.
There is no fear whatsoever.
4. The police will have less work or no work to do
What a glorious testimony when we live our this commandment.
5. It produces a society of great trust in one another.
No employees need to be checked. They will do their job honestly.
Questions for discussion
- What do you think are the reasons why people steal? Why do you think God placed the commandment in His “Top Ten”?
- What can we do, as an individual, as a cell group and as a church, to put into practice this Commandment and cultivate a society of trust and respect for one another’s property? What can you do in your workplace (or place of studies), neighbourhood and in church?
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