No Stealing

“Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15, KJV).

We don’t have to be reminded that stealing is illegally taking that which belongs to another. In a day when one’s property was limited and sustenance often depended on flocks or tools with which to work, a law on taking the property of another was included in the Decalogue. Stability in a society was (and is) dependent upon security of life, home and property. To take property from someone is a violation of their personhood and a sin against God who is ultimately the Owner of all that we have and are. Commandment eight needs to be heeded in this modern day.

Dr. B. Davie Napier, in his book Exodus (John Knox Press, 1963, p. 88) notes: “In the biblical faith, which in multiple ways affirms that ‘the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof’ (Psalm 24:1) and which understands community finally in terms of the God-man-man relationship, to take what is another’s—be it life, person, or property—is, of course to take what is Another’s: it is to violate God.”

There are other subtle ways of stealing than just taking property that belongs to another. We can “steal” the reputation of a good person by casting innuendoes on their character, or bearing false gossip about them. We can steal by not offering a “day’s work for a day’s wage.” Too many breaks at work can infringe on time allotted to and necessary for good job performance. Or otherwise loitering or using work time for personal pursuits is certainly a form of stealing. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:28 the antidote for stealing and also gave sound advice about helping others: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Thursday, August 12, 2010