Dementia for 2

Today is the first day I have had off in 7 straight! I have been so tied up with working, that I just have not had the time to do anything! I am trying to post at least once a week so we can get through the 10 commandments in less than a year:). Here is the 8th commandment which is pretty straightforward.

You shall not steal. (Ex.20:15) Obviously, this commandment is about honesty. While God wants us to be prosperous and enjoy all the physical things He has for us, He does not want this to consume us. We are to be generous to others as He has been generous to us.

When we think of stealing, we automatically think of lifting something from a store. What about cheating on your taxes? Cheating on a test? Taking office supplies from work? Kidnapping or using fraudulent methods to gain some type of material wealth? Leaving a store knowing they gave you too much change back and not correcting them? These all fall under stealing.

Christ states in Ephesians 4:28, " 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."
Christ is very clear that we are to pass on to others what God has blessed us with.

According to Jewish teaching, this commandment includes; taking something from others without permission, kidnapping and using fraudulent weights and measures. Also included is robbery, and false accounting.

While some of the things listed above may not apply to us today, most of them do. We tend to take things without realizing it, or take because we think it is owed to us. The problem with this type of thinking is that little things turn into big things. Taking a pen can escalate into taking things of greater value in some cases. I know this sounds extreme, but it is about a pattern of behaviour. Once you get caught up in the pattern, like the roots of a tree it spreads to other aspects of your life. This can eventually lead to very dire consequences just ask Madoff.

This week our assignment is to really look at what we take and ask ourselves, "Am I stealing this?" If the answer is yes, put it back!! I have listed some verses in the N.T. belwo for you to peruse in your spare time on the 8th commandment.

I hope everyone has a great week and I will be back soon!

Eighth Commandment: Matthew 19:17-18; Romans 13:9, Ephesians 4:28