When teaching about the importance of the bases and foundations for a successful life, two schoolboys preparing to play professional football were surprised to learn that God had said, "You shall not steal." They realized stealing was wrong but did not know why. This eighth commandment in the Ten Commandments draws our attention how we think and how we live.
What is our approach? Will our emphasis on getting that instead of giving?
Robbery is a sign of the greed of man where it is believed that all will be well when purchasing materials or intangibles, regardless of the thoughts and feelings of others.
The boundaries and conventions established by society and God are despised and rejected, resulting in the epitome of selfishness. Almighty God has made us appreciate the needs and the rights of others. This commandment safeguards and protects our legitimate right to acquire and own property. Our approach to material wealth must be balanced. God wants us to use which gives wisdom. Possessions should never become our main quest in life.
Material blessings and wealth may be the means to achieve important objectives such as generosity instead of greed that motivates the choices we make.
This reflects the character of God that is so generous when it occurs and creates. In the eyes of God, giving and serving are more important than money grabbing and hoarding of goods.
"He who has been stealing, must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, which may have something to share with the needy. "That advice, given the disciples Jesus specifically said that before they came to faith in Christ, who had been thieves, and to provide education to stop stealing. How many require they are taught to stop stealing and make the massive transformation in the attitude to get to give?
Thieves can be forgiven – even those who have robbed God. Are not you glad? Some people may be unaware that they can rob God. How does that happen? Some people actually asked God: "How we robbed? "- And back came the reply:" In tithes and offerings. "Because people were not giving God a tenth of their income, plus to offer the offerings they brought the whole nation under a curse. Giving a tenth of their income was the law at that particular time.
We are no longer under law. We are free from the law when it comes to being right in God's eyes, but no doubt that freedom does not mean giving less. Now we are free to give more.
When Zacchaeus met Jesus Christ, he realized that he was a rogue. As a customs officer who had lined his own pocket. It had been a totally corrupt, God steal and rob God's people. The transformation in the life of Zacchaeus is amazing.
Knowing he had been a cheat and a swindler, he had to put things right and make restitution. He told Jesus that he would return to the people that had robbed four times what it had taken sinful.
God says that stealing is wrong. The funds are misappropriated in various commercial and business enterprises – United Nations Oil for Food " Iraq is now controlled. Even charities occasionally find people with their fingers in the box, and aid money from abroad is mysteriously diverted.
There is little "love thy neighbor", when man behaves in such an abominable manner.
Corruption occurs because the man is corrupt, and Jesus is correcting this consequence of the fall. We need to know that. Jesus Christ came to put right what went wrong.
Sandy Shaw
#6 – 60 seconds w/ Smiley with a Knife – 08-31-09
Comments on this entry are closed.