WHAT’S MINE IS GOD’S

“You Shall Not Steal” — Exodus 20:15

 

THE PROBLEM OF THEFT

 

THE PATHOLOGY OF THEFT

 

  • It signals a deficiency of love

 

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

 

Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts.

They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them. Isaiah 1:23 (NIV)

 

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 (NIV)

 

 

  • It signals a defiance of law

 

“nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:10 (NIV)

 

  • It signals a deviance of values

 

Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)

 

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

 

15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15 (NIV)

 

  • It signals a distortion of hope

 

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28 (NIV)

 

4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4 (NIV)

 

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)

 

THE ANTIDOTE TO THEFT — GENEROSITY

 

  • Give to God what is God’s

 

2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)

 

8 Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How are we robbing you? In tithes and offerings.

9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, ” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:8-12 (NIV)

 

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

 

  • Give to Others what is due

 

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. James 5:1-6 (NIV)

 

  • Give to the Poor as to Christ

 

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

 

42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42 (NIV)

 

4 However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. Deuteronomy 15:4-5 (NIV)

 

7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (NIV)

 

God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:33-35 (NIV)

 

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV)

 

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

 

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