You shall not steal

Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal.

At first glance, you might think you don't steal and be tempted to ignore this commandment. However, a deeper look into the Bible reveals various ways you might be stealing.

Stealing is taking from others what doesn't belong to you. When you look at that way, you might be stealing from God, government, and others.

Steal from God

Malachi 3:8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.”

When we talk about the commandment 'do not steal,' we often think about stealing from others. However, one important aspect is that we can also steal from God. In the Bible, there's a unique way God poses questions and then answers them. In the last book of the Old Testament, God asks, 'Will mere mortals rob God?' He explains that we rob Him through our tithes and offerings.

When we keep what is meant for God, we are essentially stealing from Him. This idea comes from the Old Testament, where tithing was about giving a specific amount, usually one-tenth of our earnings. But in the New Testament, Jesus expands on this. He says that while giving a tithe is important, we should also focus on doing good works.

In the New Testament, there isn’t a strict rule about giving exactly ten percent. Instead, it’s about what you can give based on your situation. For example, if you just started working and are paying off your parents' education loan, giving 3% is perfectly fine. On the other hand, if you are well-established and feel led to give 20%, then go for it! What matters isB that you give what feels right for you. The Bible teaches that not giving when you are able to is what constitutes stealing from God.

Stealing from God isn’t just about money; it also includes the talents and efforts we can offer. If you have skills or talents and choose to withhold them from God, that’s another way of stealing. Similarly, if you can help organize church events or participate in activities like singing, and you don’t contribute, that too is seen as stealing from God. It’s all about being generous with what we have, whether it’s our money, talents, or time.

Steal from the government

When the Bible says not to steal, it also applies to how we treat the government. Jesus mentioned giving to the Lord what belongs to Him and giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Often, we hold back what rightfully belongs to Caesar, especially when it comes to taxes. At that time, taxes were quite heavy for the Jews living under Roman rule. Yet, Jesus emphasized the importance of giving to Caesar what is due.

In our Christian lives, we need to make sure we give the government what it deserves. Take taxes, for example. It's perfectly fine to plan your taxes and take advantage of legal options the government provides to save on taxes. I'm not saying you should just hand over all your money to the government. However, tax evasion is not acceptable. Avoid manipulating your financial records or misrepresenting your accounts to dodge taxes. Don't list fake employees or anything like that.

Another point is not to cheat the government for benefits. I know people who misuse rail passes or bus passes. Nowadays, these systems are digitally controlled, making it harder to cheat. Still, I know many who find ways to get around the rules. We should give the government what it rightfully deserves.

Lastly, remember to vote. If you don’t vote, you’re missing out on your chance to influence what happens. You have the right and the responsibility to participate in the democratic process, so make sure you exercise that right. These are three important ways to ensure we’re not stealing from the government.

Steal from business / employees

Stealing is taking something that doesn’t belong to you. For example, if you agree to work for 8 to 9 hours but spend that time on Facebook or chatting with family instead, you are stealing from your company. You're not doing your job, and that’s unfair to the business.

There’s also the more obvious kind of stealing, like taking office supplies. If you take notebooks, pens, or paper that belong to the company for personal use, that’s stealing too. Many people justify it by saying, 'Everyone does it,' or 'It doesn’t really hurt the company.' But the truth is, anything you take that isn’t yours is stealing.

On the flip side, businesses can also steal from their employees. If you expect your workers to put in more hours than you pay them for, that’s a form of stealing as well. Those extra hours could be spent with family or on personal time, but instead, they’re being taken away. Not paying employees on time is another serious issue. I recently heard about a college friend who hasn’t been paid for years, making it impossible for him to send his child to college. This not only affects him but also his family.

As a business owner, it’s crucial to pay your employees fairly and on time. This way, you’re not stealing from them and you’re helping them lead better lives.

What should we do?

To avoid breaking the 8th commandment, we need to start with the 1st commandment. We must remember that God is our Lord and we should look up to Him. When we have this understanding, everything else will fall into place. If we don’t have this right, following the other commandments becomes much harder.

In Philippians, Paul reminds us that God will supply all our needs. It’s important to know who our God is. If we’re unsure about His nature, we won’t believe that our needs will be met. When we doubt that our needs will be provided for, that’s when we might start stealing. So, we need to be completely clear about who God is and trust in His word. When we truly believe, our actions will reflect that.

Next, we should have faith that God opens doors for us and blesses us. In 3 John, it says that as our soul prospers, we will prosper in all areas of life, including our finances, health, family, and social standing. It’s crucial to believe that this promise is meaningful and that it will come to fruition in our lives.

We also need to practice contentment with what we have at any moment. For example, when I was earning 1500 rupees, I was content. Now that I earn 15,000 rupees, I still feel the same way. Even as my income has increased significantly, I remain content. Being content with godliness is a great gain.

Finally, we must remember that we reap what we sow, as Paul says in Galatians. This means we shouldn’t expect to gain more than we’ve put in, nor should we try to reap what we haven’t sown. Keeping these principles in mind helps us adhere to the commandments.

You can read the Tamil version of the meditation here: களவு செய்யாதிருப்பாயாக