SATURDAY July 3, 2021

Steal No Longer

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.
Ephesians 4:28

Paul continued to list sins that Christians can no longer do. They should no longer steal. Stealing is taking something that does not belong to you. Most people have stolen something. As a child, have you stolen candy from a store? As an employee have you stolen merchandise or money from the company you work for? If you are a Christian, that is not righteous––it is sin. Imagine, these very companies are putting bread and butter on your table! Stop stealing!

There are people who will ask to borrow something of yours, saying, “I am just going to borrow it, and I promise to bring it back.” Yet a year passes, and what was borrowed was purposely kept. It was not returned! That is not right. Give it back–– no stealing!

God gave Ten Commandments to Moses. The eighth Commandment written in Exodus 20:15 commands: “You shall not steal”. Moral Laws were given to God’s people: “ ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another’ ” (Leviticus 19:11). Be honest in business before God and man. Obey God’s Word!

When Christians fail to give to God what belongs to God, they are, in fact, robbing Him of their tithes and offerings. God plainly states in Malachi 3:8: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” We steal from God when we should be cheerfully giving to Him. Understand, if we are obedient in our giving, God promises to bless us (Malachi 3:9-10).

As we labor and earn wages, be generous and help those who are in need. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). When we give sacrificially, it brings joy and blessings.

I have discovered a truth that has never failed and has never been compromised. That truth is that it is beyond the realm of possibilities that one has the ability to out give God. Even if I give the whole of my worth to Him, He will find a way to give back to me much more than I gave.
~C.H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!