WEDNESDAY June 19, 2024
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 give the Ephesian believers a list of sins that they could no longer do. If they stole in the past, they should steal no longer. They should not take anything that does not belong to them. Stealing is such a common sin. As a child, have you ever stolen candy from a store? As an employee, have you stolen anything from the company you work for? Have you stolen from your parents? If you are a Christian, that is sinful before the Lord. Stop stealing!
God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. In Exodus 20:15, is the eighth Commandment: “You shall not steal.” Obey God’s Word! This Moral Law was also given to God’s people: “ ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another’ ” (Leviticus 19:11). Be a man or woman of integrity––honest in business before God and man.
Did you know that when Christians fail to give to God what belongs to God, they are, in fact, robbing Him? In Malachi 3:8 we are brought to accountability: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”
Understand, if we are obedient in our giving, God promises to bless us. In Malachi 3:10, He gives to us this challenge:
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
Do not steal from God or men. Give your tithes and offerings to God willingly, cheerfully and obediently: So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
~Romans 2:21~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
