“Respecting Ownership” 8^th Commandment- “Do not Steal” 8/14/11 Dt. 5:19; Eph. 4:28; Lk. 12:15

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.” (Lk. 12:15)
Luke 19:1-10 (Zacchaeus)

²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

     In my first month at my last church, I got a call from the sheriff’s department to come down to their station.  When I got there I was surprised that the deputy handed over to me a box full of silver.  Someone had stolen the church’s communion goblets and silver plates.  He had kept them for over twenty years.  He attached a note to them that said, “I am really sorry I stole from the church.  It has bothered me for these twenty years.  So now I give it back to you.”  He didn’t turn himself in.  He didn’t do what Zacchaeus did and pay back four times what he owed.  But he did try to make visible amends to ease a guilty conscience 
     I believe we are missing an important ingredient in life, and that is contentment with what God has given us.  To be content with your gifts, your abilities, your calling or work is so very important.  In our drive and lust for success, we have failed to find what keeps us happy- and prevents dishonesty and stealing- that is peace with God, peace with our neighbors, and peace with ourselves. 
     PEACE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS- Calvin said the essence of this commandment is to care more about the welfare of others more than you do for yourself.  The opposite of stealing, you see is generosity.  It is The Rich Young Ruler not treasuring his possessions because he can give them up.   In a world in which the stock market goes up and down like a yo-yo, where people are concerned about their financial future, it is hard to not worry about yourself, to the point of neglect of your neighbor.  In fact Calvin said that this commandment is about helping people keep what God has given them.  Think about it, if we helped others keep their homes, keep their jobs, if we saw it not as “every man for himself” but “How may I- if I can, help you?” Then, how would that affect us and how might it affect the economy?  The Financial Peace Classes that we offered is a valid example of helping people get out of debt. If we all got out of debt, then the economy and our area would be better off. 
     PEACE WITH GOD- Peace with God and neighbors are related.  For God asks us to love our neighbors, and we can’t say that we hate our brother while at the same time loving God.  If God is our treasure, and we are not consumed with things here, then it changes things.  I cannot imagine someone who loved God with great devotion looting and stealing in the stores in New Orleans after Katrina for TVs, or looting the stores of London last week.   If you have peace with God, then you respect what God has given to others.  There is no need for shoplifting for our treasure is not in the shop- it is in heaven.  Last week I heard of a young man in Chapin who was kicked out of his home because of drug use.  He was and still is in danger because he stole from a drug dealer.  But he gave his heart to Christ and he has given up drugs and is stealing no more.  We do not need to discount what having peace with God can do for your ability to be content with what you have, and to find trust in God.
     PEACE WITHIN- If you have peace in your heart then stealing doesn’t have a place.  Jesus said, ²¹ “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²²adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.”
Yesterday I heard of a man in Mozambique who lives in a garbage dump, and literally lives day to day.  He was angry and would steal and threaten people with violence.  But when he gave his heart to Jesus he was a changed man and quit stealing and began trusting that God would provide for him each day.  If you have peace within you can find happiness even if you have absolutely nothing.
     Today people steal by cheating on their taxes, thinking the government doesn’t need it and it doesn’t deserve it.  If everyone paid their taxes the way they should- the latest statistics say the government would take in $2.5 trillion- more than the cuts they agreed to in the debt ceiling debate, and more than the deficit of our government in one year.  In other words, if people didn’t cheat on our taxes, we would not be in this mess.  Christians know we are called to be honest.  New studies that came out this past week speak of the epidemic of cheating in schools.  In the 1940s only 20% admitted to cheating in high school.  In the last ten years the figure ranges from 75% to 98%.  Cheating used to carry a stigma, and only the terrible students tried it.  Now it is more about grades than an education and truth.  Today, in our debt-ridden world, some steal by borrowing without any effort or idea to pay back what you owe.  One trend today is to throw up your hands and walk away- they have given it a nice name “strategic default.” That is where your home is worth less than your mortgage- so you just walk.  Since 2005 there have been 2.5 mill foreclosures. 5 million are more than 25% underwater.
     Zacchaeus is an example of someone who was changed by Jesus into what I call anti-stealing.  He did the opposite of stealing.  He was a tax collector- the chief tax collector of his region in Jericho.  He was despised by the people- for tax collectors could legally take what people didn’t owe from the people.  Zacchaeus, because he came to know Jesus, said that he would-not just give back- but give back 4 times what he had taken.  The opposite of stealing is not what that guy did in Georgetown- giving back the silver.  When Christ really comes, He does not just ask us to ease our conscience, He asks us to give of ourselves.  Not just give back what we have stolen, but to give as He gave to us.  Generosity is a cure to greed and stealing.  Giving is a key to not worrying in a tough economy, and holding back and tightly in a time when those who do not know Christ are afraid.