Sermons and Outlines

Exodus 20:15 THOU SHALT NOT STEAL

Intro: Many are the lives that have been touched by theft. Millions of dollars are lost every year in this country over the theft of goods and services. One estimate says that 1 out of every 52 shopper’s carries something out of the supermarket for which they haven’t paid. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 4 million people are caught shoplifting every year. But for every one caught, 35 others get away with it. This means that there are over 140 million incidents of shoplifting every year in America! What’s really tragic is that only 10% of all shoplifters come from low incomes. 70% are middle class and 20% are classified as wealthy.

These facts are astounding! America appears to be a country of thieves. I suppose that if everyone who was guilty of theft were arrested, there would be no jails to hold them, nor arresting officers to lock them up! One new hotel reported that in their 10 months of operation, they lost 38,000 spoon, 18,000 towels, 355 silver coffee pots, 1,500 silver finger bowls and 100 Bible to thieves.

Regardless of the reason, stealing is wrong! God, in these verses condemns it and declares it to be a sin. Tonight, I would like for us to take some time to look at the 8^th Commandment and consider what stealing really is, as we think together on this thought, "Thou shalt not steal."

I. STEALING IS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW

A. The Correct Means Of Getting Gain – God has authorized two primary methods by which people can legitimately increase their possession. When we engage in these 2 areas of getting gain, we are doing it the right way. Notice what they are.

1. As A Reward For Work – Contrary to popular belief, work is not a curse! It is a means, ordained by God, whereby people can obtain the resources they need to function in the world. In fact, work is glorified by God – 2 Thes. 3:10.

(Ill. One evening a man saw his neighbor, a famous author, carrying coal into his house. The neighbor told him that it was undignified for a man of his social standing to be seen carrying coal. The famous author replied, "Any man who is ashamed to carry his own coal deserves to sit all winter by an empty fireplace.")

God’s will is that we obtain the things in life we need by the labor of our hands!

2. By The Reception Of A Gift – Another legitimate means of increasing our possessions is by the generosity of another. Some one may give us a gift, or we may receive and inheritance, or we may be the beneficiary of a will or insurance policy. These are all legitimate ways of getting gain. There is nothing wrong with receiving things from others. Often, God may choose to bless your life in this way.

B. The Corrupt Means Of Getting Gain – This is by taking that which does not belong to us as our own. Also know as stealing. God has condemned this practice and has declared that His children should leave it behind with the other works of the flesh – Eph. 4:28.

II. STEALING IS A VIOLATION OF A LOYALTY

A. As An Employee – Employee theft costs companies billions of dollars every year, somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 billion. According to USA Today, 48 % of all American workers took something from an employer last year. People do this by taking thing home, selling things without their employers knowledge and pocketing the money, taking kickbacks, falsifying time records, wasting time while at work, etc.

(Ill. Many years ago a young lad in a small village was working in a general store when a man entered and ordered some cloth. Observing that the owner of the establishment wasn't there, the customer suggested the boy cheat a little and give him an extra yard or two. "It'll be all right, son," he said. "No one will ever know about it. Your master isn't in." Looking somewhat stunned, the youngster quickly replied, "Oh, but you're mistaken, sir. My Master is always in! You see, I'm a Christian." He was conscious of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.)

(Ill. After F. E. Marsh preached on this subject, a young man came to him and said, "Pastor, you have put me in a bad fix. I've stolen from my employer, and I'm ashamed to tell him about it. You see, I'm a boat builder, and the man I work for is an unbeliever. I have often talked to him about Christ, but he only laughs at me. In my work, expensive copper nails are used because they won't rust in water. I've been taking some of them home for a boat I am building in my backyard. I'm afraid if I tell my boss what I've done and offer to pay for them, he'll think I'm a hypocrite, and I'll never be able to reach him for Christ. Yet, my conscience is bothered."

Later when the man saw the preacher again, he exclaimed, "Pastor, I've settled that matter and I'm so relieved." "What happened when you told your boss?" asked the minister. "Oh, he looked at me intently and said, 'George, I've always thought you were a hypocrite, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe there's something to your Christianity after all. Any religion that makes a man admit he's been stealing a few copper nails and offer to settle for them must be worth having.'")

Anytime we take things that are not ours from an employer, we are guilty of stealing. Whether it is time, or materials, the result is the same! Notice what God has to say to employees – Col. 3:22-24; Leviticus 19:35-36; Deuteronomy 23:13-16.

B. As An Employer – When employees are underpaid, over worked and treated badly, this too is a form of stealing! God has certain principles, which are to be followed by employers – Col. 4:1. However, I am of the opinion that there is less theft among employers than there is among employees!

C. In Our Ethics – Often, we are guilty of stealing in various area of our lives. Things like taxes, keeping our word, honoring our debts, borrowing things and not returning them. When we are obligated to do something, we should do it! When we don’t, we have stolen. When we owe a debt, or taxes etc, then we also must pay that, or, again, we are guilty of stealing before God.

(Ill. One Sunday morning, Charles Finney preached a message entitled The Sin Of Borrowing Things And Not Returning Them. He said, "When I went to my toolshed yesterday with some men on hand to do some work, I found it practically empty. President Mahan had borrowed my plow and never sent it back. Professor Morgan had sent for my spade and I haven’t seen it since. Deacon Beecher has had one of my monkey wrenches for so long a time that the memory of man cannot recall how long ago it was borrowed. What does it mean? It means that there are some among the best of us such a carelessness concerning our fundamental everyday obligations." The sermon was extremely effective. The next morning before dawn, one neighbor trying to bring back a workhorse had to be rescued from Finney’s dog. All the rest of the morning, there was a steady stream of the neighbor’s kids bringing back borrowed tools. They ever returned things that were not Finney’s)

What the Lord wants us to see is that when we owe something, whether it be our money or just the fulfillment of our word, He expects us to make it right!)

III. THE VIOLATION OF A HEAVENLY LOVE

(Ill. There is one more form of stealing that many are guilty of tonight. There is no law of man against it, yet it is far more terrible than these other forms mentioned. It is the idea that a man can steal from God. Just the thought that man would steal from God is amazing. Let’s see how it is done.)

A. The Stealing Of The Tithe – Notice what Malachi says about the tithe – Mal. 3:8-10. God sys that when we hold back that which belongs to the Lord, then we are guilty of stealing from God. Now, when we think of all that He has given us. How He loves us and how He saved us by His grace, how can a person with any sense at all condone stealing from the Lord? (Ill. We rob God when we do not give Him what is His, or when we use what is His for our own purposes. The tithe is not ours to use!)

(Ill. You might rob a man, your employer, a bank or shoplift from a store and get away with it here. But, my friends, you will never rob God and get away with it. He will get what is His!)

(Ill. A Pastor related that he heard a pastor friend say that he had to visit a church member at the hospital. The first pastor asked him what she was having done. The second replied, "Oh, she’s just having here tithe removed." That happens to a lot of people! If you give God what belongs to Him, He will give you what you need. Are you as faithful with the Lord’s money as you should be? We need to remember that none of us has the right to all that we earn. 100% belongs to God, but 10% (at least) is to be dedicated to His work, and is to be given through His storehouse, 1 Cor. 16:2. When we follow His plan, we will prosper – 2 Cor. 9:1-7)

B. The Stealing Of Time – You and I have been allotted only so much time in this world. If we waste that time instead of using it for the glory of the Lord, we are guilty of theft! Are you using your time as you should?

C. The Stealing Of Titles - (Ill. There is also the matter of Lordship. We are guilty of stealing when we hold back areas of our lives from His Lordship. When we try to exercise control over our own lives, instead of giving Him the place of supremacy, then we are guilty of stealing from the Lord.)

D. The Stealing Of Talents – The Bible is clear when it tells us that when we are saved, we are given certain gifts from the Heavenly Father – 1 Cor. 12:7-27. When we fail to exercise our God given gifts and talents, we are guilty of stealing from the Lord. When we fail to fill our place in His body, we are thieves and robbers. Our lives are gifts and they are to be invested for the glory of God.

Conc: If we were honest tonight, most, if not all, would have to admit that they were guilty of stealing in one form or another. If this is the case in your life, then God has a word for you. According to the Word of God, when we steal, we are to repay – Eze. 33:15-16. We are to practice restitution to those we have wronged. Whether it is an employer, a neighbor or even God. We are to make it right, whatever the cost!

(Ill. At Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78, George Washington and his troops were in utterly desperate straits. He appealed to the government of Pennsylvania for help. Jacob DeHaven, a staunch believer in the revolutionary cause, lived near Valley Forge. hearing of Washington's appeal, he loaned him $50,000 in gold and $400,000 in supplies.

The army survived the winter, but after the war DeHaven was never repaid. Now his descendants are trying to collect. They claim that the loan, compounded at 6% interest daily, amounts to $141.6 billion.

In one sense, all the money in the world could never repay DeHaven for what he did. In reality, he saved the cause of freedom for all America.

There's another debt all of us owe that we can never repay. It is the price Jesus Christ paid to give us liberty from the bondage of sin.)

God’s will is that His people never resort to stealing, and if we are guilty, then we need to make restitution. Thou shalt not steal!