Deuteronomy 5:19 “You
shall not steal.”
I read an interesting article on the Ten Commandments that focus on the Eighth Commandment. It pointed out how people may deny the
existence of objective truth with their mouths, but try to steal from them and
you will soon see how furious they become that you do not believe theft is
objectively wrong. All human beings have an instinctive awareness of God’s law because
they are made in His image, but some statutes are reflected more in human
societies than others. The eighth commandment of God’s Ten Commandments, which
prohibits theft, is one of these commandments. We can find countless societies throughout
the world that violate the command against idols, but we would be hard-pressed
to find a culture that approves of outright theft. There are several types of
theft, including the violent seizure of goods by a recognized thief. Yet, human
beings rob one another in other ways as well. A second kind of theft consists
in malicious deceit, when goods and possessions are carried off through fraud.
Proverbs 11:1 “A false
balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”
Another lies in a more
concealed craftiness, when a man’s goods are snatched from him by seemingly “legal
means”. Few of us are likely to burglarize others’ homes or rob someone at
gunpoint. However, we are tempted to steal in other ways. The eighth
commandment from God also prohibits us from taking our neighbor’s goods and
possessions “by means that appear legitimate”. Fraudulent merchandising and
inaccurate weights and measures are two such means. Unjust weights and measures
are forbidden throughout Scripture. There are several ways that a seller can
alter measurements to fool buyers into thinking they are getting more than they
are actually receiving. This is equivalent to theft because it takes more from
a buyer than he should be paying. It falls under the thief category of "getting something
for nothing”. Christians must never use false measurements or lie about what
they are buying and selling. Do we really think that God doesn't see it?
Exodus 20:15 “You
shall not steal.”
The article pointed out that some of the most
sophisticated means of theft are codified in law by our lawmakers. Politicians
routinely promise to raise taxes on one group of people to pay for services for
another group of people. This creates tax rates that demand a higher percentage
of income from some people than others. This falls under the thief category of “steal
from the rich to pay the poor”. Christians are to follow the laws in place and
pay their taxes (Romans 13:6–7), but, as they are able, they must not
perpetuate legalized theft. Voting a tax rate on others that we do not vote on
ourselves is the same as stealing from our neighbor. You don’t rob Peter to pay
Paul. It is still theft in the eyes of God.
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