Catechism--Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbors money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.
Leviticus 19:35--You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity.
Devotion-- What kind of trust do you place in someone who steals from you? If you went to a grocery store, and the clerks were all authorized to add an extra 10% to your bill for their own pocket, what would you think of that store? Would you continue to shop there? Why?
Theft cannot help but to break down relationships. The lack of trust that springs up from theft is extremely difficult to overcome. If you disagree, then let me ask if you would allow someone who was put in jail for embezzlement to oversee your checking account. Chances are, you would look at their history and come to the conclusion that they couldn't be counted on to be trustworthy.
Anything that leads to mistrust will inevitably break down relationships. And theft is one sure way to create mistrust. I think any of us would be hard-pressed to find an example where taking something from another person actually served to build up the community. We simply have too firm a grasp on the things that God has given us to allow them to be handled by someone who may disagree with our possession of them.
The flip side of this coin is that helping our neighbor to protect and improve his things serves to build up trust. When others see that we are genuinely concerned for their good and well-being, the foundation for trust is laid. And as that trust grows, so also does the community. And that shows us, in some small way, some of God's intended meaning behind this commandment.
Leviticus 19:35--You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity.
Devotion-- What kind of trust do you place in someone who steals from you? If you went to a grocery store, and the clerks were all authorized to add an extra 10% to your bill for their own pocket, what would you think of that store? Would you continue to shop there? Why?
Theft cannot help but to break down relationships. The lack of trust that springs up from theft is extremely difficult to overcome. If you disagree, then let me ask if you would allow someone who was put in jail for embezzlement to oversee your checking account. Chances are, you would look at their history and come to the conclusion that they couldn't be counted on to be trustworthy.
Anything that leads to mistrust will inevitably break down relationships. And theft is one sure way to create mistrust. I think any of us would be hard-pressed to find an example where taking something from another person actually served to build up the community. We simply have too firm a grasp on the things that God has given us to allow them to be handled by someone who may disagree with our possession of them.
The flip side of this coin is that helping our neighbor to protect and improve his things serves to build up trust. When others see that we are genuinely concerned for their good and well-being, the foundation for trust is laid. And as that trust grows, so also does the community. And that shows us, in some small way, some of God's intended meaning behind this commandment.
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