Digging Deeper: Is it Really Stealing If…

Four simple words. On the surface, what seems like a straightforward prohibition against stealing is, in fact, a prohibition against a greedy heart! You may think you’ve never taken anything that didn’t belong to you—and for some of you, that is probably true. Just remember, theft most frequently occurs in ways that are subtle, covert, and unassuming. Merriam-Webster defines steal as: “To take away by force or by unjust, unfair, or dishonest means; to take surreptitiously or without permission.” My goal this week is to challenge each of us to honestly examine our hearts and root out those subtle yet dishonest means of obtaining something that belongs to another.

H. B. Charles Jr. notes that you don’t have to break into your neighbor’s house and rob them at gunpoint to be a thief. He gives many examples of what I would call “passive thievery”:

1. Borrowing something and never returning it;
2. Never repaying a debt;
3. Plagiarizing the work of another;
4. Engaging in dishonest business practices;
5. Evading taxes.

From overt physical theft to more subtle forms of withholding or dishonesty, we now come to perhaps the most “innocent,” yet most dangerous, form of stealing—the “everyone does it” kind of theft. This can include not correcting a salesperson when you receive too much change (I know—who uses cash anymore?) or noticing, but not correcting, an undercharge for a service or item. Think about how quickly we would complain if those same situations resulted in a deficit rather than a surplus! Other seemingly innocent forms of theft may include taking workplace items for personal use and sharing passwords or subscription accounts. I am not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone—I know I have been guilty of some of these forms of thievery myself.

Jesus knew where the root of all evil resides—in the heart. He said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matt. 15:19, ESV). Notice that most of these evil deeds are prohibited by Commandments Six through Nine. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the condition of your heart and convict you with grace as we journey through this week together.