Monday, March 17, 2025

Theft has no benefit

You shall not steal.
- Exodus 20:15

Like many of the commandments, theft is one of those commandments Christians are likely to read right past. After all, few of us are likely to go rob a bank, steal from the till at work or shoplift.

Yet how many of us might bring office supplies home from work that don’t belong to us? How many of us fudge on our time clocks or spend paid time at work doing personal matters? These are all forms of theft.

We should be thankful to God for everything we have and trust Him to provide what we don’t have and need. God reiterates this commandment throughout the Bible.

Jesus said, “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother’” (Mark 10:19).

Rather than stealing—no matter if it is money from the register at work or a trinket from a friend’s house—give. God will bless those who give, whether it is money, possessions, help, time or encouragement.

As Christians we are called to pour out the message of God’s love to the world, without detracting a single thing from it.

Further Reading

• Jeremiah 23:30
• Romans 2:21
• Titus 2:9-10