The Rights and Responsibilities of Ownership
November 2nd, 1997The Rights and Responsibilities of Ownership
EXODUS 20:15
11/2/97
We live in a world where almost everything is insured today. We insure our homes, our cars, our lives, and our health. We have disability insurance, estate insurance, and mortgage insurance. Insurance is a good thing, because it offers protection and financial security. God has an insurance policy called the 10 commandments. These commandments were given to protect our lives in several major areas. In the 5th commandment, God instructs us in the protection of the family. In the 6th commandment, God commands us to protect all human life. The 7th commandment was given to protect the marriage relationship. Now we come to the 8th commandment which teaches the protection of private property.
Everyone has an innate realization that stealing is wrong, yet stealing is as prevalent as the common cold. Stealing is found among all classes of people. The poor steal because they have nothing, and the rich steal in order to have more. Whenever a person takes something that does not belong to him, he is showing a lack of respect for the right of private property which God instituted. Therefore, whenever God and His laws are neglected or set aside by a given people, theft and robbery increase. As we study the 8th commandment we will gain God’s perspective on the purpose and use of property, and learn what God requires of us in this area. We learn first that God has given man:
I. THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY (or the Right of Ownership) When God says “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL”, it is implied that man has a right to the possession and use of property. This is a divinely given right to all men everywhere. God has created the world and created man and woman to possess and rule the earth for His purposes. God is able to give us the right to possession and use of property because He has made it all and owns it all. God owns everything! This is His world, His land, His property. The Bible says, “THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND EVERYTHING IN IT, THE WORLD, AND ALL WHO LIVE IN IT.” (Psa 24:1) Not only does God own the world, but all the people in the world.
God has exclusive ownership over your body, and your soul. In the Bible God says, “ALL SOULS ARE MINE”. So in one sense the command “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL” includes the 6th commandment “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER”. Murder is stealing the life of another human being. It is taking that which does not belong to you, because God has the exclusive rights over every human being.
Since God is the owner of all things, then there can be no other owner than He. Technically speaking, you and I do not own anything - we possess things and we use things, but God owns them. We may have the deed to a piece of property, but that property belongs to God. So God gives us the right of possession, but He also gives us the responsibility of stewardship. Since God is the rightful owner of all things, then we are to be stewards of those things. We are not free to use our possessions and goods any old way we want, but we are required to use them for the glory of God. The Bible says, “SO WHETHER YOU EAT OR DRINK OR WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.” (1Co 10:31)
Our stewardship over the earthly goods that God gives us can be compared to the farmer who rents land from someone else to grow crops on. As a renter, the farmer does not own that land, but he merely uses it. He has an agreement with the landowner to pay a certain amount of money or percentage of the profits, in exchange for the use of the land. The landowner expects the farmer to use the land to grow crops on, and not for some other purpose. That farmer is not allowed to do whatever he wants with the land. He must take good care of it, and not abuse it. He must use the land in accordance with the wishes of the landowner. So we too must use our possessions in accordance with the will of God, the owner of all things.
Since all things exist for God’s glory, then our use of those things must also promote His glory. Are you using this world’s goods for the glory of the eternal God, or are you using them to promote your own glory and your own kingdom? We glorify God with our property when we respect the right of others to have private property. God wants property to be secure for each individual and each society. He has made property sacred, and guards it with this 6th command, “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL”. For those who break this sacred hedge around the assets of others, there awaits the sword of divine justice and punishment.
II. VIOLATIONS OF THIS COMMAND
This commandment forbids all unjust appropriation of the property of others. Charles Hodge, in his SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, said, “IF EVERY SUCH APPROPRIATION IS STEALING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, THEN THEFT IS THE MOST COMMON OF ALL THE OUTWARD TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE DECALOGUE.” Stealing abounds in many forms other than the obvious. In business, for example, stealing occurs whenever a product is represented to be something other and better than what it is. We know this as false advertising, which is a breach of two of the commandments: “Thou shalt not steal & thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
This command is violated whenever someone overcharge for goods and services. The motto of the business world is often, “DOG EAT DOG” or “TAKE WHATEVER YOU CAN GET”. To charge an excessively high price for something just because there are no other competitors, or because supply is low, is a violation of this command. J.I. Packer said, “PROFITEERING AND ALL FORMS OF OVERCHARGING ARE THEFT.” We should avoid taking advantage of others needs and profiting by the losses of others. Leviticus 25:14 says, “IF YOU SELL LAND TO ONE OF YOUR COUNTRYMEN OR BUY ANY FROM HIM, DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EACH OTHER.”
This command forbids gambling and lotteries. Gambling is wrong because it takes advantage of the unwary or the unskillful. Those who gamble are poor stewards of God’s money because they give their money away without any compensation. In the parable of the talents, the men were commended when they took their master’s money and through proper use made a profit. The one who buried the money without making a profit was chastised. If this person was condemned even though he did not lose any money, how much worse it would have been if he had lost it all through gambling! In light of the recent Stock Market ups and downs, what about investing in the Stock Market? Is that gambling? I heard someone say that if you invest in the Market for one day it’s gambling. If you invest in it for four or five years, it’s not. It is certainly a risk to one degree or another, but it is not necessarily gambling.
Another way in which this command is broken is by not paying your debts. To leave a debt unpaid is to rob a person of something that belongs to him. To borrow money with the intent and reasonable assurance of ability to repay is not wrong. However, to let debts pile up, and lag behind is stealing. The Bible says, “LET NO DEBT REMAIN OUTSTANDING, EXCEPT THE CONTINUING DEBT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” (Rom 13:8) “THE WICKED BORROW AND DO NOT REPAY, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS GIVE GENEROUSLY.” (Psa 37:21) We live in the generation of plastic money. Plastic is nice, but plastic can entice. If credit cards tend to funnel debt your way, then get rid of them before they ruin your reputation and integrity.
Stealing also occurs when employees are slack and do not give effort worthy of their wages. Excessive coffee breaks, late arrivals on the job, long lunches, and leaving early robs employers of the time and work that is owed to them.
Stealing can occur when we violate copyright laws. Most videos, music and computer programs are protected by copyright laws. We really ought to be more careful about this. Making copies of these things is in many cases a violation of the law. If you are in doubt, then find out!
We steal from each other in very many ways. But we can also steal from God. Malachi 3:8 says, “WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YOU ROB ME. BUT YOU ASK, `HOW DO WE ROB YOU?’”. We rob God in various ways, by not paying Him the debt of love and service that we owe Him. God’s resources are unlimited, and even if we do not give Him what we owe Him, He does not suffer loss. In fact, we are the only ones who lose out.
One way that we rob God is found right after God asks this question in Malachi 3:8: “‘HOW DO WE ROB YOU?’ IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS.” God asks us to return tithes and offerings to Him by giving to the work of the church. When we fail to tithe, we rob God. God gives us everything we have. He asks for us to give a tenth or more back to Him. This is required of you if you consider yourself a Christian. Someone may complain that they can’t afford to tithe. But can you afford to be caught stealing from God? Rather, you can’t afford not to tithe. A lack of tithing and generous giving to God may be the very reason you are suffering financially. If you start tithing, listen to what God will do: “BRING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE. TEST ME IN THIS,” SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY, “AND SEE IF I WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT.” (Mal 3:10)
Another way that we rob God is by refusing to give Him our hearts. God created your heart so that He could dwell there. From there He will direct and control your life. Your heart and your life do not belong to you. By trying to run your own life, you are in effect attempting to take the place of God. If you have not yet given your heart completely to Jesus Christ, then realize that God calls you to repent. Let Christ come in and take His rightful place as the King and Lord of your life. When you hold on tightly to your heart and refuse to let the Lord have it, you will only make a mess out of your life.
Your heart is the control center of your life. The only person who is qualified to operate the controls is the Lord Jesus Christ. You are probably aware of the accident that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Russia a number of years ago. Someone said that the reason the accident happened was because there were no qualified engineers on duty at the time who knew how to operate the control center. The whole mess could have been prevented if the qualified persons would have been there in control. Is your life in turmoil right now? You need Jesus! He is the only one who can prevent you from experiencing a spiritual and an eternal meltdown. You may be closer to that meltdown than you think. The Bible says, “NOW IS THE TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.” (2Co 6:2)
If you already know the Lord Jesus Christ, and you are sure He lives within you, you still may be robbing God in other ways. God has given to each Christian certain talents and gifts. If you are not using your talent for the kingdom of God, then you are robbing Him. Every Christian is to labor to win souls to Christ. Every believer is to reach out in love to those around him. All Christians are to find their place in the ministry of the church and get involved. But let’s suppose you are involved and serving Him out in the world and also in the church. God may be using you, but might be robbing Him by taking the glory and the credit to yourself. Once King Herod was being praised by his people and they were calling him a god. Acts 12:23 says, “IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE HEROD DID NOT GIVE PRAISE TO GOD, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STRUCK HIM DOWN, AND HE WAS EATEN BY WORMS AND DIED.” Whenever God does something through you, be quick to give Him the glory that is due to His name.
III. THE DUTIES REQUIRED IN THIS COMMAND Even if we are not guilty of stealing, this command still has something to say to us. Negatively, this command forbids us to take anything that does not belong to us. Positively, it requires us to do several things. The 8th commandment requires us to “LABOR DILIGENTLY IN A LAWFUL CALLING”, as the Larger Catechism tells us. One antidote to a habit of theft is to get a job and work hard at it. Ephesians 4:28 says, “HE WHO HAS BEEN STEALING MUST STEAL NO LONGER, BUT MUST WORK, DOING SOMETHING USEFUL WITH HIS OWN HANDS, THAT HE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH THOSE IN NEED.”
God wants us not only to work hard and earn our money, but to work in a calling. Is the current job you are working in a calling from God? You may wonder what I mean when I say your work is to be a calling. Some think that it is only preachers and missionaries who are called by God to do what they do. But a calling can be any type of work as long as it is done according to God’s will for you and done as unto Him. God has a calling for every Christian, and it is up to us to seek His will and find out what it is. Some people merely go out and hunt for a job that makes good money or has social prestige. But God wants us to seek to work in a calling that is His will.
Some people are afraid to ask God what it is that He wants them to do in life. They are certain that God would want them to be a missionary. But this is simply not true. How do you know what God is calling you to do until you ask Him and make yourself available to do whatever He wants? It may be that the job you are in is the job you are called by God to do. But you will never know until you lay your life before Him and ask Him to lead you. Whatever type of work you do, you need to understand how it fits in to God’s plan for you, and God’s plan for the kingdom of God on earth. The Bible says, “AND WHATEVER YOU DO, WHETHER IN WORD OR DEED, DO IT ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM.” (Col 3:17)
Another thing that the 8th command requires of us is to live moderately and simply. When we work diligently in a calling, and we are obeying God’s commands, as a general rule, God will prosper us. When we start to prosper financially, there will be a temptation to use it all on ourselves and live a life of excessive luxury. Today we live in a “consumer society”. Instead of being lazy as the Japanese say, American workers are actually working more hours than ever before on the job. Since 1973, our free time has fallen off 40% from an average of 26 hours per week to less than 17. Harvard economist Juliet Schor has written a book titled, THE OVERWORKED AMERICAN: THE UNEXPECTED DECLINE OF LEISURE. Ms. Schor says Americans are working more hours so we can make more pay so we can own more things.
But in contrast to this consumerism, God calls us to be different. We must realize first of all, what Jesus said: “WATCH OUT! BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST ALL KINDS OF GREED; A MAN’S LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS POSSESSIONS.” (Luk 12:15) When we begin to try to live moderately and simply, we will have more freedom and time to serve the Lord. Possessions tend to possess us and they require a lot of time and attention. The less we possess, the more time and energy we will have to spend on people. We will also have more money available to give to the Lord if we choose to live a simpler lifestyle. I’m not advocating a life of poverty, but a life of simplicity for the sake of Christ and for others.
In the book of Acts we find some good advice in this area. Acts 20:35 Paul says, “IN EVERYTHING I DID, I SHOWED YOU THAT BY THIS KIND OF HARD WORK WE MUST HELP THE WEAK, REMEMBERING THE WORDS THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF SAID: `IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.’” God is not looking for people who only refrain from stealing, but people who are generous in giving. The picture of a person who lives in the spirit of the 8th command is someone who works hard, pays his bills, lives simply, and gives generously to meet the needs of others and to further the kingdom of God on earth.
CONCLUSION
This command covers a lot more territory than it seems at first glance. Are you taking the 8th commandment seriously? God does. If you have broken this command, remember that the Bible says, “HE DOES NOT LEAVE THE GUILTY UNPUNISHED.” However, God has provided a substitute to suffer this punishment for us. When Jesus died on the cross, He suffered the punishment for all the theft that ever occured or would occur. If you have stolen in one way or another, remember, Christ has died for such sins.
Thankfully, God is not like us. He is not stingy or tight with what He owns. He is generous and giving. He did not even spare His most valuable possession - His only begotten Son, but gave Him up so that we could be forgiven of this sin of stealing, and of every other transgression of the law of God. The Bible says, “FOR YOU KNOW THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT THOUGH HE WAS RICH, YET FOR YOUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR, SO THAT YOU THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BECOME RICH.” (2Co 8:9)
