The Eighth Commandment

Good morning, church! 

Before we delve into our sermon, I'd like to share a little story with you. A young boy came home from Sunday school one day, proudly announcing to his mother, "Mom, guess what? We learned about a man today who got swallowed by a whale and then stolen by pirates!" With a bemused smile, his mother asked, "Oh, is that so? And what was this man's name?" The boy pondered for a moment before responding, "Um...I think they said his name was Jonah the Pirate!" Well, not quite, but we commend the young man for his active imagination!

Today, we are delving into the Eighth Commandment, Exodus 20:15, "You shall not steal." It seems straightforward enough, but let's break it down and really understand what God is instructing us here.

Stealing is, in essence, an act of disrespect and disregard for the property of others. It indicates a lack of appreciation for the hard work and efforts others have put into acquiring their possessions. This commandment calls for respect for other people's rights and possessions, but it also goes much deeper than just not taking someone else's things.

In Ephesians 4:28, Apostle Paul says, "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." The teaching here is not just about not stealing, but about the virtues of hard work and generosity.

Jesus reiterated this when He said in Luke 3:14, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely - be content with your pay." It's a call to honesty, contentment, and respect for the rights of others.

Remember the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector? He was a man who took more than was due to him, but when he encountered Jesus, his heart changed. He said in Luke 19:8, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." This is the transformative power of Christ, turning a thief into a philanthropist.

So, let us pray, "Lord, we ask that you cultivate in us a spirit of contentment and respect for the possessions and rights of others. We ask that you guide us away from the desire to take what is not ours, and instead instill in us the will to work hard and be generous. Amen."

In conclusion, while the Eighth Commandment explicitly instructs us not to steal, its implications are broader. It calls us to respect the rights of others, to be content with what we have, and to be generous towards those in need. May we strive to embody these principles in our daily lives.

God bless you all!