Commandment #8: Sanctity of Stuff
Exodus 20:15
I. Introduction
-Ill. "Jesus is watching you."
1. A burglar heard when robbing a house.
2. He froze for a long time and then heard it again.
3. He realized it was coming from a parrot in a bird cage.
4. "What's your name?"
5. "Moses"
6. "What kind of person names their bird Moses?
7. "Same kind that names their Rottweiler ‘Jesus'!"
-Associated Press (Seattle)
1. Young man tried to siphon gas out of Dennis Quigley's camper.
2. Unfortunately for him he put his hose in the wrong tank.
3. He siphoned from the sewage tank.
4. Mr. Quigley said he would not prosecute the 14 year old b/c he suffered enough.
-Stealing: we all know it's wrong, but it sure is prevalent!
-Ill. Locking your doors.
II. Scripture
III. Background
-Everything you have has been given to you by God.
-You are a steward of what you have been given.
1. Be careful when talking about ownership.
2. What really is mine?
-In all of the commandments God is trying to communicate His order to things.
1. His way of doing things.
2. And His way is different than ours!
-This commandment is probably one of the most universal.
-Ill. Some cultures do not have taboos about immoral lifestyle.
1. Sex between two single, consenting adults is permissible.
2. But they would about adultery, not b/c it was sexual immorality, but b/c you would be ‘stealing' someone else's spouse.
-As in any sin you are assuming the role of God in deciding who has what.
1. Stealing is claiming you are a better decision maker on what you and the person you are stealing from should be stewards of.
2. Therefore it is sin.
IV. Stealing in the Church
-Of course the world steals, just like it murders, takes God's name in vain, commits adultery, etc. 1. Martha Stewart & Enron
2. Movie stars.
-But I am concerned with the church today.
-A recent Gallop Poll shows that ppl are no more likely to trust Christians than they are sinners when it comes to business & money transactions that require ‘honesty.'.
1. In the world's eyes, there is no difference between church & world.
2. There is something wrong w/ that picture!
-Why is that?
V. We've Compromised in the Little Things
-The little things always defeat the church.
-Let me ask you...
1. McDonald's gives you too much change & you keep it
2. You find money and don't try to find who lost it.
3. You take supplies from work home w/ you.
4. You do personal work while on the clock at work.
5. You browse the Internet while you're on the job.
6. You buy the special and your spouse buys the buffet and you eat food off their plate.
7. You have an expense account at work of $30 per day. You spend $15 and pocket the other $15.
8. You take a sick day when you are not sick.
9. You do not report all of your income on your taxes.
10. Purposely writing bad checks.
-This is where compromise begins!
VI. We've justified stealing...
-Ill. Robin Hood is not a hero, but a villain!
1. Stealing is never a virtue in God's book!
2. Of course the Sheriff isn't righteous either!
3. Two wrongs, don't make a right!
4. This is to justify it in our minds.
5. Ill. The government is stealing from me, I have a right to cheat on my taxes.
6. Motive does not determine morality.
-"Finder's keepers, loser's weepers."
1. If you find money, it is your responsibility to do your best to find the owner of that money!
2. Ill. W/ Dad @ Columbia, KY hospital.
3. He made me turn in the money I found.
-"It was a steal..."
1. Maybe it was...
2. Maybe taking advantage of someone's ignorance or desperation is stealing from them.
3. Just because someone isn't a good steward of what God has given them, doesn't mean you can deceive them out of it.
4. Ill. Jacob & Esau birthright.
-Misdemeanor vs. Felon
1. God doesn't distinguish.
2. There is only stealing!
-See how we justify stealing?
VII. Are We Too Attached?
-If we really believed God would take care of us would it be so great a temptation to steal?
1. If we really believed we couldn't take it with us?
2. If we really believed it wasn't worth comparing with knowing Christ?
-Is five bucks worth eternity?
1. Is $5 billion bucks worth eternity?
2. Then what drives us?
-We love our earthly treasures!
-Matthew 5:40 "And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."
1. Why is that so hard for us to swallow?
2. B/c we are so in love with our ‘things.'
-Ill. Lady in Dyersburg, TN
1. Man jumped in her car to rob her.
2. Elderly lady named Pauline Jacobi told him ‘No, I won't give you any money.'
3. "As quick as you kill me, I'll go to heaven, but you'll go to hell."
4. "Jesus is right here in this car with me and he goes w/ me everywhere I go."
5. He began to cry & she ministered to him for 10 minutes!
6. He said: "I'll go home & pray tonight."
7. "You don't have to wait until tonight, we can pray right here."
8. She gave him all the cash she had... about $10.
9. "Don't you spend it on whiskey either."
10. He kissed her on the cheek and walked away.
-What will love of earthly treasures drive us to?
-Ill. Norman Rockwell picture from Sat. Evening Post.
1. Butcher & lady smiling at each other w/ turkey on scaled in between.
2. Butcher has his thumb on the scales & lady has her finger pushing up.
3. Both seeking to steal.
-Proverbs 20:23 "Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good."
-Ill. Statistics say that 1 of 52 shoppers will steal.
-Ill. USA Today said 48% of employees stole something from their employer last year.
-Not using what God has placed you in charge of for His glory, is stealing from Him.
VIII. Introspection
-Let me ask two questions:
-First, are you content?
1. Not going to deal in depth w/ this today.
2. Has God provided for all your needs or are you on an endless pursuit for more?
-Second, do you trust God?
1. Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
2. Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
IX. What Do I Do If Guilty?
-First confess to God & repent!
1. Proverbs 28:13 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
-Second, make restitution.
1. Ill. Zacchaeus.
-Third, be a giver.
1. Ephesians 4:28 "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."
2. John Wesley's classic sermon on money: "Earn all you can, save all you can, & give all you can."
X. Conclusion
-Everything you have is a gift from God.
1. It's temporary.
2. You are the steward of it.
3. It is to be used for His glory!
-Really theft, in any form, is ironic.
-Ill. Taxi driver would wrap up his garbage in a paper bag and leave it in the back seat.
1. By the end of the day someone would steal it.
2. Imagine their surprise.
-Ill. Thief walked into a convenient store.
1. Threw down a $20 bill and asked for change.
2. When the cashier opened the drawer he grabbed at the cash and ran.
3. Later he realized he only got about $15.
-If you steal, you'll always be short changed and end up with garbage.
Response
