Read Exodus 20:15

Protection for diligent and prudent against idle and careless

While I worked you were idle, do not take the fruits of my laborPossession of property = proof of meritPossessions are an extension of ourselves

Property is important because it in some ways defines who we are

What is the difference between having things and being materialistic?

Few things to steal in old days like livestock, grains, gold and silver

Few ways to steal

In today’s society, there are many terms: petty larceny, grand larceny, fraud, embezzlement, burglary, robbery, mugging, shoplift,cheating on taxes (white collar crimes)

Are the rules fair so that everyone has an equal chance at wealth?

Teddy Roosevelt “Pass prosperity around”

Privileged ones steal from the poor.

How?

Would you prefer to live in a socialistic of communistic society?

Revisit questions from last week

Read Matthew 19:9

Only a man can divorce, the wife had no rights to divorce.

If a married woman was caught in the act of adultery, then she is stoned.

So why would Jesus make a statement that a soon-to-be widower should go through the act of divorce?

Did the laws in the Bible change overtime?

Did man just make the changes or did a new understanding of God cause the changes?

Do you think God is OK with the changes?

Honesty in corporations

Community constraints disappear in impersonal corporate society

How do you feel about stealing from large corporations, for example shoplifting?

When someone steals everyone pays

How would you like for someone to get your social security number and steal your whole identity or on a lesser scale steal your credit card?

Will an end of poverty cut crimes like stealing?

Driven by greed not necessarily needsLack moral conscienceState of the soul and character is messed up

What do we owe our fellow man?

Sin of commission is to steal clothes

Sin of omission is to not clothe the naked

When do we have enough and what obligation do I have to those without?

We are only stewards of God’s gifts

Does our life revolve around our status, cars, home, etc.

Are our gifts in proportion to our resources?

Read Malachi 3:8

Do we cheat God with time or money?

People with many possessions can plead poverty

How do we steal from God?

Commandment protects the essence of who we are

One who is stolen from loses earthly goods but the one who steals loses more

Loses the best things of life, self respect and a right relationship with God

The more we do it the easier it becomes

Stealing causes us to be suspicious of others

Easier to cope with when I think others are like me

So we end up stealing from ourselves, it is our loss because we lose part of our character

How do we lose when we steal?

The best things of life are the things that last and bless - like character, conscience, self-respect and a right relationship with God, these are the things we lose when we steal

We are called to desire for others what we desire for ourselves

Stealing is wanting and taking what another person has

Deciding not to steal causes one to gain important things of life

When you choose not to steal, you become rich