2004-09-10 - The Eighth Commandment

The Ten Commandments, Part 8

Exodus 20:15 (NASB) You shall not steal.

Do you ever steal? Most of us would answer a resounding "no!" We may not shoplift from a department store, embezzle money or drive off without paying for gasoline. But is it really true that we never steal?

How much time do you spend at work, on personal phone calls or e-mails? Everyone is entitled to breaks, but if you spend an hour a day dong personal business on company time - or gossiping with coworkers, you are stealing.

If you ask a friend to give you answers for your homework for which you are graded, you are stealing.

If you don't give any of your income to God's work, you are stealing from Him.

And if we "think outside the box," we can see that there are intangible items that can be stolen, as well. If we fritter away all our time watching television, and ignoring our family, we are stealing from our love ones. If we take, take, take from friendships - without giving back, we are stealing from our brothers and sisters.

I challenge you - along with myself - to ask God to show you any ways we might be stealing.

Comments or Questions?
Jan

Rijan@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org