Bunch of Thiefs

15  “You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:15 (ESV)

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.

Ephesians 4:28 (ESV)

13  “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.

Leviticus 19:13 (ESV)

8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9  You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10  Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Mal 3:8-10 (ESV)

“Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely.19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

Matt 19:18-19 (NLT)

            Would you consider yourself someone who steals? Would you call yourself a thief?  The definition of steal is to take without permission or right, especially secretly or by force. It also is defined as to appropriate without right or acknowledgement. Now I can promise you there are many ways individuals steal things it is not always outright and obvious. Are you faithful in your work? Do you spend your time doing what you are paid to do? In my job we have a person whose job it is to review the GPS records of technicians who fail to work on more than four jobs a day. If they determine that you take an extra five minutes on lunch or you drive somewhere you were not supposed to go they have the ability and right to fire you. See we have become a society that believes that everyone is trying to steal from us. Because in our own hearts we look for ways to get rich with as little work as possible; none if we can just hit the lottery. You know if individuals spent as much time working as they do trying to avoid it they could have what they want without breaking this commandment.

            Things that we steal range from money to time and everything in between. As Christians we say we don’t steal but let us be honest given the fact that only 3% of Christians on average pay tithes in the church that means 97% of us are robbing God. When we do this we are only hurting ourselves and our families. A tithe is a tenth of your income before taxes at the gross level. Now I know in today’s world we live paycheck to paycheck and the average American household is carrying three credit cards with debit around $10,000. So you wonder how in the world you could possibly give 10% of what you make to God. Been there and done that and I will give you some advice it is not equal giving but the sacrifice you make that counts. The widow gave two mites and Jesus proclaimed she gave more than all the rest. Because she gave from her heart not out of her abundance. If you are not able to meet your financial obligations that is also a form of stealing; but let me tell you tithing can and will help, but give what you can if it is not 10% still give. God knows your heart he will help you to grow and work through your debt till you can give that 10% and change everything about your situation. You see when you fail to tithe you are robbing God. That brings a curse upon you and your family. If that is how you want to live go for it. Me I would much rather be blessed. Also tithing is not directed by you it is a gift to God. When you direct it to a certain area or program that is an offering. So if you’re giving and still feel like nothing is going right in your life take your hand off the wheel and let God drive. The tithe is God’s he has appointed individuals to be shepherd over his people if they fail to use it properly than they will stand in judgment before God. In the meantime you may be bringing a curse upon your church and the denomination you belong to because we want control.

Have a blessed day in the Lord and be careful how of how you spend your time and money let us not steal from others and God and God will bless us for it.