Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

“You shall not steal.”

• Exodus 20:14

“Q. 59. Which is the Eighth Commandment?
“A. The Eighth Commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 73. Which is the Eighth Commandment?
“A. The Eighth Commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 140. Which is the Eighth Commandment?
“A. The Eighth Commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The Larger Catechism, Shorter Catechism and the Spurgeon Catechism are identical in wording.

Again, the secular world accepts this commandment, but with provisions.

Some would think that stealing means that you needed it, so why not steal?  Just don’t steal my stuff.

Far too often, peaceful protests become violent or in other ways out of hand.  In other situations, the same type of out-of-control circumstances can come from a natural disaster.  Looting begins.  Those doing it and many of the protestors and bystanders claim that this is simply leveling the playing field.  “The rich have it.  I do not.  Thus, I loot.”

I have even heard elders in a church excuse thievery from the church as “helping those in need.”

If all theft were allowed, according to the analysis method proposed by Immanuel Kant, then the concept of property would not exist, due to the constant changing of hands to have possession.

But then there is the less obvious theft.  A secretary who only files her nails and never the mountain of paperwork behind her desk is guilty of theft.  Getting paid without working.  The engineer who claims it is impossible to get to work on time, but he has no problem with leaving early is doing the same thing, even though the engineer is salaried.  That salary is still based upon a nominal amount of work hours.  But then again, the employer who does not pay overtime pay to salaried employees, nor allows compensating time off, yet demands the added hours to be worked…  I don’t know if that is theft or slavery.

As an engineer, I worked extra hours quite often to make sure the project quality met my standard.  I worked extra hours due to unrealistic deadlines, but then again, I often was the one negotiating the contract in the first place and I knew what the customer demands would result in.  Thus, the company did not make me work those hours, I gladly worked those hours for the company to see the profit I made them – to no avail as the pay raises were far less than fair.  And that might be considered theft.

When you see a lady drop a few dollars on the ground.  You run over to pick them up.  You could easily shout or run to catch up with the woman and return the cash, but do you?  If instead of a couple of dollars, it was a couple of twenty dollar bills, does that change your answer?

And I have only one time left a two-cent tip.  The service was beyond horrible and their attitude was worse, but leaving a lousy tip might have been what created the problem.  It may be wrong to be surly and still expect a sizable tip, but pocketing the loose change when you got adequate service is not very good either.  The wait staff often is paid less than minimum wage with the tips considered the rest of their pay.

And now let us sing.

The following hymn is Before the Throne of God Above.  It is sung by Hymns of Grace.  Our possessions are really God’s possessions while we are mere stewards.  We owe everything to God.

“Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless Righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

One with Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God”

• Charitie Lees Bancroft, Before the Throne of God Above

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need You.  Help us to respect the possessions of others, respecting and loving the people in doing so.  Help us to be honest in our dealings with others, not stealing possession, time, or someone’s right to a little quiet time.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.