Abounding Grace: The Grace of the Law - Labor to Give

Sunday we’ll consider the Eighth Commandment, “You shall not steal,” Exodus 20:15. The obvious application is respecting what belongs to someone else. At least two principles are assumed in this commandment: the right to own personal property and contentment with what God has given to me and others. While this commandment undermines economic theories like socialism and communism, along with the taxation and state ownership that accompanies them, it’s rooted in the teaching that God is the source of all that we have. He gives and takes away, as Job says (Job 1:21).

This is where contentment enters the conversation. Contentment involves accepting what God has given you and owning the responsibility to steward those gifts. But it starts with loving the Giver more than the gift. The Apostle Paul describes this shift as the essence of idolatry, saying, “they worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25) The Apostle and author of Hebrews says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5) Notice the connection he makes between contentment and the presence of God. Contentment is the result of loving God with our whole being expressed in loving our neighbor by protecting and not taking what belongs to them whether personal property or intangible things like their reputation.

Join us Sunday as we consider this important commandment and worship God for his loving, wise presence.