“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” Matthew 24:12 Like other forms of wickedness, dishonesty and stealing have increased. Stealing is “to take something that does not belong to you; to take dishonestly.” Many forms of stealing people rationalize as okay. Some have become so accustomed to stealing that they consider it a common practice and no longer bother with an appropriate consequence. But God does not change, and He has much to say about the consequence of stealing.
I first noticed Bible verses about stealing in a more meaningful way because of a seemingly insignificant experience. My husband, Jim, used to drive the young people to various events. He would take them to fast food restaurants after each event. One time this option was not available. He decided to buy bananas, candy bars, apple juice and pop for them. He planned to give them bananas and sell the other items. Afterwards he discovered that they had stolen most of the candy bars and pop. I felt there must be a spiritual meaning in the fact that they had stolen candy bars and pop which weren’t good for them and not stolen apple juice which was good for them.
A woman staying at our home, used the telephone long distance saying she would get the money to pay us when she went out. When she returned she ate a bag of chips instead of paying us. Later she developed high blood pressure.
Several, supposedly Christians, who steal, borrow money without repaying and manipulate continually go back to drinking in excess.
These, and similar incidents, caused me to notice how the Bible gives clear consequences to stealing.
The book of Zechariah was written about 480 B.C. and contains many prophecies of Jesus return, both for the first time and for the second time. The angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah to give him eight visions. In one of the visions Zechariah saw a flying scroll, a scroll being the parchment or material used as a writing tablet before paper was invented:
He asked me, "What do you see?"
I answered, "I see a flying scroll, thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide."
And he said to me, "This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished. The LORD Almighty declares, `I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in his house and destroy it, both its timbers and its stones.’ Zechariah 5:2-4
This passage is saying that the thief will be cursed, specifically, that he will be banished, and his house will be destroyed. Although his physical house could be destroyed, his house means his household as shown when the Philippian jailor asked what he must do to be saved: "They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household." Acts 16:31
“The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.” Proverbs 21:12 This verse also shows that a persons whole house (family) can be effected by his or her wickedness.
“If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.” Proverbs 17:13 One of the most serious consequences of any sin in the Bible is paying back evil for good. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and plotted to kill her husband Uriah, his loyal soldier, he was returning evil for good. His family suffered greatly—one son died, one son committed rape with his half sister and her brother killed him, two sons tried to take the kingdom from David, and even Solomon, for all his wisdom, turned away from the Lord because of the spirit of lust that was part of his inheritance (2 Samuel 11-12f).
Returning evil for good is shown in another instance when God struck Nabal dead because he refused to give provisions to David’s men who had faithfully guarded his flocks (1 Samuel 25).
Returning evil for good can be in less serious matters—Joseph’s servant, under direction from his master, accused Joseph’s brothers of returning evil for good under the pretense that they had taken Joseph’s diviner’s cup after he had served them a meal (Genesis 44).
To steal from the house where you are a guest is to return evil for good. A woman steals from the house where she is a guest and wonders why her children do not serve the Lord.
Not repaying when someone has been kind enough to lend you something is wicked: “The wicked borrow and
do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.” Psalm 37:21-22 A semi-colon divides a sentence into two parts often stating a similar idea in the part before the semi-colon as in the part after the semi-colon. This sentence is saying that the wicked, defined as those who borrow and do not repay, will be cursed and cut off by the Lord while those who are righteous, defined that those who give generously, will be blessed by the Lord and will inherit the land. God considers it a serious matter to borrow and not repay. He calls the person who does this wicked. To borrow and purposely not repay is stealing. Some people who borrow and do not repay wonder why God doesn’t use them in public ministry.
Even to forget to repay shows you consider the person from whom you have borrowed and his possessions a trivial matter. It is inconsiderate—we are supposed to “in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:2:3.
Considering the property of others of more importance than your own was the standard value among the people of God at one time. The company of the prophets asked the prophet Elisha to help them built a bigger lodging: “As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed! (He was extremely upset because the axhead wasn’t his. God, through his prophet Elisha, honored the good intentions of the man’s heart) “The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.” 2 Kings 6:5-7
To purposely not repay what you have borrowed can be returning evil for good. A couple wonders why their children drink and do not serve the Lord. The man used to borrow to buy his children what they wanted and did not return the money. He also kept his children from the punishment they deserved. The wife expected the church to pay for her children to go to Christian events, yet the children have money to buy cigarettes and alcohol. Money acquired by devious means was a curse for their children.
Stealing from someone who has been kind to you brings serious consequences to your family. Another verse giving the same idea: “If a man denounces his friends for reward, the eyes of his children will fail.” Job 17:5 A man often manipulated his friend, borrowing and not repaying or making unfair exchanges. He made plenty of money (often not quite fairly), but sometimes went without essentials. One of his sons was very dishonest. Thankfully, through much prayer the son is now serving the Lord, and perhaps his other children will serve Jesus.
"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, ‘Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for someone’s blood, let’s waylay some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse’–my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.” Proverbs 1:10-19 Thieves think no one sees them, but God sees everything. He is the Judge of all the earth, and He is the One to fear. Ill-gotten gain takes away the lives of those who get it. This is shown in other passages as well.
“A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” Proverbs 21:6 Any money that anyone makes dishonestly (including manipulation) will be wasted and will even bring death (other versions of the Bible translate the deadly snare as death).
How can it bring death? The following verses give some idea:
“…`This is what the Lord says: I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land, including the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets and all those living in Jerusalem.’" Jeremiah 13:13-14 Someone who has acquired money dishonestly needs some place to spend it. Without the Lord’s blessing, it can go for alcohol, drugs or even junk food that will eventually bring illness. How often do we see a heavy drinker being a person who manipulates to get money? Or someone who is dishonest in some way having dishonest or disrespectful children?
God sometimes will cause drunkenness. After having the prophet Jeremiah hide a new linen belt and dig it up after it had become completely ruined, the Lord said, "…`In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt–completely useless! 11 For as a belt is bound around a man’s waist, so I bound the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to me,’ declares the LORD, `to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.’” Jeremiah 13:9-11
If we don’t obey God, we take ourselves out from under His protective covering and face serious consequences. God even causes or allows adultery as a consequence of sin: “The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the Lord’s wrath will fall into it.” Proverbs 22:14
This judgment is repeated: “I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.” Ecclesiastes 7:26 How often do we consider falling into sin as a judgment for another sin?
The following verse says essentially the same thing as Proverbs 21:6 (mentioned above), but adds insights: “Ill-gotten treasures (not only money) are of no value (perhaps this could also include the fact that a thief seldom takes care of what he steals), but righteousness delivers from death (unrighteousness causes death).” Proverbs 10:2 “But” shows the two sides of this sentence separated by a semi-colon are opposing views. Ill gotten treasures are the opposite of righteousness. Righteousness delivers from death while ill-gotten treasures (which are of no value anyway) cause death.
The logical conclusion is that nothing acquired without God’s approval has His blessing or His wisdom on how it should be used. In fact, anything acquired without His approval is cursed (Zechariah 5:2-4). Even if God did not personally curse anything stolen, the devil would have free access to curse stolen goods and the thief: “Like a fluttering sparrow or a daring swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” Proverbs 28:2 We can protect ourselves by making sure we do not deserve a curse.
“Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.” Jeremiah 17:11 Sometimes the consequences are delayed, but there are always consequences, often in this life.
“An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.” Proverbs 18:19 One consequence of stealing is losing friends. If a person finds out a friend has stolen from him/her, the trust he once had for his friend is broken, perhaps forever.
God makes it perfectly clear that He does not approve of stealing: “You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15"You shall not steal.” Deuteronomy 5:19"`Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” Leviticus 19:11 Stealing, lying and deceiving are linked.
“The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.” Proverbs 11:1 “Differing weights and differing measures– the LORD detests them both.” Proverbs 20:10 “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” Proverbs 20:23 God abhors or detests dishonesty.
" `Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:35-36 Because of who He is, the Lord makes this commandment.
“Do not have two differing weights in your bag–one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house–one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” Deuteronomy 25:13-16 God says He detests anyone who deals dishonestly.
"When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"– skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.” Amos 8:5-6 Because of this attitude the Lord will bring terrible judgment on the world.
“Am I still to forget, O wicked house, your ill-gotten treasures and the short ephah, which is accursed? Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?” Micah 3:10-11 God’s obvious answer is “No!”
Understanding this should make a dishonest man tremble with fear.
In the New Testament Jesus reiterated the importance of the Ten Commandments and of the teachings of the Old Testament, including: “do not steal”: "Which ones?’ the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “`Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and `love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 19:18 and,“You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” Luke 18:20
Everything written in the Old Testament is God’s Word and God does not change. Jesus has said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18
Should we be surprised when there is a punishment for sin, even for those who believe in Jesus? “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17
For the unbeliever, an eternity in hell will be the punishment. Notice that “those who do not obey the gospel of God” defines the unbeliever. But those who are of “the family of God” will also undergo judgment. We must careful to obey. Salvation is through God’s grace: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8-9 However, obedience to God’s commandments is the evidence that a person is a believer in Jesus, and disobedience is extremely dishonoring to God.
"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Hebrews 12:5-6 quoting from Proverbs 3:11-12 Sometimes punishment for the Christian is even more severe in this life than for the unbeliever if that is what is necessary for his or her good.
“Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:9 Stealing dishonors the name of God.
Nehemiah confronts greed in taking advantage of others which is a form of stealing.
“When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them–the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."
"We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"
At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.” Nehemiah 5; 6-13 Notice that this sin is bringing the reproach of unbelievers.
“Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” Titus 2:9-10 By being honest in all our dealings we make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Dishonesty was one of Satan’s sins: “By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries…” Ezekiel 28:18 It still is one of Satan’s characteristics. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
Satan has been busy deceiving others to steal through the ages. The Israelites lost a battle to a small city because of one man: “When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things, did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.” Joshua 22:20 The dishonesty of one man (as told in Joshua 7) affected the whole nation of Israel.
In the New Testament two came into agreement to change the course of history (as Adam and Eve had done for the human race): “Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.’” Acts 5:3-4 At inception the church was extremely generous. People were selling land and giving the money to the organized group of believers. Then Ananias and Sapphira held back some of the money they had promised. By doing this, they brought a spirit of dishonesty and lack of trust that still affects us today.
This withholding spirit keeps people from tithing, and so they rob God:
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour our so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 3:8-12
To tithe is to give the first ten percent of our income to God. It is His money. An offering depends upon any money that is available and that we desire to give.
Another reason people do not tithe is because of false teaching. Some teach that we no longer have to tithe because we are not under law. But Jesus did not abolish tithing—in fact, he mentioned the validity of tithing: Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Matthew 23:23 (also Luke 11:42)
Any money withheld which belongs to someone else gives the devil a legal right to bring a curse. Along with the passage in Malachi the following passage shows how we can be cursed if we withhold money from God: “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.’” Haggai 1:5-6 The people have “purses with holes” because they are concerned with their own affairs and give nothing or little to the house of God.
Since we are just stewards of our possessions in this world, if we do not manage them well (wisely and honestly), we will not be given possessions in eternity: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” Luke 16:10-12 This passage implies another consequence of dishonesty: Dishonesty even in little ways will cause distrust and loss of friends.
Any money withheld which belongs to someone else gives the devil a legal right to bring a curse. Along with the passage in Malachi the following passage shows how we can be cursed if we withhold money from God: “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.’” Haggai 1:5-6 The people have “purses with holes” because they are concerned with their own affairs and give nothing or little to the house of God.
Since we are just stewards of our possessions in this world, if we do not manage them well (wisely and honestly), we will not be given possessions in eternity: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” Luke 16:10-12 This passage implies another consequence of dishonesty: Dishonesty even in little ways will cause distrust and loss of friends.
The dishonest are not be allowed in many positions of service to God: “But select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” Exodus 18:21 This concept is given again in the New Testament: “Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.” 1 Timothy 13:8-10
“Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11Contrary to worldly logic, dishonest money does not increase a person’s wealth. Working and acquiring money in a productive manner does. Paul tells the Thessalonians, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
“The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:9-10 Stealing—taking what doesn’t belong to you, not returning borrowed money or other items, not giving your fair share to a project where you have promised to help, lying or exaggerating about your need to get help from others, etc.—shows you do not love your neighbor as yourself. A good question to ask: ‘How would I like someone to do this to me?’
Your dishonesty will be found out: “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9 God always knows. Soon others will know. Perhaps more are aware of your dishonesty than you realize. Perhaps when you least expect it, you will be exposed: “As a thief is disgraced when he is caught…” Jeremiah 2:26
The consequences can be changed by repentance (change of mind which causes a change in actions). King David was repentant: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Proverbs 51:16-17 A truly repentant person sees his sin for what it is—harmful to the people God loved enough to die for, and to some degree keeping some from receiving His gift of eternal life in heaven.
What should we do if we have been stealing or being dishonest in another way? First, ask God to forgive us:
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51:2-3, 6-7, 9-12
After we have asked God for forgiveness, we must ask those from whom we have stolen for forgiveness. If possible, we should return the stolen item or make restitution in some way: “The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: `When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.” Number 5:5-7 This passage shows that in the Old Testament more than just the wrong committed was required as restitution. This passage also shows that hurting another is hurting the Lord. The best way to determine restitution is to ask the Lord.
Zacchaeus is a good example of a man who repents of his dishonesty. He demonstrates his change of heart by his actions: “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’” Luke 19:8 Jesus recognized this declaration as of great importance: “Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house…’” Luke 19:9 Paying back those we steal from shows a change of heart.
“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” Ephesians 4:28 We should work and do something useful. If this is impossible, remember that obedience from the heart to God’s commandments is what is important and will show through to others.
©2006 Jerrilyn Forsyth
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