Avoiding the weasel zone (no stealing, Exodus 20:15)

Text: Exodus 20:15

What is forbidden?

• The stealing of people (Ex. 21:16, Deut. 24:7, 1 Tim. 1:10)
• The moving of boundary markers (Deut 19:14, Deut 27:17, Job 24:2)
• The use of false measures (Deut 25:13-16, Prov 11:1)
• The selling of inferior goods (Amos 8:4-6)
• The charging of exorbitant interest (Exodus 22:25)
• The devouring of widows’ houses (Mark 12:40)
• The withholding of wages (James 5:4)

What is the theological foundation?

We are stewards. Our money is not our own to do with as we please.

The imitations of stewardship

1. It is a sin to be wasteful (e.g. gambling).
2. It is a sin to be greedy (stewardship does not equal saving every dime).

Heidelberg Catechism

Q. What does God forbid
in the eighth commandment?

A. God forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes all scheming and swindling in order to get our neighbor’s goods for ourselves, whether by force or means that appear legitimate, such as inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition God forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts.

Media

Listen to the podcast

No livestream this week.

Photo credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2346010/Incredible-moment-cheeky-stone-marten-caught-act-POACHING-eggs-amateur-photographer.html