The Ten Commandments – the 8th Commandment
The Ten Commandments – the 8th Commandment
Text: Exodus 20:15, Ephesians 4:28
Memory Verse: Exodus 20:15 “Thou shall not steal.”
Thou shall not steal
Stealing means taking what does not belong to you; either in open or in secret without the owner’s permission or knowledge and keeping it. When you think of stealing, the first thing that comes to your mind is an armed robber taking money from a bank or house, this is indeed stealing ; but there are many other ways to steal and they are all against God’s commandment. Other ways we can steal include;
- Robbery: This is an act of stealing using force, threats or violence
- Kidnapping: This is an act of taking someone against their will or by force in order to get a ransom (money). Deuteronomy 24:7
- Refusing to pay your tithes and offerings, Malachi 3:8-10
- Cooperating with thieves, Psalms 50:18, Ephesians 5:11.
- Pickpocketing and shoplifting: These are acts of stealing by picking money or valuable items from a person’s bag or pocket; going into a shop or supermarket and taking thing without paying for them.
- Refusing to pay debts: A debt is what you owe to someone. It could be money or an obligation. Psalms 37:21, Romans 13:8.
- Cheating: This is an act of deceiving people into believing a lie in order to steal from them. It is also when you steal people’s idea and make others believe it is your own.
God uses this commandment to remind us to honour and love our neighbours. If you love your neighbours, then you would not steal from them.
Prayer: God help me to be content with what I have at all time in Jesus Name, Amen.
Author Sis Chiamaka Ebenezer
