The Seventh Commandment

Introduction

God the Creator has given us all of our earthly goods, and He wants us to use them for our own welfare and for the welfare of others. But we are not to get these things by taking advantage of others; neither should they steal from us. Therefore God has given a commandment for the protection of our money and goods.

The Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God, so that we do not take our neighbor's money or goods, nor get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his goods and means of making a living.

  1. How does God give us our money and goods?
    God gives us our money and goods through honest labor, gifts or inheritance.
    Bible Example: Parents give gifts to their children.
    Bible Example: The prodigal son requested his inheritance.
  2. How shoud we use our money and goods?
    As faithful managers of the gifts of God, we are accountable to Him and are to use our money and goods to His glory and for the welfare of mankind. (See "stewardship" in the Glossary.)
    Bible Example: The parable of the talents
    Bible Example: The parable of the dishonest steward and Jesus' exhortation to faithfulness
    Bible Example: The generosity of the Macedonians
  3. How do we "take" our neighbor's money or goods or "get" them in a dishonest way?
    We take or get our neighbor's money or goods in a dishonest way by such sins as
    • robbery,
    • theft,
    • cheating,
    • gambling,
    • bribing,
    • overcharging,
    • giving false measure, and
    • filing false tax returns.

    Bible Example: Gehazi obtained a present by lying and trickery.
  4. What does God require of us in the Seventh Commandment?
    In the Seventh Commandment, God requires that we should be honest in all our dealings, gladly help our neighbor and protect his goods and means of making a living.
    Bible Example: Abraham recovered Lot's property without reward.
    Bible Example: Zacchaeus promised to give half of his goods to the poor and to restore anything taken by fraud.
  5. What should be our attitude toward money and goods?
    We should be content with what we have and remember that God, our Creator, provides us with all we need for this life because of His love for us in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Our violations of the Seventh Commandment, in addtion to being sins against God, are serious sins against other people. While stealing – by robbery, theft, fraud, greed or selfishness – may make us richer, it makes other poorer. As we strive to keep this commandment, we must seek stregnth from Jesus, who alone has kept the Seventh Commandment perfectly (active obedience).

Hymn

And let me be with all
In peace and friendship living,
As far as Christians may;
And if Thou aught art giving
Of wealth and honors fair,
O this refuse me not,
That naught be mingled there
Of goods unjustly got. (ELH 470:5)

Bible Readings

At home:

In class: