“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

Are You a Thief?

Have you ever been robbed? My business was robbed of some very expensive electrical components several years ago. The cost was significant but so was the feeling of being violated. We had to take some greater measures to make sure that it didn’t happen again, or at least make it more difficult for the thieves.

As my children grew, I worked hard with them in the area of stealing. When they were small, there were times they took little items from a store. If that happened, we would stop and go back to the store and I made my children return what they took. Making sure they understood that all items are to be paid for was just as important to me as not being overcharged. Sometimes we even went back to a store to pay more money if the items had been overlooked. Merchandise that was broken during a shopping visit was paid for as well.

Today I read a devotional that made me realize an area that I should have worked more diligently on in myself and in my children. We are thieves when we steal people’s joy, dreams, reputation, and peace with our words and actions. Intangible items can be stolen just like physical ones. Here is what I mean:

Have you ever gossiped about someone that made another person think less of that person?

Have you ever told a child that they could never do something that child dreams about doing?

Have you ever ranted and raged over something not that important, causing the atmosphere of your household to change for the rest of the day?

I could go on but I think you get the idea. Ladies, we need to be careful with our words. We don’t want to take what doesn’t belong to us, but we can steal without being aware that that is what we are doing. Let’s make a commitment today to filter our thoughts and actions before we say or do them. We need to ask ourselves if what we are about to say or do:
Is truthful

Is kind

Is necessary

Does it take what doesn’t belong to us? Does it give life, or death?

“Holy Spirit, we ask You to show us those areas in our lives where we are stealing. Please forgive us for those times and help us to forgive those who have stolen from us. We thank You for the work You will do in us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”