The Eighth Word
Introduction
One of the most despicable acts of greed recorded in the Bible happens at the hands of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Ahab wanted a vineyard that a man named Naboth owned (1 Kings 21:1-2). It seems Naboth was a righteous man because he refused to sell away land that God gave to his family (1 Kings 21:3). This caused Ahab to pout, which caused Jezebel to conspire. Jezebel found two false witnesses (9th word) to falsely accuse Naboth of blasphemy and treason which resulted in him being executed by stoning (1 Kings 21:13).
The Passage
You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15
Explain the Passage
Torah punishes crimes against people differently as crimes against property. Murder, cursing parents, and some sexual crimes are capital crimes (Num 35; Ex 21:17; Lev 20:9; Lev 20). Usually the punishment for property crimes is restitution (Ex 22:1-5). For example, if you steal $50 dollars, you give back the $50 you stole plus your own $50. In agrarian economies, people were closer to their stuff. You either made everything you had yourself or you knew the man who made it. Today, in industrialized economies, we are so far removed from our stuff, many people do not know where the food in their fridge comes from. This affects how we view things. Most people today either hoard or replace things.
In the old covenant, God gave Israel property in order to bless their families as well as other people. Farmers couldn’t glean everything off their fields, they were to leave the corners for the poor (Lev 19:9; 23:22). Anything that was dropped in the harvesting process was to be left for the poor (Lev 19:9-10).
In the new covenant, God blesses us with blessing so we can drop that blessing on others (2 Cor 9:8-11). Peter Liethart says, “We don’t give away everything, but we do use everything to bless.
Theology of Things and Mammon
Our things tend to define us. A man who owns a sports car is the kind of guy who owns a sports car. When I parted ways with my old Honda Civic, it felt weird going to work the next morning. One of my friends had his car broken into and stole his laptop. He kept on saying how violated he felt.
God reveals that somethings are exclusively his. Anything that is “holy” or “most holy” is God’s. As His image bearers, our stuff is our holy stuff. In this atmosphere, Jesus commands the rich young ruler to give away everything (Mark 10:21-22
In the New Testament, Jesus commonly spoke of greed in terms of the idol Mammon (Matt 6:24). Avarice and greed are so strong that the New Testament gives it a special name—Mammon. Mammon is one of today’s most protected idols. Christians pursue prosperity when we only think in terms of the bottom line. Your kids never knew you, but you worked hard to give them a luxurious life. You lost all your friends, but you got the best deal on that you own.
The Gospel of Generosity
When Adam took the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he stole. When Adam’s son Cain killed his brother Abel, he stole his life. Thievery is a type of murder (breaking the sixth word), which violates the first word and second words.
Greed and thievery are central to the biblical narrative because greed and selfishness are central to human sin. Thievery is so central to human plight that two thieves died on either side of Christ (Matt 27:38). Christians should never steal because we have been bought with the life of Christ (1 Cor 6:19-20). Where Adam stole from God at a tree, Jesus gave to God on a tree (Phil 2:5-11). Christians are the richest people in the world because Jesus shares everything with us. We became rich because He became poor (2 Cor 8:9).
Pursue Generosity and Hard Work
Like all the commandments, this one demands we avoid certain actions while pursuing different ones. We should avoid greed but pursue generosity. We should avoid laziness and pursue diligence. Let’s look at each of these in turn.
Avoid greed. At the heart of greed is thinking in terms of the material bottom line. We live like God is not in heaven. We are greedy when we only think in terms of money made, saved, or invested. Many mothers and fathers have stolen their children’s parents by working all the time. We break the 8th word when we defraud our neighbor in business transactions. Scripture demands honest weights and measures (Lev 19:35; Deut 25:15). Men would shave silver off of a 50-shekel piece and still claim it’s 50 shekels, not 45. Money changes people, which is why when we avoid greed, we should pursue generosity.
Pursue generosity. Obviously, this means finding ways to help the poor or those going through a catastrophic time. In scripture, the institution responsible for generosity, welfare, and hospitality is not the state or even the church, but the family (1 Tim 5:4). One way we are generous is with our time and trustworthiness. For example, in the Old Testament, God demands we care for our neighbor’s things. You protect your neighbor’s property while he’s away (Ex 22:7). If you damage something you borrowed, you must make restitution (Ex 22:14). If you find your neighbor’s dog wandering, you must take care of it until your neighbor claims it (Deut 22).
Avoid laziness. Paul says in Ephesians 4:28, He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Greed is a form of laziness. Instead of working to serve, your wanting to be served.
Pursue Diligence. One reason people get greedy is that they want shortcuts. But the scriptures give warning against wealth attained really fast like in a lottery (Proverbs 13:11). In God’s economy, we work hard and patiently wait for dividends.
Conclusion
God is a giver. Be like your father and give yourself to the places He has placed you. Give to your families. Give to your neighbors and church. God gave you to hands and one mouth. You should work and give twice as much as you take and receive.