Theft

 

Bible Questions Answered:

“...Pastor isn't that theft?...”

Ron/ Bialystok, Poland (Podlaskie Voivodeship)

Bible Answer:

Bible Texts:

Over the millennia, the word theft has evolved. In the beginning, theft involved the stealing of ones cattle, wagons, or food. Today, when we speak of theft, many different thoughts come to mind. Theft of ones goods, of business, or trade secrets, business names, clothing designs, trademarks, lyrics or music, theft of an others accolades, theft of one's character, thru accusation, intellectual property, etc. etc. And God, looks upon mankind as being thieves of His wealth, and His gift of time.

Thieves:

Exodus 20:15 KJV (Eighth Commandment)

Thou shalt not steal.

Deuteronomy 23:24,25 NLT

24 “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not carry any away in a basket.

25 And when you enter your neighbor’s field of grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not harvest it with a sickle.

Proverbs 29:24 KJV

Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul..."

Zechariah 5:1-4 NLT

I looked up again and saw a scroll flying through the air.

2 “What do you see?” the angel asked. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied. “It appears to be about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.”

3 Then he said to me, “This scroll contains the curse that is going out over the entire land. One side of the scroll says that those who steal will be banished from the land; the other side says that those who swear falsely will be banished from the land.

4 And this is what The Lord Of Heaven’s Armies says: I am sending this curse into the house of every thief and into the house of everyone who swears falsely using My name. And My curse will remain in that house and completely destroy it—even its timbers and stones.”

Matthew 15:19,20 KJV

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication's, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man..."

Mark 7:21-23 KJV

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication's, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

John 10:10 KJV

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I Corinthians 6:9,10 NLT

9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,

10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:27,28 KJV

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

I Peter 4:15 KJV

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Revelation 9:20,21 KJV

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Idleness:

Our God, who has called us, does not want us to stand idly by, when there is work to do!

There are many, surprise to some, that tithe their time to The Lord.

One tenth of the day, 2 hours and 40 minutes a day, to The Lord. Will this time be blessed of The Lord, yes!

Matthew 20:1-16 KJV

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house,

12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Tithing:

Our God, has called us to be faithful in our tithing.

“OK, pastor that's where we have you, we are under grace, not the law! Jesus never told us to tithe, period!”

Oh, is that right?

Luke 11:42 NLT (Jesus)

“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Malachi 3:8-10 NLT

8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated Me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated Me of the tithes and offerings due to Me.

9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating Me.

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse `so there will be enough food in My Temple. If you do,” says The Lord Of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put Me to the test!

Thievery comes is all shapes and sizes. A person may be guilty of stealing from man or God.

I Corinthians 6:9 KJV

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?...”

Hebrews 10:31 KJV

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of The Living God.

Prayer:

Psalm 139:23,24 KJV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.