DO NOT STEAL: A GUIDE TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS

 "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." – Ephesians 4:28 (ESV)


One of the commandments that God gave us is not to steal. Exodus 20:15 says, "You shall not steal."  However, in today's world, many people take this command lightly and find various excuses to justify what God has forbidden, including stealing. Some say, "I steal because God knows I am in need."

One day, I was with a fellow Christian from my church. After a service, we were in a car together when he received a phone call. He was talking to a coworker, planning how to steal something from their workplace. After the call, I told him, "You know stealing is wrong and a sin, right?" He replied, "It’s not a big deal. Even God understands that if I steal this thing, I will use it for something good." He went on to say, "Stealing is only bad if you waste what you stole or misuse the money. In that case, even God will judge you. But if you use it for something Important, it’s fine."
I told him, "You cannot steal and expect that money to bring you blessings. That is a curse and misfortune that you are bringing into your home."

There are many misleading beliefs we hold that prevent us from succeeding in life. When God says "Do not steal," He means exactly that—do not steal. Today's scripture says, "Rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands." Pay attention to these words:
• "Let him labor."  – This means you must work hard.
• "Doing honest work."  – Your work must be legitimate, blessed, and glorifying to God.
• "With his own hands."  – Your success should come from your own efforts, not from dishonesty.
If you follow this principle, even if you start small, God will bless you and help you prosper economically.

The verse ends by saying, "So that he may have something to share with anyone in need." This means that the offerings and help you give to others should come from your own honest work. For your generosity to be a blessing both to the recipient and to yourself, it must come from rightful earnings.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to work diligently with my hands so that You may bless me. Guide me so that everything I do is honest and honorable. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Choose love over judgment

Image
"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21 NKJV   The message today is clear and very brief. God reminds us that our righteousness is not attained through our actions but by faith in Jesus Christ. If our righteousness is obtained by faith and not by deeds, why do we judge each other? Why do we point fingers? Why do we gossip? The mouths of Christians have become very quick to judge others when they make mistakes. Let's not judge others, especially when they make mistakes. Remember that the weaknesses you judge in others, you also have, and often yours are worse than those you judge. The word of God says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2."   Secondly, let's not consider ourselves righteous and better than others. The word of God says, "for all...
Read more

With God, Everything is possible

Image
"casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]." 1 Peter 5:7 AMP Our God is a powerful God, capable of helping us in every situation where we need His assistance. As a believer and someone who relies on God, you need to learn how to entrust all your problems to Him. Many Christians have not been able to fully surrender their concerns to God. Within their hearts, you will find that they retain a part of the responsibility. It's like saying, "I will handle it up to this point, and then I will leave the rest to God to finish." This isn't surrendering the entire matter to God. Nowadays, when someone says, "I've left this matter to God," it's often because they've exhausted their own methods of solving it and have given up. Some people say this not because they believe that the problem will now...
Read more

God is my protector

Image
Psalm 91:2 reads, "I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." This verse encapsulates a profound declaration of trust and confidence in God's protective care. It serves as an affirmation of the believer's unwavering faith in the Lord's ability to provide security and refuge in times of trouble. In times of uncertainty and challenges, may you find solace and strength in the Lord. Just as the psalmist declared their unwavering trust in the Lord as their refuge and fortress, may you also find courage to vocalize your faith and dependence on God. Remember that you are not alone in your struggles. God, your refuge and fortress, is with you every step of the way. He is your shelter in the midst of life's storms, your stronghold in times of adversity. Trust in His steadfast love and faithfulness, knowing that He is always present to protect and guide you. Divine Protection Affirmation: I will not fear, for God is with me; He is ...
Read more