“You shall not steal.” – Exodus 20:15
Introduction
I. The honor of the Gospel in the way it is perceived by the world of lost sinners is affected by our obedience to this commandment more than any other.
Exposition with Application
I. The eighth commandment establishes property rights.
Communism and socialism are both anti-Christian because they attempt abolish the individual property rights ordained by God.
II. Individual property rights establish the freedom man enjoys as God’s image bearer.
By diligently exercising dominion over the property God has placed under an individual’s stewardship, that person enjoys freedom.
III. When a person’s property is stolen, his freedom is diminished.
Theft is an attempt to place a person under the dominion of someone other than God.
IV. The legitimacy of modern economic systems must be considered in regards to God’s Law. Both capitalism and communism fail the test.
A. Free-market capitalism holds that by every individual pursuing his own self-interest, the greatest good comes to the greatest number of people.
B. Government run communism holds that by the government pursuing its self-interest, the greatest good comes to the greatest number of people.
Neither of these systems offers any protection from the greed, cruelty and oppression of unsaved men.
C. The Biblical standard holds that God’s self-interest brings the greatest good to the greatest number of people.
V. Man, and man’s social structure, will either be the image bearer of God, or the image bearer of satan.
Application
I. General and societal ways the eighth commandment is broken.
A. A corrupt monetary system is an abomination before God. Pro. 20:10
It provokes God to judgment. Amos 8:4-8, Isa. 1:22
B. Property taxes: there is no Biblical sanction for taxing property.
Property taxes work to make people dependent and thankful to the government instead of God.
II. Specific and personal ways the eighth commandment is broken.
A. Oppression by taking advantage of advantage of someone’s poor situation in a business transaction.
B. Exploitation by taking advantage of someone’s poor situation in a labor transaction.
C. Stealing time, by showing up late, leaving early or being purposefully unproductive.
D. Fraudulent borrowing or lending.
III. As Christians, we must uphold the honor of God:
A. In the way we manage our property and business.
B. In the economic policies that we support
This is our witness that God’s Law as the only way to enjoy true freedom and true prosperity. Matt. 5:16
IV. We cannot expect the unsaved to join us. The first step in anyone’s economic recovery begins with faith in Christ.
Related Posts:
Greg Mills: Grace In The Law Of God – The First Commandment
Greg Mills: Grace In The Law Of God – The Second Commandment
Greg Mills: Grace In The Law Of God – The Third Commandment
Greg Mills: Grace In The Law Of God – The Fourth Commandment
Greg Mills: Grace In The Law Of God – The Fifth Commandment
Greg Mills: Grace In The Law Of God – The Sixth Commandment
Greg Mills: Grace In The Law Of God – The Seventh Commandment
