7th and 8th commandments

Men and women were designed to be together and to need each other. Marriage is a natural union of a man and a woman and is divinely ordained and established by God at the creation. His laws and in particular the Seventh Commandment authorize the marriage relationship and establish it as the foundation of the family, which in turn stands as the foundation and most important building block of society.

God told our first parents that, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. God's instruction clearly established what all future generations were supposed to learn regarding marriage and sex.

As children grow old enough to shoulder the responsibilities of a family and come to love and honour someone of the opposite sex, it is natural and proper for them to marry and be joined together and create their own family apart from their parents. Only then should they “become one flesh” by physically uniting in a sexual relationship. Jesus makes it clear that God from the very beginning intended that marriage be a monogamous and permanent relationship (Matthew 19:3-6).

Blessings with risks

God intended that marriage and sex in that order exist as tremendous blessings to humanity. Their potential for good is boundless. But the same desires that bring a man and a woman together into a loving, natural relationship, a godly blessing, can pose risks. Unless the natural desires that attract us to members of the opposite sex are channelled exclusively toward a loving marriage relationship, the temptation to engage in sexual immorality can easily overpower our self control. This weakness is the focus of the Seventh Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14\

Adultery is the violation of the marriage covenant by wilful participation in sexual activity with someone other than one's spouse. Since God's law sanctions sexual relationships only within a legitimate marriage, the command not to commit adultery covers in principle all varieties of sexual immorality. No sexual relationship of any sort should occur outside of marriage. That is the message of this Commandment. In much of the world sexual immorality is no longer regarded as a significant social evil. God however, categorically condemns all forms of sexual immorality (Revelation 21:8).

Our need for sexual direction

God gave us the Seventh Commandment to direct and define the sexual roles that bring lasting happiness and stability. Nothing is more desperately needed in this age. God created sex and it was His idea. Contrary to some long held opinions, He wants us to enjoy an abundantly pleasurable and stable sexual relationship within marriage. In that context, our sexuality endows us with the capacity to convey our appreciation, tenderness, devotion and love to our mate. It can add immeasurably to our sense of well being and contentment. The joy and confidence we derive from a proper marital relationship can positively affect our interaction with others, especially our own children. God wants the marital relationship strengthened and protected. He tells us in His Word: “Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life, and in your toil in which you have laboured under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:9

But of adultery God warns, “And why will you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” Proverbs 5:20-22. Again concerning adultery we are warned, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 6:27-29. “Wound and dishonour shall he [the adulterer] get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” Proverbs 6:33. Are these warnings nothing but unenlightened, outdated rhetoric? Don't believe it! Instead, consider the worldwide havoc wreaked by sex outside of marriage.

Theft is the ultimate assertion of the greedy, lustful way of life, one that emphasizes acquiring material and intangible things with no regard for the rights and feelings of others. It scorns conventions and boundaries established by society and God. It is the epitome of selfishness. The spiritual intent of the Commandment against stealing tells us where the battle against selfishness begins. It originates when we learn to appreciate the rights and needs of others.

The right to own property

The Eighth Commandment safeguards everyone's right to legitimately acquire and own property. God wants that right honoured and protected. His approach to material wealth is balanced. He wants us to prosper and enjoy physical blessings (3 John 1:2). He also expects us to show wisdom in how we use what He provides us. But He does not want possessions to be our primary pursuit in life (Matthew 6:25-33). When we see material blessings as a means to achieve more important objectives, God enjoys seeing us prosper.

To Him it is important that generosity rather than greed motivate the choices we make. Because they are qualities of His own character, He asks that from the heart we put giving and serving ahead of lavishing possessions on ourselves.

God loves cheerful givers

Jesus addressed this approach when He spoke of assisting the less fortunate with risky loans. “Give to every man that asketh of you; and of him that taketh away your goods ask them not again. 31 And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise … 34 And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:30-35

Basing what comes next on what He has already told us about having a generous rather than a selfish heart, Jesus continued, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38

God is willing to be our partner in serving others if we replace greed with a devotion to serving. He looks at the measure of the intensity of our commitment to that giving way of life. Paul expresses it clearly. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

God rejoices when He sees us, once our own needs are met, using any additional abundance in blessings to increase our usefulness and service to others. He then can know we are beginning to understand and follow His way of life.

Changing the heart of a thief

How does all of this relate directly to the command not to steal? Paul gives us the connection. “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28

A thief must go far beyond simply ceasing his larceny to please God. Someone once wisely observed, “A thief who has quit stealing may still be a thief at heart—a thief just temporarily unemployed. He really ceases to be a thief only if and when he replaces stealing with giving.” A thief has to change his heart and outlook.

Other forms of stealing

Directly taking another's possessions is not the only way to steal. Con artists use sophisticated scams to swindle their victims. Deceptive advertisements do the same. Manufacturers who misleadingly advertise their products of substandard quality cheat their customers. Labourers who bill for more hours than they work or charge more than their services are worth are stealing from those who hire them. Then there are those who “borrow” but never return. Aren't they stealing? There are so many ways to take what is not ours that we must stay on our guard. We could be breaking God's Commandment against stealing without realizing what we are doing.

Employees who do not work although paid to do so are stealing from their employers. People who delight in consuming what others produce while refusing to carry their share of the labour and responsibility or their part in the production of goods and services engage in still another form of stealing. They siphon away what others produce but make little or no contribution themselves. They take and give little in return. Notice Jesus Christ's parable of the person who refuses to assume personal responsibility: “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:” Matthew 25:24-26

The man in this parable knew that his job was to produce for his master. But because of his own distorted outlook, he willingly chose to be unproductive. He knew the rules and responsibilities placed on him. He had no excuse for his slack behaviour. Jesus' parable continues, “You oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents.” Matthew 25:27-28. The man's employer called him “wicked and lazy.” At heart he was no different from a thief. Therefore his boss gave his reward to another who had worked hard to benefit someone besides himself. Jesus used this parable to illustrate God's low opinion of self pity and selfishness.

Can we steal from God?

The Bible helps us recognize yet another form of stealing. From the time of Abraham (Genesis 14:20) forward, the Bible shows examples of how God's faithful servants formally acknowledged who really owns everything being of course God. They faithfully gave Him one tenth of their increase. In the covenant God made with ancient Israel, a tenth of the people's increase was set aside for the priests to finance their spiritual service to the nation. Needless to say, this practice of tithing (meaning giving a tenth) never became popular with most people. It required faith that God would amply supply their needs if they were a giving people.