Daily Devotional Monday 16th November 2020
by William Moody
Ephesians 4:25–32
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 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. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
(ESV)
The Eighth Commandment
(Shorter Catechisms 73-75)
The eighth commandment is, “You shall not steal.” (A.73) and “requires the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.” (A.74), and “forbids whatsoever does or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate.” (A.75).
The Catechism’s answers put a strong emphasis on being concerned for the needs of others. Keeping this commandment means more than not stealing, it means being active in earning so as to help those in need (Ephesians 4 v28).
The command to love our neighbour as ourselves rests behind this commandment to not steal. Stealing speaks of someone focused on themselves, but Jesus by contrast calls on a life lived for the good of others.
The grace of Christ entering our souls should moves us from selfishness to selflessness. Jesus lived a life devoted to doing good to others and following Jesus means showing similar love. If we fail to give love to others then we are guilty of stealing.
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