Throughout the ages Jehovah has always wanted His creation to live righteously. Righteous living means directing one’s life by a standard or pattern; that standard being the Word of God (Ps. 119:11,105-106; 2 Tim 3:16). Since Jehovah's commands define righteousness, to be right I must obey His commands.

The California Statistical Abstract of 1998 states that from 1993-1997 a total of 423,037 actual reported felonies occurred in the state. Of those felonies, 151,639 were for stealing and other associated crimes. The crime of burglary, robbery, theft, vehicle theft, forgery/ fraud, and other properties totaled one third of the states' serious crimes. Many of those felonies were associated with drugs, assault and even murder. Many were never even reported or brought to justice. Professor Morgan Reynolds of Texas A&M University, in writing concerning crime in the United States, stated that an average of 35,000 arrests are made every month for burglary. It is obvious that the federal and state governments consider stealing to be a crime and so should we.

Stealing is not just a civil matter. Understand, the judgment of civil courts is not all that one will receive as punishment for this crime? If we want to be righteous people then we must understand what God's Word says on the matter. Does the Word of God condone or condemn stealing? When asking the question, many of us will distinctly respond by quoting Exodus 20:15, "Thou Shalt Not Steal." Thus, realizing that stealing opposes the righteous judgment of God, it must be understood that it is more than a civil matter. Those who steal will not only face judgment in this life but also in the life to come (Heb. 9:26-27). It could not be clearer, stealing is not only a crime in America but an affront to righteous living as outlined in the Bible. Jehovah does not want people to steal, but those who continue to pervert the righteous judgment of God will be lost (Rom. 13:9; ICor. 6:9-10).

Stealing is wrong because it is a transgression of God's law ( I John 3:4). It is taking that which belongs

to another; often by force. Our Lord's comments on the actions of thieves still ring true today (Luke 10:30-37; John 10:10). Thieves often remove possessions secretly, but what happens when they are startled and caught in the act? Many times other crimes are associated with or are the result of stealing ( i.e. verbal and physical violence, drugs, and even murder). This sin has plagued mankind for thousands of years and will continue to victimize the harmless and innocent.

Spiritually, we rob God when we do not use our resources and talents to glorify Him (Mal 3:8-10). Anyone who does not accept Jesus Christ as the true shepherd, is a thief and a robber (John 10:1-11). False teachers take away eternal life from people and are spiritual thieves and robbers. Only Jesus can give eternal life.

However, it is a beautiful moment to rejoice when sinners realize the need for repentance and seek the forgiveness of sins as outlined in the New Testament of our Lord ( John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38). When becoming children of God we are to put away sin and live for Christ, being the servants of righteousness ( Rom. 6:1-6, Gal. 5:19-20). The world would be a much better place if the masses would stop robbing God and one another and simply obey the Son of God. It is the will of God that men should work with their hands, learning to freely give, instead of freely taking (Eph. 4:28).

Bill Ford
Dinuba, CA