ODJ: correct change
June 5, 2010
Do not steal. Do not deceive or cheat one another (v.11).
READ: Leviticus 19:9-13
Making decisions while shopping has never been one of my strong points. I take forever to settle on a purchase, and then all the way from the checkout line to my house, I still question whether or not I got the best deal. Recently, after finishing my shopping, I realized after leaving the store that the cashier had rung up the lamp base and shade together instead of separately as they were priced. When I returned to the store, the customer service clerk seemed surprised that I was correcting an issue that had been financially in my favor.
In our “it’s all about me” society, the lines often get blurred between right and wrong. Rather than asking what God expects or how we would like to be treated, we look for the most expedient means to get our needs met. While we wouldn’t consider blatantly stealing, we don’t mind keeping extra change from the cashier or sneaking in our own snacks to the local theater. In Leviticus 19, however, God teaches us that if we’re going to serve Him—to be His holy people—then we must be willing to do things His way, even if it seems to put us at a disadvantage. Frugality is desirable, but not at someone else’s expense.
Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Being faithful stewards doesn’t begin with not stealing. It begins with giving. God commanded the Israelites to leave the outer edges of their fields and portions of their fruit unharvested (Leviticus 19:9-10). We can see how doing so helps the less fortunate, but what we often miss is the benefit to us (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
A heart willing to give won’t take what it doesn’t rightfully own. That’s a change you can bank on. —Regina Franklin
What are some ways you’re tempted to steal? What happens when you justify taking something that doesn’t belong to you?
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