“YOU SHALL NOT STEAL. (Exodus 20:15 NKJ)

• What is stealing? To steal means to take someone’s else property without permission or legal rights and without intending to return it.
• We live in a society where stealing is a thing. Why do people steal? People steal for the thrill of it; People steal to feed another addiction; People steal because a sense of entitlement Greed, laziness, etc.

WHY DO PEOPLE STEAL? The simple answer here is TRUST. Trust in God.

• Go back 3000 years ago when God gave the children of Israel the 8^th commandment.
• God’s idea was to break them away from the bondage of slavery. A slave might be tempted to steal because of lack. But someone who is free, has no need to steal.
• God’s idea was to develop a civilization based on freedom where HE IS TRUSTED as the only provider – As Jehovah Jireh – The God who sees ahead and makes provision.

STATEMENT: Stealing comes from a lack of trust that God is able to provide!

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. (Ephesians 4:28 NLT)

#1 How do you develop trust in God: STOP STEALING

• Confess it. Come clean before the Lord. Come clean with those you have stolen from.
• Repent. Change direction.
• Receive God’s forgiveness and forgive yourself.
• Live a life of honesty.

The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them. (Proverbs 11:1-6 NLT)

#2 How do you develop trust in God: START WORKING

“Instead, use your hands for good hard work”

• God blesses hard work.

Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “THOSE UNWILLING TO WORK WILL NOT GET TO EAT.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT)

#3 How do you develop trust in God: GET GIVING

“then give generously to others in need.”  You don’t HAVE TO give. You GET TO give!

 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Colossians 3:23 NLT)

• The attitude of a thief is: “What’s yours in mine, and I’ll take it!”
• The attitude of a good steward is: “What’s mine is God’s and I’ll share it”

CONCLUSION:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?