Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti
Reading: Genesis 30: 25 – 43; Exodus 22: 1 – 15; Malachi 3: 6 – 15
Text: Exodus 20: 15 You shall not steal. (ESV)
Introduction:
The principle of love:
The principle of property:
The principle of labour: (gambling?) Paul writes to the Thessalonians: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
The principle of fairness:
1. Reasons for stealing:
Discontentment:
Unbelief: They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
Selfishness:
Greed: Achan confessed: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them.
Idolatry: the young ruler. Paul writes to Timothy: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Laziness:
2. Kinds of stealing:
Against God: (talents, time, money) As stewards we are called to administer God’s gifts. God said through Malachi: will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me?
Against our fellow man: private and public
Against ourselves:
3. The Consequences of stealing:
God’s glory: In Proverbs 30 Agur says: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
God’s judgment:
4. The cure to stealing:
Faith in God’s care:
Faith in God’s Son:
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