The 8th Commandment

Good Morning!! The eighth commandment focuses on the right of ownership. While most of us would never go out and rob a bank, there are other forms of stealing: tax evasion, failure to pay debts, fraud, abusing copyright laws, charging excessive interest, being less than honest on an insurance claim. In short, stealing is; any act of taking something that doesn't belong to us,...and we all know that. Yet we do, and try to justify these acts with thoughts like; That insurance company has plenty of money,...and they overcharge me on my premiums, or These taxes are unfair,...I  shouldn't have to pay them, or If I don't someone else will, or best of all,...everyone does it. But God says: "You shall not steal." 

"You shall not steal."—Exodus 20:15 (NIV)

Ultimately,...everything belongs to God. We are stewards of what he has entrusted to us. To abuse a person's right of ownership, whether they are rich or poor, is wrong. The rich should not rob their employees, and the poor should not rob the rich,...even when they feel entitled or justified. The Christian example should be that of a giver, not a taker. If you've been drawn into the all-too-common attitudes of selfishness and compromise, that invade our world today, it's time to turn your back on those attitudes and focus on doing things God's way.
  

God places a high value on private property.

What's yours is yours,...until you willfully give it away.

Holy Spirit of God, help us not to rationalize our way to dishonest behavior. In all things, help us to be givers, not takers. Amen.

"Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct, and ethical decisions, is essential for every believers life."