SEP 5

Exodus 20:15
Memorise Exodus 20:15
“Let him that stole steal no more””

The 8th commandment comes again in the form of a simple one-liner that reads, ‘thou shalt not steal’. This is one of the more direct and easily understood commandments that most non-believers would also agree with. To steal means to take something that you do not own, likely through illegal means, without consent from the person who owns it, and with no intention of returning it. Although I cannot claim to have studied the laws of all the nations, I am quite sure that stealing is a crime outlawed by every country in the world. It is generally frowned upon by society, and everyone would readily agree that it is wrong.

Yet in ways here and there, we are actually guilty of breaking this commandment as well. Whilst we may not be robbers, thieves or pickpockets, there are ways which we take a bit more than we should, or give a bit less than required, and are thus guilty of stealing. Especially in this ‘kiasu’ society that we live in, it is often practised, even praiseworthy to be ‘cheapskate’ or even stingy, to make small gains by whatever means possible to benefit self. There are times, where such methods would actually constitute stealing in some way or other. Examples of such practices include trying to ‘beat the system’ by driving and following the car in front closely to clear the gantry without paying carpark charges; tapping our EZlink cards a few bus stops earlier; finding some money or valuables in a public place and then keeping it for yourself; filching small things like stationary from our schools or work-places. All these are ways in which we rationalise away small sins and do not realise that we are in actual fact breaking a commandment of God.

Understand that the 8th commandment is no less significant than any of the other 9 commandments, and must therefore be kept with the same fastidiousness as all the others. It does not matter how big or small the item stolen is. Stealing is a sin, and must not be condoned, whether the amount stolen is 5 cents or 5 billion dollars. God demands honesty and integrity from His children, and therefore we must strive to live up to His standards.

Thought: There may have been ways that I have stolen and did not realise it.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for all the little ways in which I have stolen, and help me to be honest in all my ways.