At its core, the command "do not steal" articulates the positive principle of justice: we are called to give others what we owe them. That means that the command “do not steal” isn't just for those who might rob a bank or embezzle money. A thief is anyone who manipulates people and circumstances to take what belongs to others or withholds what they should give. This passage challenges us as takers to become givers, a transformation that is possible only through the new life we have in Christ. We'll explore this in four steps: first, the habits of a taker; second, the heart of a taker; third, the transformation of a taker; and fourth, the habits of a giver.
I. Habits of a Taker
A taker manipulates people and situations to either take what is not theirs or withhold what they owe.
Consider the story of Ahab, who took Naboth’s vineyard through deceit and murder, or David, who stole Uriah’s wife and then took his life. We also see the problem of withholding, such as Nabal refusing to help David, or the wealthy in Amos 8 who exploit others with unjust practices. Proverbs 3:27-28 challenges us not to withhold good from those to whom it is due.
We tend to be takers in every domain of life. Children become takers when they fail to honor their parents or avoid helping them. Parents become takers when they withhold love or guidance from their children. Husbands and wives act as takers when they withhold time or affection from one another. In relationships, we become takers when we exaggerate our needs for attention or manipulate situations to gain sympathy. At work, we see takers when someone hides the truth about a product, overcharges a client, or underpays an employee. Even in the church, both pastors and members can withhold care or truth. Like Smaug hoarding his gold, we are all born takers, driven by the default desire to manipulate others and circumstances to get what we want.
II. The Heart of a Taker
Our habits reveal the condition of our hearts, and our hearts are shaped by the stories we believe. In ancient cultures, creation myths often portrayed gods who fought for dominance, justifying violence and self-interest. In our own culture, the rags-to-riches story tells of individual achievement, but it also leads to intense pressure and stress.
What story shapes the heart of a taker? It’s the story that says, “God is withholding something from me”—that God is a taker, not a giver. This is the lie Satan whispered in the garden, and it is the story that shapes the taker’s mindset.
To diagnose whether this story has shaped our own hearts, consider these questions: Do I feel like life has cheated me? Do I envy others who have more? When I gain something, do I feel I must protect it fiercely, as if it might be taken away? Do I feel entitled to more than I have, resenting those who possess what I lack?
III. The Transformation of a Taker
True transformation only happens when we embrace “the truth as it is in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21). The truth is this: though God owes us nothing and we owe Him everything, He gives Himself to us freely in Christ.
Jesus, though rich, became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9), and only His self-giving love can melt our grasping, self-centered hearts. Philippians 2 reveals how Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, showing us the nature of the ultimate giver.
Three truths transform the heart of a taker:
1. God is a giver, not a taker—He spared not His own Son.
2. In Christ, we have all we need—“How will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”
3. It is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
Giving is multiplication—it has far-reaching effects. Zacchaeus exemplifies this transformation. Once a thief, he repaid what he took and gave generously. Similarly, George Müller, once a criminal, became a generous philanthropist, caring for thousands of orphans and supporting global missions.
IV. Habits of a Giver
Ephesians 4:28 calls us to “labor, doing honest work with [our] hands, so that [we] may have something to share with anyone in need.” This means that a giver works, owns, and shares.
A giver works. Work itself is a gift from God, a way to reflect His creativity and bless others. Work is good, not just because it is productive, but because it aligns us with God’s purposes.
A giver owns. Givers understand that owning is good, too, because it provides the means to share. While the Bible never condemns wealth, it warns against the love of money and the misuse of resources.
Finally, a giver shares. A giver shares intentionally and cheerfully. Who should you give to? Begin with those you have wronged—whether through money, time, or affection. Then move to others in need.
Giving should be done freely and joyfully, motivated by the pattern we find in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."
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