Summary of Stealing

Because stealing really is such a self explanatory issue I'm really not going to elaborate too much more on it. But I want to leave my readers with an impression. 

Stealing is any act in which you acquire something to which your are not justly entitled. It does not matter how you obtain it. In following this vein of thought, consider this. If you had a job in which you are really paid more that you rightfully need, and you neglect to use your means to assist those less fortunate, you are in a very real sense, stealing. 

When you come to know the truth, can you honestly say that a corporate executives salary is justified in being higher than say a common farmers?  Our society can create extreme economic disparities and injustices. But it is for us to do what is actually right. Someone who is well paid could just as easily help others as to line their own pockets. All the creation is loaned to us for us to use as we see fit, but when we seek to enrich ourselves at the expense of others, we steal that which does not belong to us. No matter the justification, there is right and wrong. And we know what is right and wrong. Learn the differences between your wants and needs, and use your means to do all you can to help. 

Stealing Through Trust

Another area where people will take advantage of others is through positions of trust. Many people can by attaining to certain positions of recognition be empowered to use resources not intended for them. 

By this I don't mean that the people don't steal by abusing that position in betraying people's trust. What I am referring to in this instance is people knowingly giving to people that they trust for various reasons which are being abused. The simplest way for me to explain this is with an example. 

There was a church that appointed a certain man to a position of authority. This man shortly after being put in charge of a region began to change the organization under him. There was a man who had been put in charge of collecting the tithing from the congregation and was also in charge of using the funds to care for widows, orphans, and to take care of church maintenance expenses and charitable projects. The new leader changed this so that tithing money was turned over to himself. Now under the new system, the widows and orphans were still being cared for, church maintenance still seemed to be kept up, etc. But to the observant, it was interesting to note that soon enough this man began to drive a nicer car, have nicer landscaping, got a new suit. 

Now it doesn't take a genious to figure out what's going on. What's interesting is that many people have no problem with this. They consider that so long as the widows, orphans, and maintenance is being taken care of that he is "entitled" to a portion. 

Don't get me wrong, pay your tithing, contribute to your church, help the needy. But if you are called to serve, you are not entitled to financial compensation and still receive an eternal blessing. And as members of a congregation, hold your leaders accountable. 

Stealing Through Guilt

A behavior I have observed practiced by many leaders, employers, workers, families, customers, etc. is this practice of getting others to 'give' them something by making them feel guilty if they do not. These method usually require a half baked truth. For example, there are poor starving children in Africa, so you should give up some money to help. There are people with cancer, so you should donate to help find a cure.  These are some examples of larger non-profit organizations that derive their livelihood from others who mean well. In reality though, how much of your money goes to help others on the opposite side of the globe?  How much of your cash goes to help either cancer patients, or to research actual treatments?  Or is it a scam that enables wealthy 'philanthropists' to get gain off the guilt of others. 

The same thing can be brought to home. A brother may get help from his sister by making her feel guilty if she doesn't. Parents give in to their kids because if they don't they will feel like bad parents. A clerk at a store may issue a refund to an irate customer because they feel like they have done wrong, but in reality the customer may be using the situation to their benefit. The list could go on. 

I'm not saying that we shouldn't seek aid when we need it, or that we shouldn't help those around us. But I am saying that some people know how to manipulate others to get what they want. And they know that what they are doing is wrong. If you trick someone into giving you something, it is still theft. I am not saying to judge or suspect others of doing this. So what I am saying, is examine yourself honestly, and if you do this, stop. This is not the behavior of a Christian.  As sons and daughters of a loving God, we ought to treat each other as such. 

Theft From Family

As sad as it sounds, people taking advantage of their own family members is one of the most common practices. Children stealing from parents, siblings from each other, parents taking advantage of their children, etc. 

The reasoning or justification they use is that the person they are taking advantage of would want to help them, or they will understand.  An attitude of entitlement becomes prevalent.  An example I will use is this. 

A certain man had been going through hard times and needed a place to stay. So he went to his brother, who agreed to rent a trailer to him at a rate that was fair and reasonable. However, the first brother began to act as though he was being cheated. He claimed the rent was too high, and that his brother was in a good financial situation. He began to justify in his mind with all the things he had done to help him out in the past. And so when rent came due, he did not keep his agreement. In the end, he finally moved out, but left without paying his full rent. 

This story I have shared is stealing. The first brother stole, he stole because he felt justified in doing so. He did not keep his agreement. The second brother could have said no, he could have evicted his brother, he could have rented to another person.   In my story, the second brother did not have to help, but he felt he should because it was his brother. And he gave a good deal which mostly covered the incurred expenses. The first brother knew his brother would help him out and give him a good rate. That is precisely why he took advantage. Once he no longer needed help, he quickly bailed, and never fulfilled the agreement. 

If we take advantage of our own family and abuse that trust, what does it say about our integrity?  What does it say about our whole character?