Rock the Commandments VIII - If It's Not Yours, Don't Take It

(This is a re-post of my “Rock the Commandment” series of posts. I’ll be running these on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week as we lead up to Palm Sunday.)

Theft. It’s not what it used to be. Sure, we still have the cat burglars, the car thieves and that guy who hangs out in all the darkened alleys. But those guys (and gals) have a whole range of friends from identity thieves, to counterfeit product manufacturers and those who steal intellectual property (you know that great idea you had?). And that’s not all.

Today in Rock the Commandments, we’re going to see how those things can creep into our lives, often unnoticed, and pull us away from God.

It’s something the devil just loves. We take our eyes off of heaven, look at the world, at our own gain, our own fears, and the next thing you know we’re “borrowing” something that’s not ours. It could even be that handicapped parking space that we’ll be in “for just a minute,” while the person on crutches is then forced to hobble across half a parking lot.

What did God command?

You shall not steal. (Ex. 20:15).

Not much wiggle room there. He didn’t say “leave your neighbor’s stuff alone, but take what you want from work,” or “It’s okay to keep that twenty dollar bill you saw someone drop at Starbucks.” Don’t even think about it. After all, adultery isn’t the only thing you can do in your heart.

Consider:

+ Have I stolen anything or wished to do so?

Yes, cribbing answers from someone else’s exam counts. Taking credit for someone else’s work, keeping that nice pen, or that library book with the $42,000 fine that’s still on the shelf? They all count.

+ Have I kept anything that did not belong to me?

Your neighbor’s tools? Video games? Office supplies from the office? That video your kid’s friend brought over? These things have a way of sneaking into our possession, even though they’re not ours. That happens. Just give then back when you notice.

+ Have I tried honestly to find owners of lost articles I have found?

Tell that person at Starbucks that they dropped a twenty. Return the library book – and the video. Don’t do it faintheartedly, make a real effort.

+ Have I cheated anyone?

This can range from overt price gouging to keeping the extra change you got from a cashier. You don’t have to run a major Ponzi scheme to cheat someone.

+ Have I paid my debts?

This is a tough one, especially in today’s economy. A lot of people don’t have the means to make all of their payments. But we have a moral obligation to try. Remember, we are to treat each person with the reverence due to the image of Christ, for each person is indeed made in His image. If we promise to pay, we need to pay. (And claiming that you're dealing with a "faceless" corporation doesn't get you off the hook.)

If you’re unemployed and things are happening beyond your control, and you’re making an honest effort, God knows that. He sees what is in your heart. So no need to rationalize, just talk to Him.

+ Have I lived within my income, and not wastefully or extravagantly?

Okay, let’s face it, this is how so many people got into trouble in the first place. And it’s so easy. Charge this little thing and that little thing and, next thing you know, it’s a huge monthly payment. Be careful out there.

+ Have I given to charitable causes in proportion to my means?

There’s always one that you wonder how it got on my list, right? Well, this is it. When you think about it, though, it makes sense. For instance, Carol and I are looking to replace our cell phones. Some of those new models look awfully nice. But the price on those data plans? It seems rather high – especially when we realized that it would cost less to support a priest in Africa than to tweet from the road. And that’s something to consider - who are we not helping as the price of our convenience? We may not know, but God does. And He wants us to find out.

+ Have I been honest and upright?

Oh, those details we leave out. It’s easier not to be embarrassed, or caught or found out. People may never know. But it’s not what separates Christians from the world. Those small deceits are the very way of the world. If you truly don’t want to be of the world, tell the truth. Be that stand up kind of person.

God made His commandment simple, our service to Him and to our neighbor should be simple as well. If it’s not yours, don’t keep it. Be straightforward and honest with everyone and strive to do His work.

These prompts come from A Pocket Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians. The commentary is all mine. So if there is any error, it all belongs to me.

Image: My sister’s St. Bernard puppy Goliath’s mug shot. He got himself arrested, not for theft, but for loitering outside the police station after escaping from our yard.