Rooted in Truth: A Devotion in the Ten CommandmentsSample

Respecting Property

For Instruction

It seems like there are more ways to steal today than ever before. Shoplifting. Cheating on our taxes. Borrowing something and never returning it. Taking someone else's ideas and passing them off as our own. Even going to the grocery store, getting home, and realizing that an item was not rung up, but then we don't return to pay for it. In fact, there are so many ways to steal in our society that we actually have to be diligent in order to not accidentally do it! And worse than all of these is that we try to steal glory from God himself. The IRS may miss our fraudulent tax return, and the cameras at the store may not detect what happens there, but the Lord sees things we steal from Him and others.

For Giving Thanks

We don't need to steal because God has promised to be our supply. When we steal, it says that God hasn't given us enough or that we don't trust him to provide. Rather than stealing, let us give thanks to God for what He has given us and express our trust in Him to continue to provide for our needs. We can also thank Him that through this commandment He protects the things that belong to us from being taken by other people (Luther).

For Confession

Confess any of the ways you have engaged in theft. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom about how to make restitution for anything that you have stolen and how you can give instead of steal (Eph. 4:28). Now ask the Lord to reveal to you any ways that you have been robbing Him of what is His due. Confess whatever He brings to mind, trusting in His mercy and grace to cover all these things in Jesus Christ.

For Prayer

Father, you are the great Giver. You have not only given us life, you have also given us possessions to enjoy and to use for the benefit of others. Grant to us a heart that gives rather than takes, that shares rather than steals, that duly honors and glorifies you rather than trying to take that honor for ourselves.