What does the Bible teach about thievery?

When many people think about thieves they envision pickpockets, muggers, carjackers, and so on.  However, the notion of stealing crosses many demographic lines and does not remain limited to just people from a poor economic background.  Take for example, all of the big investment schemes being peddled by slick looking affluent business professional types who dupe people, from all income brackets, out of their lifetime savings and retirement investments.  On a smaller scale, how many young people – regardless of their income level – have tried to shoplift electronics or clothing out of stores, or download pirated movies or music?

The Word of God makes it clear that stealing is wrong.  The Ten Commandments specifically lists not stealing as one of the commandments.  Likewise, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul included people who engage in thievery among the many who will not inherit the kingdom of God.

“You shall not steal.”  (Deuteronomy 5:19 NIV)   

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV, Italics added for emphasis)

Does this mean that every business person out there could be considered a thief, just because of their shady business practices?  What about not recording your income taxes correctly or profits from a business?  Overall, there are so many ways that people can get duped or trick others out of their money or resources, with many of them being legal…while still bordering on the edge of corruptness.

In a lesser sense, what about every student that cheats on a college entrance exam or school test in general?  Then you have churches that sometimes use worship songs without following the proper copyright procedures.  And of course, you always have the offering plate issue in churches, where some religious leaders get accused of fleecing the flock of their finances.

    

Overall, Scripture commands individuals to refrain from stealing whatever rightfully belongs to another.  The definition of stealing can obviously fall within broad parameters, as there are different ways of defining thievery within the eyes of the law in regard to personal property, intellectual proprietary rights, and like manner.  As believers mature, they will understand the importance of showing respect to others by not stealing what rightfully belongs to them.

What does the Bible teach about wickedness?

People in today’s society often envision wickedness when referencing morally corrupt leaders in different countries around the world.  In reality, wickedness has been around almost since the beginning of time as the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament records how the “…Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5 NIV)  In other words, wickedness is not limited to morally corrupt leaders, but society as a whole is susceptible to degenerating to such a mindset.

In Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, wickedness was included among a list of several sinful behaviors.

 

“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.” (Romans 1: 28-29 NIV)

Also, when Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples about what comes out of person defiles a person, rather than what necessarily goes on around a person, he clarified the matter with the following words.

“He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them.  For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and defile a person.’” (Mark 7:20-23 NIV)

Even less subtle means of wickedness are addressed in the Bible.  The Apostle John spoke about issues he encountered at one of the churches with an individual named Ditrephes, who was a hindrance to the work of the Lord due to his malicious gossiping.  The work malicious in this verse comes from the Greek word poneros, which is actually used to derive the Greek word pnoeria referenced above for wickedness.

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.  So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (III John 9-10 NIV) 

Obviously, there are many examples in our current churches where congregations may have people similar to Diotrephes, who sometimes have undue influence over spiritual matters of a local church and/ or denomination or affiliation.  Basically, wickedness can silently creep into many good Bible-believing churches through one person or groups of people who purport their morally corrupt agendas…by refusing to welcome any outside believers into the church as well as intentionally pushing away or removing any believers from the church who may believe in practicing sound doctrine.

In summary, Scripture commands individuals to refrain from all forms of wickedness, or morally corrupt behavior.  Realistically, wickedness is alive and well in many parts of our society as well as many of our churches.  Therefore, we need to use careful discernment in helping to ensure this morally corrupt behavior does not take root in our personal lives as well as others around us.  As believers mature, they will understand the importance of living righteously, with morals and ethics as an individual, family, community, nation and world.