Commandment Eight 1 Having worth

Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal.

In the last commandment, which dealt with faithfulness and loyalty in relationships, we saw that being gratified can become the easy option over being satisfied, so the notion of relationship gets devalued. This shift of values progresses to Commandment eight about stealing, where people start to devalue not only relationships, but the actual worth of people generally, so they develop a life pattern of taking rather than gratefully receiving. Because if we receive with gratitude and appreciation, we show that we value the time and the effort and care that has gone into their giving. All of this goes into our valuation of a person, and their worth. The thief loses this sense of worth and value for people, in others and in himself. Givers give to what they believe is worthwhile. Takers take what they can.

I once asked a question to a class of primary school students; ‘When does a thief stop being a thief?’ and their answers included statements such as: 'When he goes to gaol,' or 'when he has got enough money.' Many said 'when he stops stealing' but the Scriptures tell us that a greater transformation is needed to change a thief from being a thief. The New Testament expands on the transformation of a thief in Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
This commandment is about more than just ceasing to steal otherwise we are talking about behaviour modification and self-improvement which is not ineffective, just not transformational. This is about a change of heart, a repentance/renewing of the mind that brings a person into an understanding of their own and other people's worth and to their becoming a giver EG, Zaccheus, who opened the door of his home for Jesus to come in and bring about his transformation (Luke 19:5).

The above Scripture was preceded four verses earlier by the process of transformational faith.
Ephesians 4 :22-24 put off your old self (close the door on your old being), which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self (inhabit your new being), created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

If we know the Why we can understand the How. Why the Commandments, why the suffering and the pain of the challenge to our will, why the need of faith and for grace through Jesus? We limit God’s power only by our limited vision to see by faith what Jesus has done for us. God has provided salvation for a suffering world through Jesus (1Timothy 4:10).

If Abraham hadn’t looked he wouldn’t have seen any Heavenly vision of faith.
Genesis 22:18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Genesis 13:14 “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.