I was sitting in a training meeting recently and found myself thinking about robbing God, of all things. I was considering ways that I might be involved in theft and may not even be considering it as a theft. By theft I mean stealing from God or others for my own selfish desires/gaines vs a loving adherence to God’s word and His desires. Further, I was asking myself if I am in any kind of self-deception, i.e., not seeing what God sees. I’ll let you work through the following scenarios in order to ask yourself the same questions.

You might be stealing if…

• You’re not giving your employer 100% for what you’ve been hired for and are supported for.

(See Colossians 3:23, 24.)

• You are not claiming on your tax return the “under the table” income you receive.

(See Proverbs 10:2.)

• You’re withholding from your spouse financially, emotionally, romantically, sexually or spiritually.

(See Ephesians 5:25-28 and I Corinthians 7:5-7.)

• You are not giving away and/or equipping others in what God has gifted to you.

(See Ephesians 4:11-13.)

• You are withholding your tithe and offerings and not sowing seed financially.

(See Malachi 3:8, 9.)

• You’re living with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

(See Galatians 5:19; I Corinthians 6:18.)

• You’re avoiding fellowship and commitment to a local church, robbing yourself and others from fellowship with you.

(See Hebrews 10:25.) 

• You’re not lovingly sharing your testimony with others so they can hear the good news of Jesus.

(See I Peter 3:15.)

• You walked away from the store with too much change and did not return it.

(See Mark 10:19.)

• You are failing to spend daily, quality time with your Savior and His word, the Bible.

(See Matthew 13:1; 14:23; Mark 1:35.)

Maybe there are areas you can think of which are acts of theft either passive or more obvious. Integrity certainly connects to what we’re doing when no one is looking, checking up on us or following through with accountability. God has so much more for us. Living life in any of the above ways is living a life that is far beneath what God has for every one of us on this earth. 

Please take the time to look up and read the above scripture verses. Let me end with this verse: He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with is own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.  (Ephesians 4:28)