From Takers to Givers: Embracing Integrity and Generosity

 

Summary

In reflecting on the eighth commandment, "You shall not steal," we are reminded that this commandment speaks to a broader struggle for integrity in our lives. It challenges us to examine our attitudes towards money, possessions, work, and our tendencies towards greed and laziness. Stealing, in its essence, is about trying to get as much as possible while giving as little as possible. This commandment is not just about the act of burglary but encompasses a wide range of behaviors where we might take advantage of others or fail to give our best.

Breaking this commandment can manifest in various areas of life, such as in our work, where we might not give full value to our employers, or as employers, where we might not pay fair wages. It also includes issues like late payments, overpricing, and even plagiarism. The heart of the matter is our inclination to be takers rather than givers, which can also reflect in our spiritual lives when we seek to gain eternal life with minimal personal sacrifice.

To keep this commandment, we are called to work diligently and give generously. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:28 encourages us to work with our hands and share with those in need. Work is a gift from God, an opportunity to contribute and grow. Whether paid or unpaid, our work should be approached with a positive attitude, as an act of worship to the Lord. This perspective transforms ordinary tasks into meaningful acts of service.

Ultimately, the commandment calls for a change of heart, from being takers to becoming givers, modeled after Christ, the great Giver. Jesus came to give life abundantly, contrasting with Satan, the ultimate taker. The gospel offers us a new life and spirit, enabling us to become more like Christ, pouring out our lives in service to others. In doing so, we find true fulfillment and joy, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain.

Key Takeaways:

1. Integrity in Work and Life: The eighth commandment challenges us to examine our integrity in all areas of life, especially in our work. We are called to give full value to our employers and to approach our work as an act of worship to God, recognizing it as a gift and opportunity to contribute. [05:09]

2. Generosity Over Greed: The commandment highlights our struggle with greed and calls us to be generous. As employers, we must pay fair wages, and as individuals, we should avoid overpricing and cutting corners. Our responsibility is to give what we owe and to share with those in need. [11:49]

3. Spiritual Reflection: The commandment serves as an x-ray of the soul, revealing our tendency to seek much while giving little. It challenges us to reflect on our spiritual lives and to approach our relationship with God with a heart of giving rather than taking. [15:59]

4. Work as Worship: We are encouraged to view our work, whether paid or unpaid, as worship to the Lord. This perspective transforms our daily tasks into meaningful acts of service, contributing to the lives of others and fulfilling God's purpose for us. [23:18]

5. Transformation Through Christ: The gospel offers us a new heart and spirit, enabling us to become givers like Christ. Jesus, the great Giver, contrasts with Satan, the taker. By embracing this new life, we find fulfillment and joy in serving others, knowing our labor in the Lord is not in vain. [31:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to the Eighth Commandment
- [01:21] - Definition of Stealing
- [02:16] - The Railway Track of Commandments
- [03:46] - Breaking the Commandment: Work
- [09:25] - Breaking the Commandment: Paying and Charging
- [14:01] - Breaking the Commandment: Copying and Plagiarism
- [15:19] - Shallow Christian Living
- [16:30] - Keeping the Commandment: Working and Giving
- [19:00] - Positive Attitude Towards Work
- [21:29] - Offering Work as Worship
- [24:33] - Taste of Heaven on Earth
- [25:14] - Sharing with Those in Need
- [27:22] - Contribution Over Accumulation
- [29:16] - Transformation from Taker to Giver
- [31:56] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Eighth Commandment

Bible Reading:
- Exodus 20:15
- Ephesians 4:28
- James 5:4

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what is the broader definition of stealing beyond just burglary? [01:21]

2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between work and the eighth commandment? [05:09]

3. What examples were given in the sermon of how employers might break the eighth commandment? [11:49]

4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of "shallow Christian living" in relation to the eighth commandment? [15:19]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the eighth commandment challenges our integrity in everyday life? [01:04]

2. How does the sermon interpret Ephesians 4:28 in the context of working and giving? [16:59]

3. What does the sermon imply about the spiritual implications of being a "taker" versus a "giver"? [29:16]

4. How does the sermon use the example of Jesus and Satan to contrast the roles of giver and taker? [30:32]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current work situation. Are there ways you might be "stealing" time or resources from your employer? How can you address this? [05:47]

2. As an employer or someone in a position of responsibility, how can you ensure that you are paying fair wages and not taking advantage of those who work for you? [11:49]

3. Consider your approach to financial obligations, such as paying bills or debts. Are there areas where you need to improve in giving what you owe? [12:18]

4. How can you transform your daily work into an act of worship, regardless of whether it is paid or unpaid? [23:18]

5. In what ways can you shift your mindset from being a taker to a giver in your spiritual life and relationships? [29:16]

6. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with greed or laziness. What steps can you take to cultivate generosity and diligence instead? [03:32]

7. How can you actively contribute to the lives of others with the gifts and resources God has entrusted to you? [27:22]

Devotional

Day 1: Integrity in All We Do
The eighth commandment, "You shall not steal," extends beyond the act of theft to encompass a broader call for integrity in every aspect of our lives. It challenges us to examine our attitudes towards money, possessions, and work, urging us to give full value in our roles, whether as employees or employers. This commandment calls us to approach our work as an act of worship to God, recognizing it as a gift and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the world. By doing so, we honor God and reflect His character in our daily lives. [05:09]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your work, whether paid or unpaid, reflects integrity and honors God today?


Day 2: Generosity as a Lifestyle
The commandment against stealing highlights our struggle with greed and calls us to embrace generosity. It challenges us to be fair and just in our dealings, whether in paying fair wages or avoiding overpricing. As individuals, we are encouraged to give what we owe and share with those in need, reflecting the heart of God who is generous and just. This shift from greed to generosity not only benefits others but also transforms our own hearts, aligning us more closely with God's character. [11:49]

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice generosity today in a way that challenges your natural tendencies towards greed or self-preservation?


Day 3: A Heart of Giving
The eighth commandment serves as an x-ray of the soul, revealing our tendency to seek much while giving little. It challenges us to reflect on our spiritual lives and approach our relationship with God with a heart of giving rather than taking. This involves a shift from a transactional view of faith to one that is relational and sacrificial, mirroring the self-giving love of Christ. By cultivating a heart of giving, we align ourselves with God's purposes and experience deeper spiritual fulfillment. [15:59]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your spiritual practices from a mindset of taking to one of giving, both to God and to others?


Day 4: Work as an Act of Worship
Viewing our work as worship transforms ordinary tasks into meaningful acts of service. Whether paid or unpaid, our work is an opportunity to contribute to the lives of others and fulfill God's purpose for us. This perspective encourages us to approach our daily tasks with a positive attitude, recognizing that our labor is not in vain when done for the Lord. By offering our work as worship, we honor God and find joy and fulfillment in our daily endeavors. [23:18]

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you transform your daily tasks into acts of worship today, regardless of how mundane they may seem?


Day 5: Transformation Through Christ
The gospel offers us a new heart and spirit, enabling us to become givers like Christ. Jesus, the great Giver, contrasts with Satan, the taker. By embracing this new life, we find fulfillment and joy in serving others, knowing our labor in the Lord is not in vain. This transformation from taker to giver is a journey of becoming more like Christ, who poured out His life for us. As we follow His example, we experience the abundant life He promised and become conduits of His love and grace to the world. [31:06]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to allow Christ to transform your heart from being a taker to a giver in your relationships and community?

Quotes

"Stealing is simply trying to get as much as possible while giving as little as possible. Remember that each commandment, as we're discovering, speaks not just to one sin but to a whole category of sins. We know this from The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus explains the inner meaning of several of The Commandments." [00:01:31]

"If you have a job, as I have a job, your calling is to give value to your employer. You earn your living from a person or from a company that values what you do and pays you to do it. That involves a relationship of trust that you will give this value to the organization or the person who hires you." [00:04:58]

"When we read the eighth commandment, we tend to think that it's all about poor people stealing from the rich, but actually, it's equally about rich people stealing from the poor. And if you read the Old Testament, you may find that there is a compelling argument to say that the Old Testament prophets primarily applied this commandment to the obscenity of those who have much showing meanness towards those who have little." [00:10:06]

"The Apostle James speaks about it in the New Testament. The wages, he says in James 5:4, that you failed to pay, the wages you failed to pay your workmen who mowed your fields, are crying out against you, and the cries of the Harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord. Here are these Harvesters; they worked hard day after day." [00:10:32]

"Remember the question that a very rich person once asked Jesus: 'What must I do to get eternal life?' You see the whole tone of that question: 'What's the minimum I've got to give to make sure I get in? How can I get eternity's blessing at the minimum price?' Doesn't that show a whole attitude of heart?" [00:15:30]

"The Bible always takes a positive view of work. This is a good gift from God. Tracing the times when the Apostle Paul speaks of working harder than those who wanted to have an easy life in Ministry is very significant. He speaks about this in 1 Corinthians 15 and 2 Corinthians 11. He talks about laboring and struggling." [00:18:09]

"Learn then to love your work and to value it as a good gift from God. Learn to say in the morning, 'Thank you that I have work. Thank you that somebody values what you enabled me to do, that they're willing to pay me to do it. Thank you because this is your way of providing for me, and it is your way of allowing me to grow because we grow through our work.'" [00:20:22]

"Offer your work as worship to the Lord. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 7: Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord, Paul says, not man. Now, I've been thinking about the jobs I've done over the years, a little bit of a strange selection, but never mind. Here we go." [00:21:36]

"The purpose of life is that we contribute. You don't have to work for pay. The question is, how can I contribute in the freedom and the blessing that God has given to me now? God has trusted you with time and with talent and with treasure. The question is, how are you using these as a contribution to the life of others?" [00:27:09]

"The eighth commandment means having a change of heart. As I look at my life and I see just how many ways I want to be a taker rather than a giver, you see that yourself. Instead of saying, 'How much can I give?' my instinct too often is to say, 'How much can I get?' And so if I'm to fulfill the Commandment, I do need a radical change of heart." [00:28:49]

"Jesus said, 'I am come that they might have life, that you might have life and have it to the full.' You see, Jesus is the great Giver of what already belongs to him. Satan, the great taker of what he does not own, the grasper after the Throne of God, the grasp after your soul. Jesus, the great Giver of Life that is already his." [00:30:25]

"The gospel is more than good advice; it is good news. It's not a set of instructions on how to change; it's not some kind of a manual for how to be a better employee; it's not how to develop a strategic portfolio for giving. It is a new life, a new Dynamic, a new heart, a new spirit, a new vision of life." [00:31:57]

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Transcript
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