This exposition of Exodus 20:15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 7, 2019.
Intro:
There’s no doubt about it, it is an impressive title - “Vice President for Loss Prevention.” You have to admit that would look good on a business card or resume. What is sad is that it is a needed position. Do you know what the vice president for loss prevention does?
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He tests employees for theft. It is conservatively estimated that 60% of all inventory loss is caused by employee theft. The Super D Drug chain began integrity testing when they noticed what they termed, “A dramatic rise in shrinkage.” How’s that for corporate slang? A dramatic rise in shrinkage means “stuff was disappearing!” They estimate they’ve saved over $400,000 since instituting the testing. According to one National Retail Security Survey, retailers lost more than $13.2 billion (with a “b”) from employees stealing from their employer. Dishonesty, corruption and outright stealing have become mainstream. Larceny or theft makes up 56% of all the crimes committed in the U.S. While most of us would decry such things as purse snatching, shoplifting, burglary and the like, the fact is too many of us still buy into the Robin Hood mentality. Stealing is okay – if it is taken from those who can afford it. A teacher asked her elementary students, “Suppose you found a briefcase with a million dollars in it. What would you do?” One little boy responded immediately, “If it belonged to a poor family, I’d give it back. But if it belonged to a rich person I would keep it.” I wouldn’t take your wallet but hey, they have insurance or the government can afford it, besides they’ve sure taken money from me for years! There is a need to return to good old fashion, biblical, honesty and integrity. That’s at the heart of the 8th word thundering from Sinai.
Text: Exodus 20:15
“I am the Lord your God…have no other gods before me…
You are not to make any images of me…
You are not to misuse my name…
You are to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy…
You are to honor your father and mother…
You are not to commit murder…
You are not to commit adultery…
These are the words the voice of God thundered from the mountain as his people gathered. This is life as I intend it to be lived. This is the standard to which I’ve called you. My people are to be identified with this ethical code or standard. Understand, no one was ever saved by keeping these commands. Nor could anyone ever be saved by keeping them because they cannot be kept!
We come this morning to Exodus 20:15.
“You shall not steal.”
And by the way, this is something we all instinctively know. It is woven into the fabric of our lives. There is something very inappropriate about taking that which belongs to someone else. But like we’ve learned with the other commandments this is about more than just not doing something.
Thesis: The 8th Commandment demands honesty, integrity and a life above reproach.
I’m sure there is that part of us that says, “A sermon on stealing? Pastor, you’ve got the wrong crowd. That’s the sermon you take down to John 3:16 or to the jail. We’re all respectable folks here. We’re certainly not thieves.” That reaction comes from one of two places, perhaps from both:
- You really don’t understand what God requires in this word.
- You really don’t know yourself very well.
- The meaning of the 8th Commandment.
- Striving toward godliness.
Conclusion:
So, how are you with the 8th commandment? Are you a thief? Are you guilty? I’ve got good news for you if you are. The answer to your sin is found in the one who hung on the cross between two thieves. One of those thieves experienced the wrath of Rome that day but by God’s grace was spared the wrath of God. Jesus who bore God’s wrath in his place said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
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