Message summary: Today we encourage readers to consider the increasing violation of the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal".

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“Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15). “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28).

One of the blessings of living in the country are the self-serve produce stands. Up the road we have watermelons on Levi's farm and across the road fresh cut flowers prepared by the farmer's daughters. We can also buy farm-fresh eggs here. In fact Brooksyne was pleased that the jumbo eggs I bought her were filled with double yolks which we like cooked over medium for breakfast. Heading the other direction from our house we have a full produce stand with tomatoes, green beans, peppers, baked goodies, etc.

All of these stands are self-service and based on the honor system for payment. There is no one from the farm at the stand though usually a family member is on the property if you need proper change. The prices are marked on the item and customers are expected to drop the money in a small wood or metal box with a slot at the top. Some boxes are unlocked so customers can make change if needed.

While I was over at the Old Windmill Farm in Strasburg the owner had confronted a mother and daughter who have developed a reputation for stealing from these kinds of produce stands. It seems to be a growing problem as honor is rapidly decreasing with more and more who see stealing as justified. See video below.

Among the converts in the early church some had been thieves (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Consider this comment from the Expositor’s Bible Commentary: “From the lowest dregs of the Greek cities, from its profligate and criminal classes the gospel had drawn its converts. In the Ephesian Church there were converted thieves; and Christianity had to make of them honest workmen.”

Apparently this was also the case in Ephesus. So Paul makes a command greatly needed in every age and certainly our own age as well: “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28).

I have a collection of neck ties with Scripture verses on them. I began collecting and wearing these back in the 90's if not even earlier when wearing a tie to church was expected, especially for the preacher! One is a colorful tie that artfully displays the Ten Commandments. Prominent on this Ten Commandments tie is the 8th commandment rendered in the KJV as "Thou shalt not steal" and we include that command in our first Scripture text today.

Consider the attempts by secularists, sadly often successful, to ban the posting of the Ten Commandments. To some these commandments are offensive, perhaps even hate speech. Someone may get triggered by merely being exposed to them.

So wearing these timeless rules of conduct on a tie or displaying them in a visible setting anywhere is a good idea! We've seen the Ten Commandments on a poster size sign staked in front yards throughout Lancaster County for many years.

These commandments are foundational to a working social order and as obedience to this command continues to diminish we will see a greater and greater breakdown, to the point that a majority probably cannot list more than a couple commandments. And some are totally unfamiliar with them, especially as our country is becoming more diversified culturally.

As believers, stealing another's belongings is a clear cut violation we are so familiar with it may not even pose a temptation. But what about those things we may not examine so closely like taking small items home from work since they'll never be missed or can easily be replaced or what about those minutes that can add up to hours over the week (consider the time over a year) that we might steal from our employer as we spend frivolous time on our cell phones, computers or other non-productive activity as the minutes and hours tick away.

In our message today we are warned and we take to heart, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). Tomorrow we will share about the portion "doing something useful with their own hands".

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber