Exodus 20:15 – THE BIG TEN #9 – INTEGRITY CHECK                 

Exodus 20:15 – Thou shalt not steal.

Proverbs 22:1 – A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather

than silver and gold.

  • How important is your own personal integrity and why?
  • How is stealing often a subtle sin?
  • How do people justify stealing in various forms?
  • How can stealing at any level subtly hurt our personal integrity and Christian witness?
  • What motivates people to steal?

About the last thing that you and I want to be called is a thief.  Stealing takes so many forms, however, that it is good to check our integrity by considering places and ways we might be tempted to steal.

STEALING ON THE JOB

  • What are some of the things that you have seen or heard of people taking home from work that actually belonged to the company?
  • Perhaps some people would not consider this stealing (We do!).  Why?
  • On what occasions is it appropriate to use things from work for your personal gain?
  • Embezzlement is certainly wrong.  How does it hurt everyone involved in a company?
  • Should a Christian report stealing or keep quiet?
  • How is “goofing off” on the job stealing and how does it hurt everyone?
  • How should you handle the situation in which you are “too industrious” and “making others look bad” who are goofing off?

STEALING ON TAXES

  • “A tax preparer with an office in Jersey City admitted in Federal Court yesterday that he helped file 7,958 fraudulent tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service that resulted in about $17 million in illegal refunds from 1989 to 1994. Clarence Burnett, 51, of Orange, said the fraudulent refunds, averaging about $2,200 each, came from inflating clients’ claims for charitable contributions, medical expenses and other deductions. Mr. Burnett faces up to six years in prison and a $500,000 fine, said Carlos Ortiz, an assistant United States Attorney.” New York Times, 11/17/95
  • Why is it so easy to “stretch the truth” when it comes to filling out tax forms?
  • How do some people justify cheating on their taxes?
  • Of course cheating on our taxes is not only stealing, but is lying as well!

STEALING AT SCHOOL

  • “Back in 1940, only 20 percent of college students admitted to cheating during their academic careers. Today, that number has increased to 75 to 98 percent.” http://education-portal.com/articles/75_to_98_Percent_of_College_Students_Have_Cheated.html
  • What motivates people to steal answers and plagiarize other people’s work?
  • How do some parents help their children cheat?

STEALING AT HOME

  • 1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
  • What are some of the things that parents rob from their children?
  • What are some things that children have robbed from their parents?
  • How have bad personal habits caused people to rob from family members?
  • How do family members rob each other of love?

STEALING IN CHURCH

  • Malachi 3:8 – Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
  • What are some of the reasons Christians use for not giving to God’s work the way they should?
  • How can we tell if we are robbing God?
  • What are some other ways Christians rob God? Revelation 2:4 – Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.                                                   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.                                                                    2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
  • Ephesians 5:16 – Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 
  • In what ways do Christians rob other Christians?                                                                              1 John 3:17 – But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 
  • Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

STEALING AT PERSONAL BUSINESS

  • Psalms 37:21 – The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
  • Romans 13:8 – Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
  • Why are we guilty of robbery when we do not pay our bills?
  • Briefly, how can we avoid such robbery?
  • How do you feel about advertisements for getting out of debt and paying “only a fraction of what you owe!”?

 STEALING IN THE COMMUNITY

  • Should I tell someone when they give me the wrong amount of change?
  • What should I do if I find a wallet, money, or any personal property that is not mine?
  • Why should we be careful not to shoplift?
  • What are the benefits for the Christian who is honest and never steals?