Exhortation

We steal because we think we don’t have something we need or should have. We don’t have enough money, the right kind of electronic device or blouse, our favorite candy. We steal because we believe good things are scarce.

Sometimes we steal intangible things. Our co-worker or friend has more respect than we have, more honor than we think he deserves. So we gossip and slander to strip away his glory. When we steal intangibles, it is still because we believe things are scarce.

Our perception that things are scarce is unbelief. It is a denial of the gospel . . .

for the gospel announces: “All things are yours. Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present or things to come – all are yours. And you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.” When we steal, we are ungrateful to Jesus, who invites us, “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”

Stealing is a denial of Easter. Jesus’ Father gives all things into His hands. And then His Father gives Him to us in the Spirit. If we have Jesus, we already have all we could ever need or want. Having Jesus, we have more wealth than we can ask or imagine. Because He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed.