Plainly Speaking
     with Karl J. Forehand

 

 

 

Are You a Thief ?

by Karl J. Forehand

 

   You shall not steal.        (Exodus 20:15)

 

  We teach our kids this simple prohibition, “Don’t take things that don’t belong to you.”  Stealing begins with an urge for something we don’t have.  Often, it turns for a desire to have what other have (covetousness).   Then, somehow, we justify taking what does not belong to us. 

 

   The irony of a thief was explained once by Zig Ziglar.  In 1887, there was a man named Emmanuel Nenger.  Emmanuel purchased some greens in the grocery store and gave the clerk a $20 bill.  The water from the greens got on the bill and the clerk noticed the ink running.  She didn’t say anything at first, but later notified the manager.  It was indeed a forgery and Emmauel was arrested. 

 

  His assets were seized and later sold.  The interesting thing is that he wasn’t printing the $20 bills, he was PAINTING them.  Among the other things seized were three other paintings that later sold at auction for $16,000 (in 1881).   The irony is that it took him almost as long to paint the phony $20 bill (that could land him in jail) as it did to paint the $5000 painting.   Many times our acts of theft end up taking as much time as actually doing work.

 

  So, I believe the heart of theft is usually not just the money.  It is to somehow “shortcut” the system and find and easier way.  If you feel this way, go back and read Genesis 2-3 and discover how God intended us to work.

 

Examples of Stealing.

 

-         Shoplifting/stealing

-         Loafing at work

-         Not paying our bills

-         Keeping something borrowed

-         Fudging on taxes

-         Stealing someone’s reputation by gossip or lies

 

  When we think of theft we generally think of the criminal.  But there is a group of people that steal more than all the bank robbers and petty thieves put together.  They have a simple name for their group – they are called employees.  In 1990, in the United States, theft in the workplace reached $30-40 billion in cash, goods and property.  What’s more crimes called “time theft” (phony sick days, personal phone calls, doctored time cards) reached an estimated $230 billion.

 

  Do you realize how much a billion is?  If you stack $100 bills 18 inches high – that is 1 million.  If you stack a billion, in $100 bills, it is taller than the Empire State building.  That means there is 230 Empires State building stacks of $100 bills lost every year by regular employees cheating their bosses (in the U.S.). 

 

As bad as that is, I want to talk about something more serious.

 

I believe there is something much more serious.  In fact I believe it is where other acts of thefts originate.  It is the most serious theft – robbing God.  Let’s face it, if you have the audacity to rob God, you won’t really fear anything else.  If you can justify stealing from God, then you won’t have a problem cheating on your taxes. 

 

  How do we rob God?  I’m glad you asked.  Follow along with me.

 

Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed Thee?' In tithes and offerings.  "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!  "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.  "Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:8-11)

 

The first way we rob God is through our tithes.  The tithe is a “tenth.”  It means that because God gives us all we have, then we honor Him by giving back the tenth that belongs to Him.  The issue is not about anything except that the first fruit (10%) of our income belongs to God.  When we don’t give it, we are stealing.  Follow the verses.

 

“Will a man Rob God?”   This question is not to gain information, it is to reveal truth.  When the question has an obvious answer, it helps the hearer respond with an affirmative, “Of course a man will not rob God.”  Very few of us would say in our minds that it is okay to steal, especially from God.

 

“Yet you are.”  National giving in the U.S. to all charitable organizations is between 1.5 and 2.5 %.  We ARE robbing God of our tithes and offerings.  My church is full of good givers and probably better than the national average; but they are not perfect.  We answer the statement with a question.

 

“How have I robbed you?”  It’s like when your spouse says, “You are not very caring” and you say “How am I not caring??”  We figure if they explain it to us, then we might be able to shoot holes in their argument. 

 

“In tithes and offerings” The first 10% belongs to God.  After that, we have the opportunity to be blessed by giving additional offering. There are reasons you sometimes don’t feel you can afford to tithe.  1.  You have promised your money to too many people – you have too much stuff and too many debts that demand your money and God’s money.  2.  God has not been able to work in your finances because you are not following His plan.
 
Even as a pastor, I have at times strayed from my tithes.  I have ways I can justify it in my mind just like you do.  Recently, though, I was blessed.  I have been tithing faithfully for a while now.  When we began to remodel the house we’re moving into, two people sent us checks.  One person didn’t even know we were moving and the other is a relative that has never before helped us.  The two checks equaled 11 months of my tithe.  The bottom line is we live much better on  90% than we ever did on100%, because the 90% belongs to us.  When we give God His money, He can multiply it. 

 

­Read Matthew 25:14-28

 

  The second way we rob God is of our talents.  Ultimately, God gives us the wealth and talent we have.  It has been said that “Too many people make cemeteries of their lives by burying their talent.”  Edgar Work said, “The real tragedy of life is not in being limited to one talent, but in the failure to use that one.” 

 

  Currently in my life I have several people that use their talent to help me.  One guy writes me letters to encourage me.  Two others teach me: one is a great evangelist/preacher and the other is a great theologian.  Both of them know what they are good at and they share that with me.  Another guy is a good listener and lets me talk to him.  Several ladies in the church encourage me regularly.  My wife uses her talents to make me feel special. 

 

  Often, we get too interested in being significant and doing noteworthy things that we don’t do what we can.  You may not be an elder of the church, but you may be able to teach Sunday School.  You may not be able to preach or lead, but maybe you can help out with the many ministries of your church.  Your talent IS good enough to be used, even if it doesn’t get mentioned in the bulletin.

 

  One thing I’m thankful for is that our church has more than doubled and I still am no busier than I was when it was half the size.  The reason – several have stepped up to the plate and used their talents. 

 

  God may not bless you with more talents until you use the one He has given you.   My mother used to tell me “eat what’s on your plate.”  In a large family, you learn to get your food before someone else does.  When I would grab for more food, my mom would say, “Eat what’s on you plate first.  That is good advice for us, isn’t it?  What is the last thing God told you to do?  Have you “eaten” that yet?  What talents DO you have?  Are you using them?

 

  Don’t rob God of your talents.

 

  The third way we rob God is of our time.  Jesus taught that we can’t serve two masters (Matt. 6:24).  One way to see who you master is would be to look at your checkbook.  The other way is to look at your calendar.  What do you do with your time.

 

  One thing we must understand about lordship.  Christ is Lord whether we recognize it or not (Acts 17:24, Matt. 11:25).  George Bush is president of the United States, whether I acknowledge it or not.  Jesus is Lord – the questions is, “Will I allow Him to rule in my life?”

 

  I Corinthians 6:20 tells us that we are not our own.  It goes on to say that we are bought with a price.  Our time, along with our money and talents, belongs to God first.  “Therefore,” it says, “glorify God in your body.”  Glorify God with your time.

 

  Listen to the Word in Ephesians, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”  (Eph. 5:15-16).  Kevin Smith, who was a trolley operator in a large city, decided to do something with his extra seven minutes at the end of the line.  The area had grown up with sage brush and weeds.  He decided to use the seven minutes to clear away some of the debris.  In a few short months a beautiful garden was completed where once there was a mess.  He made the most of his time.

 

  Alexander the Great, Billy Graham and Chuck Swindoll all had or have 24 hours in the day.  The difference is what they did with them.  This moment in time will vanish like a vapor and never again will we see it.  We must make the most of it now.  We must make time to study God’s Word, to pray and to do that good that we ought. 

 

  I didn’t have time to go to the hospital last week.  The major ones, around here, are 60-80 miles away.  But, I must tell you, I was immeasurably blessed because I made the time.

 

  Are you robbing God?  Are you faithful with your tithes and offerings?  Are you using the talents He has given you?  Are you making the most of the time you have?

 

                                                                    Karl J. Forehand