God's Truth In Love

Archive for the ‘Stealing’ Category

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:1 Cheating Others is Cheating Yourself

In Advice, Attitude, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Guidance, Proverbs, Righteous Living, Stealing, Wisdom on March 1, 2022 at 3:01 pm

You can sign up to have each blog posting sent directly to your email. Just find the small “follow” button in the bottom right-hand corner of the main page, then enter your email address. All email information remains confidential and is never shared in any manner.

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).

1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

Cheating Others is Cheating Yourself

Far too many people do not give a second thought to taking advantage of another person, and some people do not even have a problem with downright cheating another person. However, taking advantage of people and/or cheating people is not something that should be taken lightly. In God’s view it is a horrible thing to do.

“abomination” in the Hebrew language means “ something disgusting, morally an abhorrence; especially idolatry:— abominable, abomination”

What is it to have a “false balance” when it come to a person’s dealings with other people? It is basically and simply to find a manner or way in which to cheat them or take advantage of them. To deceit, mislead, be dishonest, in order to take advantage or gain an advantage over another person.

In days past actually scales were used to measure out the exchange of monies for goods. In biblical times the practice of tipping the scales in the merchant’s favor or when taxes were being collected was not that unusual. Just as in the days prior to electric scales you might have gone into a butcher shop to buy meat, bacon, or cold cuts and noticed that their large white metal scales showed an ounce or two before your product was ever place on them or in produce markets the fruit weighting scale that never returns to zero balance.

However, when you look into the Hebrew definition for the word “balance” you find that it also has a figurative meaning as well, which is “figuratively to ponder” a matter. This is where taking advantage of a person instead of down right cheating them comes in. You might consider how to manipulate a person, how to get them to do something for you that they should not or give you something they do not owe you and should not give you or contemplating a scheme in general to get something out of a person for your own gain.

To cheat, use, and take advantage of people is extremely displeasing to God.

God is well pleased with those individuals who deal with other people in a just and fair manner. The meaning of the word “just” in the Hebrew language even entails a “friendly” manner. Think about that, not just a fair and just manner but also a friendly manner.

Please keep me in your prayers and know that if God should speak anything into your heart as you pray for me regarding my life, please feel free to share that with me. God speaks through His people.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 6:34-35 – Green-eyed Monster

In Advice, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Contentment, Decision Making, Discernment, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Jealousy, Learning, Proverbs, Prudence, Repentance, Stealing, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on July 21, 2019 at 3:06 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Green-eyed Monster

Jealousy can create all types of evil. It can cause a person to steal, to cheat, to lie, and to kill. Verse thirty-four states that jealousy produces rage in a person. Men have an even tougher time with jealousy than women, but women have greater trouble with envy.

Verse thirty-four also states that it takes away a person’s ability to have empathy or sympathy for another person, it alters a person’s human feelings. The word “spare” in this verse means “to commiserate” with another person. Therefore, by the time jealousy reaches the point of vengeance the person has so nursed their inner rage to the point that it has altered their ability to understanding other people’s feelings, thus the jealousy cannot be appeased as verse thirty-five states.

Jealousy is dangerous in so many ways; relationally, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Jealousy can cause the death of relationships, other people, and yourself. Beware of and do not nurse jealousy, and never under any circumstances attempt to make another person jealous or give another person cause to be jealous.

Jealousy is a byproduct of a lack of contentment and a lack of trust in God. If one were content, they would not have want for what another person has. If a person trusted God, they would not believe that someone else has something they too should have and long for that which God has chosen for them not to have.

If you wish to defeat jealousy in your life replace it with by actively cultivating the traits of trust in God and contentment. Almost any character issue in life can be solves through the active cultivation of the positive polar opposite of the negative trait. Let the fruit of the Holy Spirit replace the fruit of the sinful carnal nature.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 6:30-31 – Compassion for Stealing

In Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Compassion, Decision Making, Proverbs, Prudence, Repentance, Stealing, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on July 2, 2019 at 3:31 pm

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

Compassion for Stealing

There are two very important points made here, that are both tied together yet also can stand independently.

Stealing is not just stealing. It is not always black and white. Verse thirty exhorts us not to be excessively hard on an individual who steals out of true need, such as the individual who steals food the eat. There is a difference between stealing out of need and stealing out of greed.

People can go through extortionary circumstances that will cause them to do things that under normal circumstances they would not do. We all like to think that we would not do this or that, but do we really want to be pushed to point that would be required for us to truly find that out? How many people have done things that they thought they would never, ever, do? Many, I assure you. Any person can be pushed to steal or do most anything if their circumstances are grievous enough.

In part verse thirty-one is where our laws of restoration have originated. If a person steals and is caught, they are to pay restoration, pay back what they took. This is so important according to Scripture that they are to give everything that they have (all the substance of his house”), if that is what is required, to repay what they owe.

For example, when a person files bankruptcy almost everything he or she owns is auctioned off to pay the creditors. This happens because the person took products, services, or money and did not pay the debit, thus the person stole from the creditor.

I leave you with this thought. When someone has done something do not be quick to judge that person as merely a horrible person, but instead make an effort to understand their circumstances, this is called compassion, and we are expected to have compassion on all people, not just the people we believe deserve compassion. Remember – There but for the grace of God go I – it just might be you one day despite all that you might believe about yourself to the contrary.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.