Bandits, Beware! - Part B

When you steal it's a double sent your sticker sinning against God and people. Heaven and earth, the Lord, and your neighbor here sinning against God because, in effect, you're accusing God of not providing adequately for you give me enough I have to do. In effect, you're making an accusation against God's provision and second are sinning against your neighbor. Because you're not loving your neighbor as yourself. Minimalists seek to live a meaningful life with less. The they do that by moving out of their many mansions in the time he hopes they do their best only have what they need and nothing extra. Why go through all that bother one reason is the save money and others believe less about environmental footprint.

The final reason is the same time. Studies have shown that most of us spend most of our time managing our stuff acquiring, organizing and sorting it selling it, storing it, that's why. Less stuff means more time work today here and connect with Skip weekend edition skip.

Isaac continues her friendship inspired look at the 10 Commandments with our current series, God stopped to Ted today will see that God is made us the words of the stuff we do have and were responsible to him to take care of will have more of that here in just a moment but first we want to tell you how you can take a deep dive into God's word, recall Calvary College is now open for registration. Calvary College is offering select online classes as an opportunity for individuals to take their lives calling to a whole new level with an educational emphasis in biblical studies with our unique partnerships with Veritas international University and Calvary Chapel University. You will have the opportunity to obtain your bachelors or Masters degree with complete online program. Whether you're looking to obtain an accredited online degree or take individual courses to become better equipped and your knowledge of God's unchangeable truth. Calvary College has recovered with a range of opportunities for updates on classes and registration information for Calvary College's visit Calvary ABQ.College that's Calvary ABQ.com for Calvary College, Calvary, ABQ.College.

Our current series, God's top 10 places to Exodus chapter 20 verse 15 today so let's open our Bibles there as we join Pastor Skip as you look at what God has entrusted to you, and I and seeing others who have a need, we could be instruments to meet that need. Paul writes in Ephesians 428 he who has been stealing my steel no longer, but he must work hard doing something useful with his own hands, that he may be able to share with those in need. So private property is rightful.

It also implies even by that last text I just read that diligent labor is honorable.

Most of you own what you want because you worked for hard work or your parents work hard for Evan's part of the inheritance, but nonetheless hard labor when into the Bible commands labor is a way that's good because that's seems like all I do. My middle name is labor.

You say I've labor before I was married I labored certainly after I've been married laboring for the kids.

Now the grandkids and I hope they appreciate you for that hard-working dads and moms for your labor because the Bible would commend it. Somebody once said that a dad is somebody who carries pictures where his money used to be no money in there anymore is been laboring to support. But here's pictures of the family there worth it. Augustine once wrote, no one had anything but praise for my father, who despite his slender resources was ready to provide his son with all that was needed to enable him to travel so far for the purpose of study. Many of our townsman far richer than my father went to no such trouble for their children's sake, there's a guy who appreciated the labor of his dad and a great theologian who knew that diligent labor was honorable. Now let me try to caution at this point to moms and dads but especially to dance, men, dads, fathers restrain yourself from giving your kids too much. I'm not gonna win any points with young people at this, but restrain yourself. I know you grew up. It was hard.

When you grow up and you have the best intentions you want to make sure they don't suffer like you suffer so your tendencies to give them everything. Don't bless them. Don't bless them too much. Let them also learned the value of hard labor of working for otherwise never appreciate the stuff that there make sure they learned that as well so bless them. But don't bless them too much.

If you know what I mean. Be careful with that restrain yourself. It would also imply trading and investing is commendable. Yet the Bible is filled with Proverbs and texts and principles about how to manage your finances and the book of Proverbs. For example, talks about lending borrowing investing classic taxes even in Proverbs 31 with the virtuous woman says she considers a field and she buys it, and presumably in the context of what she already owned it's too invest in property that it might gain and even Jesus. Matthew 25 commands wise investment. Well done good and faithful servant.

You been faithful with a few things now you shall be put in charge of many. So here's how it all works.

God has entrusted to you and I certain things and comes were Stewart's with that we find those who have needs. We help them. We provide for our family. We work hard in God will bless them, and if there's any left over. You can invest it, and be wise without investment in the Lord can bless you and us. Bless others with even more, third, and finally it's a prohibitive commandment is pretty obvious to see that it's it's another one of those. Thou shalt not Commandments thou shalt not steal. So it's prohibiting certain actions from taking place now though other cultures employed this commandment and would regard thou shalt not steal as a high value to be held in their society. Only the Bible tells you why and the answer is this it's wrong to steal because whatever person has, according to the Bible, God has entrusted that to them for whatever reason, James chapter 1 verse 17 every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation nor shadow of turning. Deuteronomy chapter 8 Moses said and you shall remember the Lord for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth so when you steal it's a double sin your stick your sinning against God and people. Heaven and earth, the Lord, and your neighbor here sinning against God because, in effect, you're accusing God of not providing adequately for you give me enough I have to do the in effect, you're making an accusation against God's provision and second your sinning against your neighbor. Because you're not loving your neighbor as yourself.

So the prohibition the negative commandment you shall not steal, what actions could this commandment be applying to give you a few categories. Number one stealing from your employer to give you scenario you get a job you love it for a day. Okay a week 11 for a week you're into it. You agreed to work for a certain wage to do certain amount of work and you love it, but after a while you start becoming dissatisfied with that job and you start rationalizing why should they have more than I have been don't pay me enough for what I do ditto recognize, so a number of activities could take place at that point. For instance calling in sick when you're not sick but you rationalize that they give me seven sick days a year. I've only taken to. I've got five (taken today, but you're not sick well I'm sick to work, but I think the term applies to being physically infirmed and if you're not, you just stole a day from your employer or taking items from the office. They won't miss it just a copy machine they got more, I don't have any. No seriously, it usually begins with paperclips pads of paper, pens, and it's a big deal.

Super D drugstore chain down the southeast knew that it was a big deal. They started a program they called integrity testing based upon their research of employees stealing things from a company.

The vice president said, we've already saved $400,000. With this integrity test from the stolen goods of employee to employer is another example making phone calls with the company phone that you are not authorized to make what is critical.

My dad lives in Tokyo but but if you been authorized to make that or checking in late leaving early taking longer breaks than you should.

Interesting that workers in America admit to spending 20% of their time at work goofing off. That's just what they admit to.

That's a whole day not think of that and compare that to what the Bible tells us about handling our employers. Ephesians chapter 5 pulses servants you could translate that workers are employees be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart is to Christ, not with eye service, not as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Heartfelt giving for what they're paying so that stealing from your employer, let me now reverse that it's only fair. What about employers stealing from their employees like not paying them what they said they paid not paying them on time. Leviticus 19 tells us do not cheat or rob anyone.

Always pay your hired workers promptly tag something onto that one.

What about paying credit giving credit to a worker who's done a good job while I hired him, but he did it. Make sure that he or she gets the credit for that job and you don't take that. Don't steal that credit from that person so stealing from your employer. Employees, what about this one stealing from the government, you know the T word textus we don't like that word we bristle every time it's taxis that their government, their search ripoffs well in the New Testament, they came to Jesus about paying taxes. The temple tax genes that Peter got out of the Sea of Galilee and go fishing that graded taxis and forgot to save go fishing.

But he said the first fish that you draw out will have a coin in its mouth.

It will be just enough money to pay the temple tax Jesus is handy to have around the tax time when he was questioned about this on another time he took a coin.

He said whose image and inscription is on this point is that it's easier than render to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and get the gobble belongs to God. So whose face was inscription is on that dollar bill in your pocket who is Washington so get to Washington with Washington give the gobble belongs to God.

Romans 13 we read. Therefore, you must be subject for conscience sake, for because of this, you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing, render therefore to all their due taxes to whom taxes are due customs to whom customs are due now I know you might be thinking point. Paul's really stretching this because he calls the IRS tax agents. God's ministers.

While in the same verse he says you do it for conscience sake. In other words, as you honor the government that you're a part of and you do it honor God. You can have a easy conscience and rest well true story a true letter.

The IRS even published at some years back.

It seems that a fella wrote a letter to the IRS and in the envelope. You put five $100 bills with a letter dear Sirs, I haven't had a good night sleep since 1970. He said I been cheating on my income tax and spend.

Hopefully now will sleep better five $100 bills at the end he said if I still can't sleep. I'll send the rest I guess these not that guilty in his conscience. One source that I read noted. If every American paid what they owed in back taxes.

The national debt could be retired in a single year. So big they report is the problem. So stealing from your employer from your employees from the government. All of this could be applied to you shall not steal, and with this one stealing from God stealing from God the son even possible. God owns everything. How is it possible to steal from God, that's exactly what the people of Israel asked the prophet Malachi when he accused them of stealing from God.

In Malachi chapter 3 verses 8 to 10 Will a man rob God.

Yet you have robbed me, but you say in what way have we robbed you.

The Lord answers and ties and offerings. Bring all the ties into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house and try me now and that says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not even be room enough to receive it by the way, it's the only time in the Bible God says I want you to test me on this were told not to test the Lord except in this area.

Try me test me in this area. Tithes and offerings. Now, I'll admit this is one of those overdone issues, especially by organizations and clergyman we all hate it I hate it when I hear somebody on television on the radio. If you don't do this week. God's program is going under.

All please spare me though poor mouth God. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. We depend on him.

He doesn't depend on us. I hate it when people poor mouth the Lord and give him that kind of a reputation and so do a lot of other people. There was a couple women. They went to hear the new preacher at the church that they had attended for years.

One set I hear is really good. They went the first week in his sermon was against drinking and they loved.

She said what a good preacher that's preaching. Amen. Second week they went and they loved it. He was speaking at smoking. I love this preacher. Amen. Like smoking next week. He was preaching against gambling or womanizing or something. They were amen angle sermon the fourth week breaks on tithing and that didn't one of those gals went right up to the pretense that young man. Now you've done it. You left preaching in Uganda. Medlin saw a lot of people feel whenever you mentioned money that people are sort of used to this and keyed to ask a gob just kinda waiting for them. There they are. They mentioned money while these preachers mentioned money and that's true.

It's been overdone to know what if Christians would tie. I don't think anybody ever ever have to mention money again.

It would be like the Old Testament in the tabernacle and the took an offering for the temple for the tabernacle Moses and the elders had to restrain them from giving. They gave too much. So when I try and that's the first check that I write every pay period right to the church to the Lord's work. When I do I am acknowledging God's ownership, God's priority in my life so the tide and the offering. If you made a dollar this week and that's all $0.10 is the Lord's. You may $10.01 dollars. The Lord submit $100, $10 if you made $1000 $100 as is.

If you made $1 million. Come see me afterwards. I'm just getting no, no, listen. One person said money is like manure you stack it up. It stinks but if you spread it around makes things grow so it's not that 90% of his mind and 10% is Lord. It's all his it's all his he's asking you to acknowledge your trust in him. By using that for his purposes. I think it makes sense that if a person can rob from God. He zapped Rob from anybody. So don't stick him down, stick them up, Lord, everything is yours. My life is yours.

Could it be that you've been robbing from God by not giving in your life. God cares a lot more about your life and your money and of euros in your money or your life. God just wants you your life you want you to give him your self to surrender your life to him and some of you may have withheld that you've never made a decision yet to follow Jesus Christ. You've never surrendered your life to the mastery of God that on a change that needs to change certainly needs to change before your death, which could happen at any time for all of us. Are you sure do you know that if you were to die this week. You know beyond a shadow that you be and have the Bible wants us to live with that assurance. So I want to give you an opportunity not to give the Lord a dollar or $1 million giving your life.

Well, if you been listening to Skip's invitation to know God personally and that something you want to do today.

We'd love to encourage you into then connect to SCIF.com is a good place to begin. There's a tab there called know God tells you everything you need to know about how to have a relationship with Jesus. This is connect with Skip weekend division teaching you heard today was part two of bandits. Beware just one part of an in-depth study of the 10 Commandments. Skip is titled the series, God's top 10 all 17 messages are available as an audio CD package for only $39 plus shipping. You can find out more in order today@connectwithskip.com here is Skip Heitzig to tell you about his brand-new book. Someone once said that if you want to know about Michelangelo you need to study what he said what he did and what he created. The same is true if you want to know God, you must devote yourself to his words and actions and what he created.

That is one of the reasons I wrote the book the biography of God. It's available now and I hope you'll join me on this noble demanding and even rewarding journey. Here's how to get your copy of my newest book, the biography of God. Skip's new book is our thanks when you get $35 or more today to help keep this ministry on the air, call 800-922-1888, or give online securely and connectwithskip.com/offer what is truth and what is telling the truth matter will find out next time here and connect with Skip weekend division is Skip again soon. Teaching the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth correctly Skip weekend division is a presentation of connection so you guys never changing and ever changing time