“I Understand . . . But . . .”

Have you ever had anything stolen from you?
Do you remember how you felt?

Imagine this: Two thieves are caught, their circumstances described...
In desperate circumstances a man breaks into your car and steals some electronics. He then sells them at a pawn shop so that he can have some money to buy food for his starving wife and two small children.

A second thief breaks into your home and steals your laptop, TV system and jewelry. He later pawns his heist for quick cash. When he is caught it is discovered that he had been on a crime spree for quite some time. He's just a thief; no family; in it for the money.

One steals for need;
The other for greed.

If you are like most people, you have some degree of understanding, perhaps even sympathy toward the man who stole out of need. Solomon wrote:

   Men do not despise a thief if he steals 
      To satisfy himself when he is hungry;
   But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; 
      He must give all the substance of his house.
   --Proverbs 6:30-31

It is important to understand that right and wrong do not change with circumstances. While we might be more understanding in one situation than another. Right is still right, and wrong is still wrong...ALWAYS.

Be wise. Do right.