Stealing: Why Is Sin Sinful?

The question sounds almost silly: Why is stealing sinful?

Everyone knows that it is wrong to steal. It is as if God programmed us with that knowledge. Just watch little children. Even before they can talk, if someone takes a toy from a little child, there will almost always be a negative reaction. No one wants something they possess to be taken from them. No one!

Do we really have to be taught that stealing is wrong?

Literally carved into stone was the eighth commandment: You shall not steal. Even though we are encoded from birth with the knowledge that stealing is wrong, God thought it important to tell His chosen people that it was a sin to steal.

Sometimes we minimize the seriousness of stealing by considering the value of the thing stolen. Stealing a car IS much more serious than stealing a hammer. Not only is the car more expensive to replace, it serves a greater function than the hammer. However, there is no moral distinction between petty theft and grand theft. Whether classed as a misdemeanor theft or felony theft, wrong is still wrong.

Some may rationalize taking small items of little value such as taking a few grapes to eat while grocery shopping (and not buying grapes), or taking office supplies (that won’t be noticed) from work. Yet, the grapes are stolen. The office supplies are stolen. Rationalization is a way of explaining why the stealing was not really bad.

Sometimes people justify their theft. “Because of all the hard work I put in, the company owes me...” a stapler, a tape dispenser, or a package of TP. Justification is a way of explaining why the wrong action is actually a right action.

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

Rationalization and justification (as well as sympathy and understanding) do not change the reality of stealing.

Sometimes people steal without taking anything tangible. That’s why there are laws dealing with patents, trademarks, and copyright. When people make copies of materials without making a purchase, it is theft unless permission is given from the producer of that material. Making copies of written material, music, movies, software, etc. that deprive the originator of making a profit is just another way of stealing. No one deserves a pirated copy of a song just because the song artist is a bazillionaire.

Cheating is another way of stealing without taking something tangible.

So, what is God’s expectation?

If you’ve been stealing, stop stealing. 

Or, just don’t steal. 

Is that all?

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 

—Ephesians 4:28

The solution to stealing is not merely to stop stealing, but rather, to work and earn an income and share with those in need.

Why is stealing sinful? 

All forms of stealing present something that belongs to another as if it belongs to you. Stealing is a lie against reality and it opposes the very nature of God.

Mark Stinnett

March 12, 2023