ECONOMY 01 – Do not steal

ECONOMY 01 – DO NOT STEAL

To understand any Law better, ask the following questions

  • What is God commanding?
  • Why is God commanding this? To answer the why question, think about these sub-questions:
    • What are the benefits if people obey this?
    • What are the resulting problems if people don’t obey this?
    • What is God trying to protect?
    • What is is God’s heart behind the law?
    • How is his character revealed?
Deuteronomy 5:19

“Thou shalt not steal.”

What is the effect of stealing on the owner (the one stolen from)?

  • Economic damage or loss
  • Fear, insecurity, anger, discouragement, temptation to take revenge
  • Temptation to steal himself increases … Example: Shoes outside church
  • Intentions, planning, use of the thing is frustrated
  • long-term thinking and planning frustrated

Effect of stealing on the thief?

  • Temporary economic advantage
  • But economic advantage is less than the loss of the owner
    • stolen ware always has to be resold cheaper
    • much is lost that had value to the owner but has no value to the thief, like papers, photos, addresses, …)
  • Habit of having expensive luxuries I cannot really/ afford
  • Temptation to repeated stealing increases
  • Temptation to other criminal acts increases
  • Conflict with the law (criminal act) > possibility of being caught, known as thief, loss of reputation, continually being suspected.
  • Vulnerable to be framed for theft not committed by others, for bad influence, for involvement in other things. Example: stealing once in a hostel.
  • Vulnerable to abuse or manipulation by others … Example: gang leaders pressuring boys into compliance by threatening handing them over to police
  • Looking at the lives of big scale criminals: theft was often the first step
  • So: though he has the economic advantage, the negative consequences in various areas far outweigh the profit.

Effect of stealing on the others? on owners in general? on society in general?

  • Feeling of insecurity, fear, discouragement
  • Need for security arrangements (door locks, grills in windows, walls & gates, guards)
  • Security arrangements are costly in terms of money, time, nerves, skill … which could be used differently. If all guards worked in production instead > much better for country!
  • Neither owner nor thief has an advantage … > is an “economic nonsense”
  • Many places in the world: no gates, no walls, no grills, no guards > cheaper!
  • Example: Story of the henna bush … thieves when offered to have their own henna plant said: ‘No point in planting it for all will steal the leaves!’
  • Progression of frustration: widespread stealing > no protection of property > discouragement of planting, investing and production > reduction in planting, investing and production > less available > lack > poverty
  • Unless there is a chance for fruit, reward or profit, why should I plant, work, invest and produce? … discouragement and frustration
  • Progression of incentive is also true: little stealing > safety of private property > encouragement and incentive to plant, invest, produce > more production > enough available > economic well being
  • Example: Bangladeshi farmers sleeping in paddy fields before harvest
  • Example: Papaya trees in a slum
  • Example: Bangladesh’s fertility yet fruit in the market is expensive
  • If I have no profit or advantage from my labor or investment, why should I labor?
  • Example: Swiss farmers selling fruit at road side with nobody present > result: farmer is able to use his time for other productive work, no employing needed

What does God want?

  • God wants your property to be protected and safe.
  • God protects our right to own = right to private property.
  • God wants you to have the fruit or result of your labor.
  • God wants to encourage & reward hard work, effort, using of intelligence & skill, investment and innovation.
  • The rich can afford protecting their property but the poor can’t. God protects the property of the poor by this law.
  • God is neither pro-rich nor pro-poor. God is for whatever produces life.
  • God will not bless unrighteous gain or laziness, but we will reward work, effort and application of skill.
  • Stealing > frustration of plans and broken hopes > discouragement of long-term thinking & careful planning > no development
  • God hates frustration, discouragement and injustice, because they paralyse us.
ECONOMY