The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Deuteronomy 22:1-3,
"If you see your fellow Israelite's ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it."
The eighth commandment is, "You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15. I can't help but notice there seems to be some fuzziness among some believers as to what the eighth commandment means. Taking something that does not belong to you is stealing. It is a sin. That includes taking things others have lost.
"Finders keepers, losers weepers" has no place among God's people as this passage points out. In fact, God commanded the Israelites to care for whatever was lost by another so that it could be safely returned. "Be sure to take it back to its owner."
Sometimes we simply can't take something back as we have no clue as to who it might belong to. The prospect of seeing whatever it might be returned to its rightful owner may appear to be impossible. Here are some thoughts: a necklace found in a parking lot of a restaurant can be left with the manager in case the owner returns looking for it. A roll of dollars found on our way to the car outside a grocery store can be taken in to the customer service counter. Something found along the road in a bush can be displayed prominently along the road so it can be found by the owner as they retrace their steps.
However, who's to say the restaurant manager won't pocket the necklace himself? Who's to say the clerk at the customer service counter won't keep the money for herself? Who's to say the guy in the next car coming down the road won't stop and keep whatever was lost? It doesn't matter. You are concerned about you and your conscience before God.
Not keeping something that doesn't belong to us and making a reasonable effort to see it returned to its rightful owner provides for a much better conscience before God. If, in your effort to provide for a lost item's return results in someone else taking it, that is their issue before him to whom we all must give account.
The public praise of someone's high ethical standards because they returned something that did not belong to them, especially when whatever it is, is of high value, speaks of how corrupt our moral standards have become in our culture. It ought to be a routine thing any honest person would do.
Remember, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13. We all must do our best to maintain a good conscience before God, as Paul said, "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." Acts 24:16. Paul's warning to Timothy is a good warning to us as well, "Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith." 1 Timothy 1:18-19.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"If you see your fellow Israelite's ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it."
The eighth commandment is, "You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15. I can't help but notice there seems to be some fuzziness among some believers as to what the eighth commandment means. Taking something that does not belong to you is stealing. It is a sin. That includes taking things others have lost.
"Finders keepers, losers weepers" has no place among God's people as this passage points out. In fact, God commanded the Israelites to care for whatever was lost by another so that it could be safely returned. "Be sure to take it back to its owner."
Sometimes we simply can't take something back as we have no clue as to who it might belong to. The prospect of seeing whatever it might be returned to its rightful owner may appear to be impossible. Here are some thoughts: a necklace found in a parking lot of a restaurant can be left with the manager in case the owner returns looking for it. A roll of dollars found on our way to the car outside a grocery store can be taken in to the customer service counter. Something found along the road in a bush can be displayed prominently along the road so it can be found by the owner as they retrace their steps.
However, who's to say the restaurant manager won't pocket the necklace himself? Who's to say the clerk at the customer service counter won't keep the money for herself? Who's to say the guy in the next car coming down the road won't stop and keep whatever was lost? It doesn't matter. You are concerned about you and your conscience before God.
Not keeping something that doesn't belong to us and making a reasonable effort to see it returned to its rightful owner provides for a much better conscience before God. If, in your effort to provide for a lost item's return results in someone else taking it, that is their issue before him to whom we all must give account.
The public praise of someone's high ethical standards because they returned something that did not belong to them, especially when whatever it is, is of high value, speaks of how corrupt our moral standards have become in our culture. It ought to be a routine thing any honest person would do.
Remember, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13. We all must do our best to maintain a good conscience before God, as Paul said, "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." Acts 24:16. Paul's warning to Timothy is a good warning to us as well, "Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith." 1 Timothy 1:18-19.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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