Immorality and Theft

“A U.S. News poll shows that while 74 % of Americans have serious qualms about teens having sex before marriage, more than half believe it is not wrong, or wrong only sometimes, for adults to have premarital sex” (U.S. News & World Report, May).

The Trouble with Premarital Sex

Just as the sin of adultery has destroyed so many lives, there has been devastating consequences among adults and youth who have engaged in the sin of fornication (pre-marital sex).

Read Matthew 5:27-30

We Don’t Fall Suddenly

We don’t fall overnight into sin. Many times the person who commits the sin of fornication or adultery has:

Jesus tells us, “. . . anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). This does not mean just a casual glance. In the Greek it refers to the “continuous act of looking.” In this usage, the idea is not that of an incidental or involuntary glance but an intentional and repeated gazing.

This is why Job said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl . . . if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled, then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted” (Job 31:1, 7-8).

King David was not at fault for happening to see Bathsheba bathing. His sin was a continuous look and the following action of bringing her to his chambers. One must also wonder if Bathsheba knew the King would be there and intentionally put herself in a place where she could be seen. If lustful looking is bad than those who dress and expose themselves with the desire to be looked at lustfully are just as guilty.

Guarding Our Minds

A survey conducted by Louis Harris and Associates, found that over 65,000 sexual references are broadcast on all three television networks during prime-time every year. The study also showed that the average American TV viewer watches 14,000 references to sex in the course of a year!

We must guard our minds to the best of our abilities. This means:

Always check out something before you watch it or read it.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

Taking Responsibility

One could easily say,It’s impossible for a man or a woman with a sex drive to not fall! But, that’s simply not true. What we must recognize is the combustible aspect of human nature. The Bible tells us, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

When we get tempted, and when we give into it, we like to place the blame on someone or something else. We often say, That person trapped me. I’m not responsible, or the popular, “The devil made me do it.”

But the fact of the matter is we are responsible for our actions. Realizing this is the first step to averting sin.

Jesus tells us,“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell” (Matthew 5:29-30).

In the above Scriptures, Jesus points out the way of deliverance from sin. In the Jewish culture, the right-hand represented a person’s best skills and most precious faculties. The right-eye represented a person’s vision. Jesus’ point is that we should be willing to give up whatever is necessary to keep us from falling into sin. Anything that morally or spiritually traps us; causes us to fall into sin; or causes us to remain in sin should be eliminated quickly and totally from our life!

“. . . let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Stealing is a widespread problem in our culture today. In fact, it has become far more commonplace then we may realize. When we think of stealing we often picture car thieves or professionals that steal jewelry and other valuables from stores and homes. But, stealing also includes:

Working Rather Than Stealing

“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28).

The idea in the above passage is not simply ceasing to do what is wrong (stealing), but to do what is right (working).

Not working when you are able is stealing. Like it or not, a man is to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.

“Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘Whoever does not work should not eat.’ Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people’s business. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people —no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12/NLT).

Stealing From Your Employer

According to employee screening company, Guardsmark, employee theft costs about $120 billion a year.

There are many ways in which people steal. According to USA Today, 48% of U.S. workers admit to taking unethical or illegal actions in the past year. Some of the ways in which employees steal include cheating on an expense account, paying or accepting kickbacks, and secretly forging signatures.

Stealing From God

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:8-11).

None of us has a right to all he earns. God’s portion under the law is one-tenth of our earnings, even though grace can demand more. Yet many steal from God by not tithing their earnings as they should.

Stealing from God not only includes our money, but our lives in general.

Everything we have is the Lord’s. We owe our very life to Jesus Christ. He purchased our lives at the cross of Calvary and now has rightful ownership. But many times we steal our life away from Him, denying Him ownership and lordship over our lives.

Also, in each of our lives, the Lord has graciously instilled talents and gifts. To neglect to use them for His glory, rather hoarding them for our own benefit, is nothing short of stealing.

Instead of living immorally, stealing from men or God, let us seek to live pure lives, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).

Remember, your life is a gift of God to use and invest for His Glory.

Part VI