“不可偷盗。” - 申 5:19
有人从我这里偷东西，没有比这更让我生气的了。他们怎么能夺走属于我的东西呢？！
我的愤怒反映出我对自己和我所拥有的东西看重并珍惜。
每个人自身都应该得到荣誉和尊重，因为我们都是按着神的形像被造的。我们也有值得尊重的财产和想法。人若向我们做出承诺，他们就应该看重这些承诺。
当我们把别人应得的东西归于他们时，就表示了我们的尊重。他们理应得到他们用正当方式获得的东西。如果他们在自己的领域获得了好名声，我们要给予他们荣誉。如果他们获得了较高的地位，我们要对此表示尊敬。如果他们做了一件善事，我们要感谢他们。
贬低或否认他人所做的好事是一种偷窃行为。如果我们这样做，我们就夺走了他们应得的荣誉。
神是所有美好事物的最初拥有者。祂把各样的益处赐给了各人。
如果我们不承认别人身上的这些好，或者我们夺走或破坏它们，我们就是在破坏神对祂受造物的设计。
我们怎么能夺取属于神的东西或神给别人的东西呢？
祷告
神啊，请赦免我们拿了不属于我们的东西，以及我们不尊重他人的罪。帮助我们尊重你赐给所有人的恩赐和能力。阿们。
玛拉基书 3:6-12
6因我耶和华是不改变的，所以你们雅各之子没有灭亡。”
7万军之耶和华说：“从你们列祖的日子以来，你们常常偏离我的典章而不遵守。现在你们要转向我，我就转向你们。你们却问说：‘我们如何才是转向呢？’
8“人岂可夺取神之物呢？你们竟夺取我的供物。你们却说：‘我们在何事上夺取你的供物呢？’就是你们在当纳的十分之一和当献的供物上。
9因你们通国的人都夺取我的供物，咒诅就临到你们身上。”
10万军之耶和华说：“你们要将当纳的十分之一全然送入仓库，使我家有粮，以此试试我，是否为你们敞开天上的窗户倾福于你们，甚至无处可容。”
11万军之耶和华说：“我必为你们斥责蝗虫，不容它毁坏你们的土产，你们田间的葡萄树在未熟之先也不掉果子。”
12万军之耶和华说：“万国必称你们为有福的，因你们的地必成为喜乐之地。”
Don’t Take What Isn’t Yours
"You shall not steal." - Deuteronomy 5:19
I have never felt angrier than when someone stole from me. How could they take what was mine?!
My anger reflects that I have respect and honor for myself and for the things I have.
Every person deserves honor and respect because we are all made in the image of God. We also have property and ideas that should be honored. People make promises to us, and they should honor those promises.
We show honor when we credit others with what they are due. They are due the things they have rightfully earned. If they have earned a good reputation in their field, we need to give them credit. If they have earned a high position, we need to honor that. If they have performed a good deed, we need to thank them.
Belittling or denying the good that others do is a form of stealing. If we do that, we have taken away the honor they deserve.
God is the original owner of all good things. He gives a variety of good things to various people.
If we fail to recognize those good things in others, or if we take or destroy them, we are undoing God’s design for creation.
How could we take what is God’s or what God has given to others?
Prayer
O God, forgive us for taking what is not ours. Forgive us for not giving honor to others. Help us to respect the gifts and abilities that you have given to all. Amen.
