CHAPTER 4
STEALING “Do not steal your neighbor’s property by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by your ancestors.” Proverbs 22:28, NLT
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his is pretty straight-forward: do not take what doesn’t belong to you. It is safe to say that most of us aren’t likely to walk into our neighbor’s home with a gun and take their belongings. However, notice Solomon mentioned that even acquiring a little extra land by moving the surveyor’s stake is wrong. Our culture tempts us to view things, not so much in terms of what is right and wrong, but in terms of what is hurtful and not hurtful. Here are some questions to help illustrate this point: Which is a greater sin? a.) Taking money from someone whose need is so great that they will definitely notice it is gone. b.) Taking money from someone who has so much that they will never realize it is missing. If you thought to yourself, “Stealing from the poor is worse than stealing from the rich,” then your standard is cultural not Biblical. I 19
