What Is Mine Is Mine

Exodus 20:15

The Ten Commandments are not necessarily the first set of commandments one might peruse on Stewardship Sunday. Most biblical teachers would point you to the codes in Leviticus and Deuteronomy on tithing instead. But—as we consider more deeply the intent at the foundation of the Ten Commandments—we discover a relevance we might not have seen before. Such is the case with the blunt dictum not to steal.

What is stealing?

Most of us would define stealing as taking what isn’t yours. It is a fairly basic concept, one most parents instill early in their children—don’t take something that doesn’t belong to you, from another child’s toys, crayons, or books, to a cookie on someone’s plate left unattended. As we pass through life, we understand how this rule keeps the peace, provides security, and creates harmony necessary for daily life. 

Yet…

Watching my children play was educational. Perry is 22 months older than Chelsea. They played together a lot. Even as small children, they grasped this concept, but not so much as a limit on their own behavior, but rather as one enforced with the other. Perry would be playing with a set of blocks, and Chelsea would sidle over and begin to reach for them—“NO! THAT’S MINE!”—would come the bellowed commandment. Or Chelsea would be drawing with a fistful of crayons, and Perry would reach for a stray laying on the floor—“NO! MINE!”—would come the shouted reprimand. The experience of watching them was educational because I suddenly saw the root of a lot of adult conflict. It boils down to a simple aphorism—

What is mine is mine.

That is stealing.

Huh? What? No, it isn’t…

Yes, it is.

Reread the Word. This message comes again and again. One of the most powerful instances is right there in the opening line of beloved Psalm 24—

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is within it…

It is astounding how easily we reinterpret that simple thought, turning it so it justifies who we are and how we live in God’s creation. Doing so is a singular moment when people of faith flat out ignore the presence of God. Instead, take seriously what the Psalmist says here—creation belongs to God—all of it. The Psalmist’s understanding of the theological implications of this thought are equally astounding—the truth of human existence is that everything we have, everything we enjoy using, and everything around us all the time is on loan.

The technical term for this state of affairs is providence. God created the earth and all that is in it to support, nourish, nurture, and meet the needs of every creature within it. In the creation story, we learn that God created us, in part, to be stewards of all the gifts of creation so that every generation of creature and every generation of human being will always enjoy the bounty of God’s creative grace. 

So, as soon as we utter the words, “What’s mine is mine,” we have wandered fairly far afield from God’s wisdom and will for life in creation. We are staking a claim we have no business staking. We are fencing in things meant to be shared and enjoyed by all.

Do not think the radical nature of this understanding was somehow mitigated by Christ in his message of redeeming love. As with other commandments, entering the presence of Christ does not soften the commandments, but ratchets their emphasis up exponentially! As we come to grips with the power of God’s providence, we suddenly see illumination for one of Christ’s most alarming and most radical statements—

One thing you lack—go, sell all that you have and give it to the poor.

Jesus is actually calling us to full understanding and real world practice of the Eighth Commandment—do not steal God’s providence from someone else by collecting far more than you will ever be able to use; instead, let go and share so everyone can have enough. This interpretation offers us hope from our households—peace, children, there are enough crayons for everybody—to the community—generosity breeds shalom in the city as we care for the neediest of all—to the world—rich nations can indeed practice compassionate care with the hungry peoples of the world, bringing lasting peace. 

Immediately, let’s be utterly honest, hackles rise and defensiveness roots within us—this sounds counter to our culture, society, and values that make us who we are. Well, yes, Christ has a knack for doing that again and again. His deepest argument is that culture, society, and our values are not God. God is God. The far better way, then, is to align ourselves with our God, the source of our being. God empties himself in dealing with us every single breath we take. Ergo, to be truly faithful is to respond in kind with the rest of the world. 

That begins with a full acceptance of God’s commands.

Today, start with this one—Thou shalt not steal.

Today, begin again a life that is generous, open, and emptying. It is actually and ironically the best way to begin a life that is rich, full, and blessed beyond all imagination.