Stealing is an age-old problem, thoroughly condemned in the Bible as sin (Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Peter 4:15). And most people know, fundamentally, that stealing is wrong. But, still, the problem persists and sometimes among Christians.

The most obvious forms of stealing are burglary (breaking into someone's home or business to steal), shoplifting, piracy and bootlegging. And it is these two latter forms of stealing that sometimes cause Christians to stumble.

Perhaps that's because modern technology has facilitated this new kind of stealing. Piracy no longer is limited to robbing ships at sea but today references copying software, music, movies and other things, distributing them to others or taking a copy of such things digitally without paying for them.

Bootlegging involves such piracy and then turning around and selling illegal copies for a profit.

Many Christians don't seem to see a problem with taking things digitally for which their owners expect to be compensated. But the "golden rule" would seem to resolve such questions. Jesus said, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).

Other Ways of Stealing

Employees who take office supplies home for personal use, without permission, are stealing. Using work time to do personal business when you are supposed to be doing company business - is stealing from the employer. Turning in "padded" or otherwise false expense reports to reap larger reimbursements - is stealing.

At school, copying the work of others, plagiarism and the like is stealing.

Being overpaid in change during a purchase at a store and not trying to make it right is taking what doesn't belong to you. That is, in essence, stealing.

Why is it Such a Big Deal?

If you take a pencil at work or don't show a clerk she's given you too much change or you've downloaded a song without paying for it, what's the big deal? Well, the pencil costs something and it isn't yours and it (and other stolen goods) lowers the profitability of the company that is paying your salary. Wrong change equally effects store profitability and the songs people expend their time writing and recording to make a living are used without those persons being remunerated. Would you want to work for nothing?

Stealing deprives others of what is rightfully theirs. Anytime stealing occurs, someone loses. Most businesses have to charge from five to 15 percent more to cover the cost of stealing in its many forms. So, actually, you lose a great deal because stealing is so prevalent. If company profits are hit hard enough by employee theft, employee lay-offs often are the result. Your job or someone else's is lost.

God Says It's Wrong

If there is no logic that makes stealing wrong to you, know that God declares is wrong, sin, and a cause for being kept out of the kingdom of heaven. Stealing hurts other people, and thus is antithetical to the guiding positive principle of Divine law - which is love.

All the attempts we make to justify stealing are hypocritical because we don't want people stealing from us.

How Do We Right the Wrong?

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:28 to quit stealing and start working to provide what we need, and to be able to assist others. This is the essence of what the Bible calls repentance. You quit the sinful behavior and then replace it with God-approved behavior.

This will entail changing how we think about the property of others and then require us to do differently.

Ideally and if possible we should make restitution for what we've taken unlawfully. That is a part of repentance also - setting matters as correct as we are able.

Helping others also is part of the corrective process. Repentance involves a complete change in direction. So, instead of defrauding people, we now begin help and do good for others in need.

Working for what we have is the God-approved way to have what we need, improve our physical circumstances and help others.

What a different world this would be if we could but eradicate or largely control this one sin.