06/24/14
Q122: Why do we steal?
Why do we steal? Because we want something badly and have no money.
In 1750, or around that time, in ’Merry England’ (that’s what it was called when I was in school) where rich folk lived well and poor folk starved, a man might steal a loaf of bread because his children were starving. There was no ’Social Welfare’ money of any sort. If he was caught he very likely would go to prison! For stealing something more valuable, he may have got ’transportation to Australia’ as a convict for some years, and no free ticket back home back to England by sailing boat. Very unfair indeed but things have got better over the last 200 years.
Today, in school, another student’s rubber could be attractive to you as you may have lost yours. It is often in our nature to steal – there is a little thrill in ’getting away with it’. And a biscuit stolen when Mum has said ’No.’ is a thrill sometimes but we know it is wrong. If we later realise that when we steal, someone suffers loss, be it a rubber in school; or a stolen car, we are growing up and learning.
Some people find stealing is fun, and get smarter and try not to get caught. That equals trouble because you know it is wrong. Many will say: 'The devil tempted me,' as an excuse. Adults have no excuse, but will scream 'blue murder' if something is stolen from them!!
God put in the ’The Ten Commandments’, a command not to steal (He knows we are inclined to be naughty). He wrote: ’Do not covet (want something) what belongs to someone else. Don’t covet your neighbour’s house, wife, or husband, slaves, bullocks, donkeys or anything else.’ (Exodus chapter 20 verse 17).
Stealing keeps the Police busy and our jails full. See Q.123.
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