Let Him Labor …to Share

Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. – Ephesians 4:28

To be honest I’ve never considered myself a thief. The one time I knowingly stole a bag of candy from a grocery store when I was about 12. Years later I felt horrible about it, I repented, confessed it to my mother (who was with me at the time). I would have even went to pay for it later but that store had gone out of business and was long gone.

Since then I’ve had a strong conviction about not being a thief. When I was laid off from my job in my 20’s once I went through my house looking for pens that I had thoughtlessly brought home. I returned them quickly to my boss. Thievery is not something I take likely. But I am sure there have been times I’ve accidentally taken things that are not mine. I know that friends have taken things from me unintentionally and completely forgotten that it was mine.

In the past reading Ephesians 4:28 I thought this was for someone else, like the convicted thieves as their punishment. But after reading chapter 15 of this book by Robert Deffinbaugh, (and several messages from Frank Viola.) I realize all Christians are former thieves to one degree or another. Much thievery is socially acceptable but that does not mean it is not thievery in the eyes of God.

The Christian Work Ethic (taken from Robert Deffinbaugh’s book Ephesians the Glory of God in the Church)

Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good. In order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

If Paul’s first command is addressed to Christian thieves, the remainder of the verse applies to everyone. It sets down a work ethic which is diametrically opposed to that of the thief, and which is the standard for every Christian.

Let him labor with his hands in order to produce something to share with those in need.

Jesus Christ transforms the thief (that is all of humanity) into a productive, generous and cheerful giver … and wipes out poverty while he is at it.