Ephesians 4:28 (KJV)
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with
his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that
needeth.
I remember an incident in my early teens when I had been caught shoplifting
at the local mall in my hometown. I had spent the night with a girlfriend
and we went shopping together the next day. At the encouragement of my
“friend”, coupled with the foolishness of my own heart, I made a very
careless decision to take an item from the store without paying for it.
Needless to say, I found myself in a very shameful situation and was mortified
at being caught at my first attempt to steal.
1 Peter 4:15 (KJV)
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief…
Stealing is an ungoverned passion and we all know God clearly forbids
it as found in Exodus 20:15. Perhaps you don’t have a similar incident
in your past as I do, but what I want you to consider today are the various
ways in which you could be a thief… Yes, YOU! To steal is defined as to
take what belongs to another, without their consent. It is also a way
in which we slip away or withdraw unnoticed. We can also gain influence
gradually through employing sneaky or unperceived methods so as to steal
what it is we want, whether tangible or intangible. For instance, an adulteress
will subtly steal the attention and affection of your husband by employing
clever methods of seduction. (I pray none of you have been behaving in
such a deceptive manner!)
According to our opening scripture, to be without work makes thieves of
us. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour… Ladies,
if we aren’t willing to work, we will have nothing to show for our time.
Hence, we will be tempted to steal to fulfill our wants and needs… My
question for you today is this: Are you stealing from your marriage?
One of the ways that I think wives are guilty of stealing from their marriages
is the disrespectful way in which they answer or speak to their husbands.
Each time you utter a sarcastic, bitter, impatient, or unkind remark you
are stealing from his authority in the home – especially if it is done
in front of your children! Your husband is the shepherd or leader of the
home and must be acknowledged as such…
John 10:1 (KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into
the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and
a robber.
To communicate in a disrespectful manner is unfaithfulness in action.
Your marriage cannot grow in a positive direction if you are determined
to behave as a thief and climb up some other way! You are only robbing
yourself of a good marriage and an abundant life with your spouse when
you ignore the door of authority. Who wants to grow by fraud rather than
through genuine labor?? The Bible says we are to work the thing which
is good. We are to put much effort into achieving a happy and holy marital
relationship. Rather than stealing from his person, work to treat your
husband in a reverent manner - in spite of his imperfections! He has needs
that God is holding you accountable as a wife to meet; work so that you
have something to give to him that needeth… The more you work at being
the right kind of wife, the less temptation you will face to be the wrong
kind of wife! Do you hold the testimony of one who works hard at her marriage
or steals from it by way of laziness?
Titus 2:10 (KJV)
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the
doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
Ladies, as wives we should seek to be trustworthy helpmeets to our husbands,
not defraud them. We should labor to show all good fidelity if we would
make the gospel of Christ attractive to others. The Bible would exhort
us to remind ourselves everyday that our labor is a testimony to others.
Be sure it is adorning the doctrine of God in all things; even your marital
work must glorify God! Are you in the habit of pocketing everything for
your own good, or do you work for the benefit of others? How reliable
are you, dear wife? I once heard testimony of two Christian women who
openly shared how they would go on shopping sprees and record their purchases
as grocery money in the checkbook to mislead their husbands and avoid
controversy, thereby gaining their own wishes. What a disgrace to the
gospel of Christ such deceit is! This is certainly an ideal example of
lazy women who won’t work at improving their marriages but find it more
to their liking to steal from them. Are you faithful and honest in the
little things, dear wife, or are you also at fault for marital pilferage?
You see, it is more than financial dishonesty of which these women were
guilty; they have also been a discredit to the head of their home.
Eccles. 12:14 (KJV)
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Another method of stealing I mentioned earlier is to slip away or withdraw
unnoticed. Wife, have you withdrawn from your husband? Are you as close
to him as you once were? What has robbed him of your affections? Could
it be the thief of unforgiveness that has caused you to steal away from
him? Perhaps he is not aware of the bitterness that is hiding in your
heart - but God is! The Lord knows what attitudes rob us of our peace
and joy and embezzles harmony from our homes. By the grace of God, put
forgiveness to work in your home and bring back that thing which is good
between you and your husband! When you do, you will find that once again
you will have something to give to him that needeth…
John 10:10 (KJV)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
In closing, let me say that if you are struggling with being a thief,
there is only one sure remedy…
Mark 15:27 (KJV)
And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and
the other on his left.
Ladies, you and I must crucify those fraudulent tendencies that exist
inside our hearts and show up in the irreverent treatment of our husbands!
In His compassion, Jesus Christ brought one thief out of sin and into
paradise and He’ll do the same for you -if your heart is not too hard!
Repent of your thefts; don’t steal from your marriage anymore – give to
it.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
