Stealing from others? This will happen… | AWAYION BEAUTY

Hi, Friends!

Stealing from others is an abhorrent act, evoking a sense of deep wrongdoing. You taking what doesn’t rightfully belong to you is a betrayal of trust. At the moment, you, the thief, may convince yourself that your act is justified, but the truth remains that it violates the rightful owner’s property.

The consequences of such actions are grave, yet often unknown. Our Creator, who is all-knowing, has a way of dealing with thieves. Know what He does to you when you steal, eh? No?

Uncover the dangerous consequences of stealing from others, in this post. Because every girl in Christ should not steal.

SUPER AWESOME SIDE NOTE: “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15) is one of the Ten Commandments people can readily recall, even though it is number eight in the Decalogue. And while there may be those who attempt to undermine the authority of the Ten Commandments by suggesting it is part of the Old Covenant, our Lord Jesus, speaking to the rich young ruler, quoted five of them, including this one (Matthew 19:18). The Ten Commandments are part of the moral law of God and, unlike the ceremonial and sacrificial laws of the Old Testament which were given to Israel, they apply to all men in all ages (Houdmann/ GotQuestions.org, 2009).

Super Awesome Side Note: Before we start, understand we will not claim contested truths. And we will refrain from falling into the trap of “teaching man-made ideas as commands from the Creator.”

Out of respect for believers, we will simply acknowledge the multiplicity of views on this subject (the keyword is “acknowledge” and not agree). That said, this is a non-exhaustive list. So use this list to do further research.

Super Psst… the big secret I’ve been hinting around about on social media for a while now has finally been revealed… (its also why I have been MIA for a bit… and why I would be in the future… hmm.) Read on after this post for the juicy details.

*Disclaimer: These ideas can help you if you use self-control. And these tips could help you if you are a believer in Christ. Also, always do further research. Also, the sources for this or any post do not equal a full endorsement of any ministry or evangelist’s personal views by Awayion.com.***

TL:DR A quick post glance:

  1. So what is stealing? Like really? Stealing?
  2. Ancient + modern examples of stealing
  3. How our Creator punishes you for stealing

Sound great? Okay, ladies. Let’s start.

1. So what is stealing? Like, really? Stealing?

stealing

So, what exactly is the definition of stealing? Like, really?

Historical Biblical accounts define stealing as unlawful and a direct violation of the eighth commandment in the Ten Commandments, which is part of the Decalogue. The Decalogue, given by our Creator to Moses, comprises laws that humanity should never violate. Ever.

According to Black’s Law Online Dictionary, stealing is a word used to describe the actions of a person who takes something that is not his to take. Also thieving, robbing, acts of larceny.

According to Britannica.com, stealing or theft is a broad term that encompasses different types of stealing, such as larceny, robbery, and burglary. Also, according to Britannica.com, the act of physically taking an object without the owner’s consent with the intention of permanently depriving the owner of it defines theft.

In Laymen’s terms, experts define stealing as the act of taking someone else’s possessions without permission. It involves a person discreetly taking a possession accompanied by feelings of guilt or excitement that arise from such an action.

Now that we have established the definition of stealing, let’s explore ancient and modern examples of stealing. After that, we will explore how our Creator chooses to punish you who commit this act of stealing.

Research Exodus 21:16, Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:11,13,35-37, Exodus 22:7, Leviticus 6, Deuteronomy 5:19, Romans 13:9, Matthew 19:18, Zechariah 5:3

RELATED: This is what happens when you tell lies. See this 

2. Ancient + modern examples of stealing

In order to have a complete understanding of stealing, it is important to recognize that it can manifest in various forms. This knowledge will enable you to seek repentance for your actions.

That said, in the historical biblical account, there is a story of a man named Achan who is punished for stealing from our Creator. The incident takes place during the Israelites’ conquest of the city of Jericho. Before the battle, God commanded the Israelites to destroy the city completely and take nothing as plunder. However, Achan, overcome by greed, disobeys this command and steals some of the forbidden spoils, including gold, silver, and a beautiful Babylonian garment.

As a result of Achan’s theft, the Israelites suffer a heavy defeat when they attempt to conquer the next city, Ai. Confused and devastated, their leader Joshua seeks guidance from God, who reveals that there is sin in the camp. Through a process of elimination, it is discovered that Achan is the one responsible for this transgression.

Joshua confronts Achan, who admits his guilt. In a solemn ceremony, Achan, along with his stolen possessions, was brought before the people of Israel. He is then stoned to death, and a heap of stones is piled over his body as a reminder of his sin. The Lord’s anger is appeased, and the Israelites are able to move forward in their conquest of the Promised Land. This account serves as a lesson about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of following God’s commands. It highlights the severity of stealing from the Lord and emphasizes the need for honesty and integrity in all aspects of life. Gnarly, eh?

So, what does modern stealing look like, considering that the previous example was an ancient form of stealing with its consequences? Well, according to GotQuestions.org, there are many other forms of modern theft:

For example, taking longer over our lunch breaks at work or arriving late and leaving early are actually forms of stealing from our employers, stealing time they have paid for. Taking advantage of employers in that way shows a lack of love for others. The apostle Paul, when discussing God’s commandments, sums up the entire law in the same way as our Lord Jesus did, with “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31; Romans 13:9) (Houdmann/ GotQuestions.org, 2009).

Another form of modern theft is copyright infringement, which is a widespread problem on video-focused social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, etc. It is not uncommon to encounter individuals who steal videos and then repost them, deceitfully asserting ownership while profiting from the original creators’ efforts.

SUPER AWESOME SIDE NOTE: The copyright and digital licenses that I possess safeguard all the content on my website and digital assets shared online.

That being said, I recently received a notification that a Christian YouTuber plagiarized my article on forgiveness (that I wrote 6 years ago) by using it as the title for her new 2024 video. She simply rephrased the following words from my post: “5 convincing reasons you should forgive when you don’t feel like it”. She put a parenthesis around her rephrased title, as if that makes it okay. This is still stealing. Another blatant violation of the eighth commandment in the Ten Commandments. As of May 2024, the video she posted has accumulated 18,000 views. Gnarly, eh?

Another modern form of theft in relationships often revolves around time. Time theft. That said, I recently discovered that a close friend of mine whom I love, was complaining about not receiving enough communication from me. Despite being a busy lady, I adjusted my schedule and provided a reasonable amount of communication. However, much to my dismay, this dear friend ultimately proved to be avoidant, wasting precious moments of my time. Such behavior is truly unacceptable, as no one can afford to waste their valuable time on such foolishness. This is stealing. Stealing of my time and love. Wild, eh?

So, given that we have examined instances of stealing in ancient and contemporary contexts, let’s explore how our Creator punishes you for stealing.

Research Joshua 7, Mark 12:31, Romans 13:9

RELATED: Know how to deal with a narcissist? See this

3. How our Creator punishes you for stealing

The validity of our Creator’s various approaches to handling stealing is clear through the historical biblical accounts. It is important for you and all others who are guilty of stealing to know that the following verse (spoken by our Creator to those who sin against others) applies to you:

Vengeance is mine, and recompense,[a]
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.’

-Deuteronomy 32:3

Scary, eh? Or maybe, if you don’t care about the consequences of stealing, you might say, “Oh well, pfft… God hasn’t punished me yet, even though I’ve been sinning for years.” King Ahab, who was warned by a prophet about his inevitable downfall because of his life full of sin, also spoke these haunting words. Later he was killed in battle just like the prophet warned he would be due to his blatant sin. Wild, eh? That said, let’s look at how our Creator has punished people for stealing in the historical biblical accounts.

Our Creator will strike those who steal with disease and generational curses:

According to historical biblical accounts, Gehazi, the servant of the prophet Elisha, suffered from greed, which ultimately resulted in him contracting leprosy. His greed led him to do an “indirect” form of stealing along with blatant lying.

During his time serving Elisha, Gehazi could witness many miracles performed by the prophet. One noteworthy incident involved Naaman, a commander from a foreign army, who approached Elisha seeking a remedy for his leprosy. In response, Elisha instructed Naaman to cleanse himself in the Jordan River seven times, assuring him that this act would lead to his healing. Naaman faithfully followed the instructions and, miraculously, his leprosy vanished, leaving him completely cured.

However, Gehazi saw an opportunity to benefit from Naaman’s gratitude and chased after him secretly. He lied to Naaman, claiming that Elisha had sent him to ask for clothing and silver. Naaman, grateful for his healing, gave Gehazi more than he requested. Gehazi then hid the treasure and returned to Elisha. It is important to note that Gehazi’s actions encompassed both theft and deceit.

Elisha, however, knew what Gehazi had done and confronted him. Elisha revealed that he had seen Gehazi’s actions in the spirit and knew that he had taken advantage of Naaman’s generosity. As a result of his greed, Gehazi would now suffer the consequences – he and his descendants would be afflicted with leprosy forever.

The story of Gehazi serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed, theft, and dishonesty. It shows that trying to profit from others’ misfortune can have severe consequences. In Gehazi’s case, his greed led to not only his own punishment but also a generational curse for his descendants.

Our Creator will strike those who steal with instant death:

In the biblical accounts, Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a field and promised to give the entire amount to the Lord. However, they kept a portion of the profit for themselves and only presented a portion of the money to the apostles. Peter, filled with the power of the Spirit, saw through their deception and exposed their lies. Both Ananias and Sapphira died instantly after lying because of their betrayal and attempt to deceive God by stealing from Him.

Our Creator will strike those who steal with permanent judgement:

As per John in the book of Revelation, a time will come when both ourselves and individuals involved in theft will undergo judgment from our Creator. It will be necessary for all to present a comprehensive report of our acts.

But to the cowardly and unbelieving and having become abominable and murderers and the sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their portion is in the lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8

nor thieves, nor coveters, not drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. -1 Corinthians 6:10

But there is hope, if you are deep in the sin of stealing, turn that around by confessing your sin to our Creator, then repent for that sin, and get saved today.

Research Malachi 3:8, Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 4:13 , Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19-21, Acts 5:1-11, Revelation 21:8, 1 Corinthians 6:10

RELATED: Know Jesus… no really, do you? See this

Major Takeaways

You now uncovered the dangerous consequences of stealing from others.

This post is a part of Inner Beauty, a new addition to Awayion. So make sure you come back for more powerful inner beauty tips.

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Secret Juicy Details

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May God Richly Bless you, Aubrey

If you find a typo, just know that it happens to all of us

Bernard, T.J. (2024) Theft, Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/theft (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Biblegateway.com (2024) Bible gateway passage: Deuteronomy 32:35, romans 12:19-21 - English standard version, Bible Gateway. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A35%2CRomans+12%3A19-21&version=ESV (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Biblegateway.com (2024) Bible gateway passage: Joshua 7 - contemporary English version, Bible Gateway. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+7&version=CEV (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

BibleHub (2004) Exodus 20:15 - the ten commandments, Bible Hub. Available at: https://biblehub.com/exodus/20-15.htm (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

BibleHub.com (2024) Bible hub: Search, read, study the Bible in many languages, Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages. Available at: https://biblehub.com/ (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Biblehub.com (2024) Gehazi’s Greed and Leprosy, 2 kings 5 BSB. Available at: https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/5.htm (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Houdmann/ GotQuestions.org, S.M. (2009) Home, GotQuestions.org. Available at: https://www.gotquestions.org/you-shall-not-steal.html (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Houdmann/ GotQuestions.org, S.M. (2014) Home, GotQuestions.org. Available at: https://www.gotquestions.org/Ananias-and-Sapphira.html (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Jim@mountainvalleyenterprises.com (2016) What is stealing? definition of stealing (Black’s Law Dictionary), A Legal Dictionary. Available at: https://alegaldictionary.com/stealing/ (Accessed: 16 May 2024).