Someone once said "you can tell people no longer believe in God by the number of security cameras". Although it does not completely erase sin, faith and works are so closely related that James even tells us "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26). If you believe in a God who has commanded you not to steal, will judge you for stealing, and has forgiven you for every time you have stolen, the chances are fairly low that you're going to steal.
But theft is a common evil to humanity, and thus even believing communities will likely encounter some degree of theft. Indeed, the very first sin was theft. Adam and Eve took the fruit they knew was not theirs to take, and they ate, and their descendants have continued to steal for 6,000 years. For this reason, the Bible tells us the government "...does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (Romans 13:4). This, of course, does not mean the police should run around stabbing every teenager who makes use of the five finger discount on a packet of chewing gum. It does, however, mean the government plays a legitimate role in ensuring theft is kept to a minimum.
But even the best of governments will fail, and the worst of them will fail spectacularly. And it just so happens that at present, many Western cultures are dealing with the worst of governments. Even in America, the "land of the free and the home of the brave", certain government officials seem to have made it their mission to promote anarchy. The result, among many other things, is a huge uptick in crime, including theft.
The Bible tells us repeatedly not to steal. Thieves will not inherit the Kingdom of God, says Paul (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). And so he gives us this charge: "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need." (Ephesians 4:28). But what does this imply?
Well, beyond all imagination, it tells us that there is actually a way for thieves to inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul's charge is to those who have been forgiven of their theft! "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11, emphasis added). Such were some of you, but you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
In Philippians 2:6, we find an interesting phrase. We read that Jesus "...did not consider it robbery to be equal with God," This often confuses people. What does this mean? Did Jesus steal equality with God? But Paul goes on to explain it, saying "but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (v7-8).
So what this means is Jesus didn't use His divinity to His own advantage. It's fantastic! Being God, Jesus could have done anything He wanted. I wonder, what would you do if you were equal with God? None of us would live as Jesus lived. We'd definitely use our power for our own advantage. We'd no doubt store up a tonne of riches for ourselves, fulfill all our needs and desires, and certainly protect ourselves. But Jesus? He could have summoned so many angels to protect Him on the night He was arrested (Matthew 26:53), as if He'd even need them. Yet, He wouldn't even let His disciples fight for Him (Matthew 26:52; John 18:36).
When Jesus came to Earth, He had no intention of living an easy, hedonistic life. He had a mission: To settle accounts with man, getting us the ultimate 5 finger discount. With His hands and feet nailed to a cross, He collected the wages of death we have earned for every time we have robbed the forbidden fruit.
What's interesting is the Bible also tells us Jesus was crucified between two robbers, and while Matthew 27:44 seems to indicate they both initially mocked Jesus, Luke's Gospel goes into more detail about the one on His right. "...we receive the due reward of our deeds...", he says in Luke 23:41. He recognises, here we are, guilty as sin, we deserve our punishment. But this Jesus, hanging between us, He's done nothing wrong! And so he rebukes what is presumably his partner in crime, and he says to the Lord "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." (v42). And Jesus replied "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (v43).
Wow! So here's this one guy, fully convinced of his own guilt, feeling so worthless that he actually says that this humiliating and agonising death is his due reward, and yet Jesus looks at him, seeing that he has nothing to give, and says "hey, you're coming with me." What? No baptism? No Eucharist? No church every Sunday? He didn't have to know how long it took God to create the heavens, the Earth, and all things within them? No circumcision? No fasting? It didn't even matter that this man had spent his whole life disobeying the 10 commandments! But our God looks at Him and says your faith, right now, you've confessed me as Lord, you believe in my resurrection (Romans 10:9), you've confessed your sins, and so I will cleans you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
This life is temporary. Rich or poor, it ends. Peaceful or violent, it ends. Honest or shifty, this life ends. And you take nothing with you when you leave. Your treasures here may not even reach the end with you. And so Jesus says "“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20). A thief typically believes he's getting something for free, but in truth, theft always has a cost. You may have to return what you stole. You may have to add more to it. You may be swallowed by guilt. If you're impenitent, you will lose even your very soul. But Jesus paid the ultimate price to buy you an everlasting inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven. Salvation, the greatest treasure of all, is free! You don't have to steal it, as if you could, nor do you even have to work for it, because the work has been done, you just have to receive it. If you have not already, I encourage you to claim Christ's 5 finger discount.