Think of a time when you did something kind and generous for someone or a time someone was kind and generous with you. Do you have an occasion in mind? I bet the outcome of your generosity was one of joy and friendship. Conversely, consider a time when you took something that didn’t belong to you or someone took something of yours. Did it foster joy and friendship between you and that person? Hardly.
Most everyone is quite clear that breaking the 7th Commandments, by taking what belongs to someone else, is wrong. But the 7th Commandment is also calling us to look beyond the mere words and see how, in this Commandment, God is offering us something that is dear and precious. He is offering us authentic friendship.
When we look beyond the words, “You shall not steal”, we see that He is calling us to share the blessings He has made possible and to share, not out of obligation, but rather to share joyfully and with a generous heart. The following scripture passage from 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 compares sharing out of obligation with being generous out of love.
Jesus knows that when we give with a generous heart, the outcome is abundant joy and kinship between the giver and the receiver. Conversely, giving with a sparing heart offers minimal joy and fosters minimal friendship. Furthermore, outright stealing destroys friendship and the joy that friendship offers.
Which is the best choice? Which of these does God want for you?
Is the 7th Commandment just another rule that puts limits on life? Or, is it one of the necessary ingredients for a life of abundant joy and good relationship?
To dive deeper in your knowledge of learning and living the 10 Commandments on a daily basis in order to experience true joy and freedom, visit our 10 Commandments Page that corresponds to each of the 10 Commandments.
God’s Recipe for a Wonderful Life is now on the Catholic Radio Network! Tune in each Sunday at 8am Central Time to hear how the Commandments are God’s solution to the chaos & confusion of our world!
