The 7th Commandment says, "You shall not steal." What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income." In the Large Catechism, Luther has a lovely little way of summarizing this commandment asserting, "If all who are thieves, though they are unwilling to admit it, were hanged on the gallows, the world would soon be empty, and there would be a shortage of both hangmen and gallows. As I have said, a person steals not only when he robs a man's strongbox or his pocket, but also when he takes advantage of his neighbor at the market, in a grocery shop, butcher stall, wine and beer cellar, work-shop, and, in short, wherever business is transacted and money is exchanged for goods or labor" (Large Catechism I.224).  In the end, we are all thieves, stealing our neighbor's time, talents, and treasures, in service to ourselves. Luther continues in the Large Catechism saying, "In short, thievery is the most common  craft and the largest guild on earth. If we look at mankind in all its conditions, it is nothing but a vast, wide stable full of great thieves" (Large Catechism I.228).

Everyone is a thief. No one helps his neighbor to improve and protect his possessions and income unconditionally. When you were in kindergarten, you didn't walk around handing out toys to all the good little girls and boys, but instead you fought with your fellow class mates over who got to play with the blocks or dolls next. When you grow older this doesn't change, only the toys do. We take our neighbor's possessions and money when we offer them below the asking price for a house, or when we ask for more than the house is worth. We take our neighbor's money when we sit around at work, rather than be productive with our time. Or, on the flip side, we rob our neighbor of his money when we don't compensate him for his services. In the end, when we aren't looking out for our neighbor's monetary well being, we shatter the 7th commandment because we believe that our monetary assurance is more important than our neighbor's is. We should always be looking out for our neighbor's well being in both body and soul, and the 7th commandment guides us to take care of the poor and all who are in need.

Unlike us, Jesus does open up a generous hand to us everyday. Everyday we receive from our Lord Jesus our daily bread, which includes food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, wife, children, land, animals, money, goods, good government, good weather, good reputation, faithful neighbors, and good friends. Jesus does not take from us, but rather gives generously to us from His bounty, His treasury of gifts for both our body and soul. He takes care of everything we need in this earthly life, and cares for us that we not suffer. Jesus does not pass us by and look the other way, but instead sees us in our need and answers our prayers. Does this mean that we will never suffer in this life, or be without? No. For we will have good days, and bad days, days of plenty and days of want. However, Jesus provides for us in all of our days, and because He died on the cross for us, He provides for all our days in life eternal. Here we see the ultimate gift, that no matter how much we are in want in this earthly life, we have a heavenly life to look forward to in which there will be no sun to scorch our sin, no stress for our hearts, and no money to worry about. We look forward to a heavenly home in which we will have nothing bu t joy and delight everyday as we dwell with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with all the heavenly host. This is why we have the Divine Service every week, to restore us to who we are in this life, children of paradise and forgiven brothers and sisters of Christ.  Every time the Holy Spirit gathers us in the Divine Service He bids us present our hands that have withheld good things from our neighbor in order that Jesus may open up His generous hand in Holy Absolution and forgive us all our transgressions.  May this truth comfort us all as we continue to struggle with our lack of generosity, that we have a generous Lord who looks out for us and forgives us all our days.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull