"You shall not steal."
— Exodus 20:15 (NIV)
Stealing is more than just taking what isn't yours—it's a direct violation of God's justice, order, and trust. When you use your hands to take what another has worked for, you do more than break a law—you break fellowship with both man and God.
Scripture treats theft with serious weight. It doesn't just expose a lack of self-control; it reveals a deeper problem: a heart that refuses to trust God for provision and instead reaches for what He has not given.
The Hidden Heart of a Thief
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy."
— John 10:10 (NIV)
The devil is described as a thief. Every act of theft—big or small—mirrors his nature. It's a distortion of trust, a lack of gratitude, and a rejection of God's ability to provide.
God calls us to live with open hands—content, generous, and honest. Theft, on the other hand, is a clenched fist that says, "I'll take what I want, when I want, how I want." But stolen things never satisfy. They carry guilt, not blessing.
Forms of Theft Today
Shoplifting or stealing money or possessions
Taking credit for someone else's work
Downloading pirated content or software
Cheating on taxes or reports
Withholding tithes or offerings from God
Stealing time from employers (e.g., laziness, long breaks, dishonesty)
Borrowing without returning
Manipulating or deceiving others to gain their goods
"Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me… in tithes and offerings."
— Malachi 3:8 (NIV)
Stealing isn't just against man—it's against God. Withholding what belongs to Him is a form of robbery, just as serious as taking from a person.
The Cost of Stealing
Damaged reputation and lost trust
Legal consequences and public shame
A conscience seared by guilt
Separation from God's favor and peace
A heart hardened toward honesty and generosity
"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands."
— Ephesians 4:28 (ESV)
God doesn't just tell us to stop stealing. He calls us to work—honorably and humbly. When our hands work with diligence, our lives become testimonies of God's provision and grace.
How to Guard Your Hands from Theft
1. Cultivate Contentment
The root of theft is discontent. Learn to rejoice in what you have, not resent what others possess.
(Hebrews 13:5 – "Keep your lives free from the love of money…")
2. Trust in God's Provision
Believe that God will meet your needs. You don't have to take—He will supply.
(Philippians 4:19 – "And my God will meet all your needs…")
3. Live Transparently
If you're tempted, bring it into the light. Talk to someone. Accountability breaks secrecy.
(James 5:16 – "Confess your sins… pray for each other…")
4. Make Restitution
If you've stolen, seek to repay or restore what was taken. This honors both God and the person harmed.
(Luke 19:8 – Zacchaeus repaid four times what he had stolen.)
5. Use Your Hands to Give
Turn your hands from theft to generosity. Give freely and joyfully, as God has given to you.
(Proverbs 11:25 – "A generous person will prosper…")
Prayer for Honest Hands and a Trusting Heart
"Lord, I confess that I have taken what was not mine—whether through my hands, my words, or my silence. I repent. Cleanse me of the desire to steal, and fill me with gratitude and contentment. Teach me to trust You as my provider. Help me work with integrity and give with joy. May my hands never be tools of dishonesty, but instruments of blessing and honor. In Jesus' name, Amen."