April 12, 2016

19 “‘And you shall not steal”. Deuteronomy 5:19

“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.” (Martin Luther’s explanation to the Seventh Commandment – Small Catechism)

“For to steal is nothing else than to get possession of another’s property wrongfully, which briefly comprehends all kinds of advantage in all sorts of trade to the disadvantage of our neighbor. Now, this is indeed quite a wide-spread and common vice, but so little regarded and observed that it exceeds all measure, so that if all who are thieves, and yet do not wish to be called such, were to be hanged on gallows, the world would soon be devastated, and there would be a lack both of executioners and gallows. For, as we have just said, to steal is to signify not only to empty our neighbor’s coffer and pockets, but to be grasping in the market, in all stores, booths, wine- and beer- cellars, workshops, and, in short, wherever there is trading or taking and giving of money for merchandise or labor.” (Martin Luther’s explanation to the Seventh Commandment – Large Catechism)

For the explanation of Martin Luther, it is not enough to simply avoid taking our neighbor’s property and possessions. Luther continues this thought and adds to it – we are to work to improve and protect our neighbor’s possessions and income. I often marvel at the Amish and how they handle the loss of a barn or other structure. The whole neighborhood comes out to help – the men work on rebuilding and the women on feeding the workers. I am in awe of watching the community respond to one person losing a piece of property – it becomes the responsibility of the whole community. This is how we are to see the complete Seventh Commandment, for according to Luther, if we do not help our neighbor recover from the loss of a business or other property, then we are contributing to “stealing from their possessions and not protecting their income.”

When the San Francisco community experienced the historic earthquake and fire in 1906, by 1910 much of the recovery had taken place. 20,000 new buildings were erected in three years. Compare that to the recovery of New Orleans and hurricane Katrina. And much of the recovery in New Orleans has only been possible because of the volunteer hours of many Lutherans (and other denominations) who have spent hundreds of weeks volunteering their time and talents to help in the rebuilding process.

We are called to help to protect and improve the possessions and income of our neighbor – or we steal from them just as much as if we placed our hand in their pocket and removed their wallet. Think about that…..

Pastor Dave