"You shall not steal," is the eighth commandment given by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai. In the Bible, stealing is defined as depriving another person of what is rightly his. This command is necessary because man is sinful and as a result is tempted to steal at times. Stealing occurs because fallen man always wants more than he or the others around him have.
But there are other forms of stealing than just the taking of a physical object or possession from someone else. One common area of theft in modern life is the theft of time, particularly at work. There is not much second thought nowadays about coming in late, leaving early, or stretching breaks out, and that such actions are a form of stealing from our employer. Other types of theft include leaving debts unpaid, as well as unfairly overpricing goods or services.
Human laws against stealing are important because they provide order for community life. But God's standard is higher and his will is that his followers must fully respect the ownership of others. The Bible condemns using false weights and measures, cheating others, and the acquisition of things without honor or integrity.
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