Strong words softly spoken....
Ephes. 4:17-32 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. [18] They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. [19] Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
[20] You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. [21] Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. [22] You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
[25] Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. [26] "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold. [28] He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
[29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
What is Paul talking about when he mentions that those who steal should steal no longer? Was the Ephesian church harbouring a Christian Pick-pocketing Collective, who would lift people’s wallets, leaving an evangelistic tract in their place?
What he is alluding to is the great sense of ‘common good’ that the early church had for each other. It is clear that very frequently believers would pull their resources to ensure that no one went without. Acts is full of examples of believers selling possessions to ensure that no one went hungry or was not fed. The Churches of Asia Minor and Greece sent big collections to their brethren in Jerusalem. But we also know that the early Church had its problems. Dishonesty and perhaps laziness would have been present. It is very conceivable that there were those who were not pulling their weight, or even deliberately taking advantage of the generosity of others. Paul doesn’t mess around. He tells these people that they are thieves and need to stop their stealing, work as hard as everybody else and contribute. That way any low level grumbling could be avoided and any divisions or bitterness erased…. They are strong words, spoken in love.
I wonder how we steal from our brothers and sisters today. We are less likely to use hardship to try to con others into giving to us. Most of us have too much ‘face’ for that. But we probably do ‘steal’. Think about the gifts that God has given to you to build up the body. Are you using them too little? That’s stealing. Imagine the friendship you can give to those who are lonely, yet you are withholding it. That’s ‘stealing’. Imagine….. every time you withhold from the body that which Jesus would have you give (but remember that giving more than he asks will lead to you exhausting yourself and cheating on your family!) that is stealing. Being in a community is being part of a team. And a team where people are grumbling and moaning about each other is one which is not focussed on winning the prize for Jesus. When the prize is the lives and souls of those close to us, these are important words to heed.
What are you stealing from the body? Does this make you feel guilty, or encouraged to take action? How could this 'guilt' debilitate us from acting properly?
[20] You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. [21] Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. [22] You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
[25] Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. [26] "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold. [28] He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
[29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
What is Paul talking about when he mentions that those who steal should steal no longer? Was the Ephesian church harbouring a Christian Pick-pocketing Collective, who would lift people’s wallets, leaving an evangelistic tract in their place?
What he is alluding to is the great sense of ‘common good’ that the early church had for each other. It is clear that very frequently believers would pull their resources to ensure that no one went without. Acts is full of examples of believers selling possessions to ensure that no one went hungry or was not fed. The Churches of Asia Minor and Greece sent big collections to their brethren in Jerusalem. But we also know that the early Church had its problems. Dishonesty and perhaps laziness would have been present. It is very conceivable that there were those who were not pulling their weight, or even deliberately taking advantage of the generosity of others. Paul doesn’t mess around. He tells these people that they are thieves and need to stop their stealing, work as hard as everybody else and contribute. That way any low level grumbling could be avoided and any divisions or bitterness erased…. They are strong words, spoken in love.
I wonder how we steal from our brothers and sisters today. We are less likely to use hardship to try to con others into giving to us. Most of us have too much ‘face’ for that. But we probably do ‘steal’. Think about the gifts that God has given to you to build up the body. Are you using them too little? That’s stealing. Imagine the friendship you can give to those who are lonely, yet you are withholding it. That’s ‘stealing’. Imagine….. every time you withhold from the body that which Jesus would have you give (but remember that giving more than he asks will lead to you exhausting yourself and cheating on your family!) that is stealing. Being in a community is being part of a team. And a team where people are grumbling and moaning about each other is one which is not focussed on winning the prize for Jesus. When the prize is the lives and souls of those close to us, these are important words to heed.
What are you stealing from the body? Does this make you feel guilty, or encouraged to take action? How could this 'guilt' debilitate us from acting properly?
posted by Gordon at
7:46 am
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