FROM THE PASTOR
Connie and I went grocery shopping at Meijer’s last evening. As we were checking out, the young man checking our groceries out made some comment that started a conversation concerning sampling fruit in the store. I have to admit that seeing people do that is a practice that bugs me for several reasons.
Connie shared with him that several weeks ago we saw an older gentleman in the produce section opening and sampling numerous containers of fruit from strawberries to blueberries to blackberries to raspberries. He ate enough that he should have called it a fruit salad and his endeavor probably saved him preparing something to eat when he got home.
In our conversation Connie mentioned that it bothered her because of sanitary reasons. The young man responded that you usually wash them anyways. To which I responded, Yes, but it’s also stealing. To which the young man responded with a “really, who cares” … huh? I couldn’t help think to myself, “Wow! Really?” “Have we really gone that far in the direction of having no moral standard?”
Have we lost all sense of right and wrong so far that we feel it’s okay to take something from someone who has not invited us to do so? I know… he was just sampling to make sure they were good. Sorry, still uninvited… still stealing. Someone who looked at the sign was expecting to buy 1 pound of strawberries… but not now, they only bought something less than a pound. Not right… shouldn’t have happened. It was a sin.
What about the company who paid for grapes expecting to make a profit at so much a pound? My friend, the older gentleman that day and numerous other individuals I’ve seen do the same thing over the years, walked away with the company’s profit in his/her belly. Doesn’t matter if it’s a huge corporation or a ma and pa store or the orange grove or grape vineyard down the road, if you are not invited to take from them… you have stolen.
God’s Word declares…
Exodus 20:15 (NASB)
15 "You shall not steal.
Sounds pretty plain to me.
I’m sure there are no Christians who are doing that… but if there are, listen to Paul’s Words to the church at Ephesus…
Ephesians 4:28 (NASB)
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
When God commands something there is no adequate excuse to do otherwise.
Thank you for your faithfulness. Pastor Larry
