Rob
<<steal from, not giving what is owed>>
One of the 10 commandments says, ‘Do not steal” (Ex 20:15). The OT says the Jews were robbing God because they did not tithe as they had been instructed to and so placed themselves under a curse for in effect they were taking what belonged to God and using it for themselves(Lev 27:30; Mal 3:8).
While we are not under the OT law today or required to tithe as the Israelites were, it’s still possible to rob God when we don’t give Him what He is owed: our wholehearted love, trust, obedience, service and worship (which includes our finances). Everything we have comes from Him: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (1 Tim 6:17; Jas 1:17). He will not share the honour and credit that is due to Him with any other (Isa 48:11). How often do we fail to thank Him for the answers to our prayers? We are quick to ask but slow to express our thanks, as Jesus observed (Lk 17:11-18). We rob God when we neglect to pray, worship, and serve the needs of others.
God deserves nothing less than the absolute best of our time, attention, obedience, devotion, and resources. We owe the Lord our very lives as He redeemed us from an eternity in Hell (1 Pet 1:18,19). We are to express the Lord’s ownership of our lives through abandoning ourselves in wholehearted devotion to God (Ex 20:3-5; Mk 12:30).
The tax collectors and soldiers who were serious about turning their lives around were instructed by Jesus not to demand or extract more than what was required or legitimate (Lk 3:12-14). Paul said, “Let him who stole, steal no more but get a job” (Eph 4:28).
The Christians reaction to being robbed is to joyfully accept it, secure in the knowledge that the possession of eternal life can’t be taken away (Heb 10:34).
In Jesus name, take back what the enemy has stolen from you
victory in Christ but press into all God has for you (Phil 3:12-14).
See also: Jesus/name of, stealing, thief, tithe, victory.