Why You Take What Isn't Yours
Are you sure it belongs to you?
What if stealing isn’t just about shoplifting or taking something off a shelf? What if it starts with anxiety, dissatisfaction, and the belief that God won’t really provide what we need? To make it even more complicated, what if it’s about the ways that we aren’t always generous with our time and money?
In this layered episode of our ongoing series, 10 Keys to the Universe, Austin and special guest Kaelyn Mislan unpack the complex meaning behind the eighth commandment: “You shall not steal.” They share the reasons why stealing is wrong: because God commands against it, because it violates personal ownership, and because it disrupts the well-being of others. They also discuss how stealing reflects a failure to trust God’s generous character and reveals a mindset that places personal desires above the needs of others.
They explore practical ways this command applies today, from honoring other people’s property and work to avoiding “time stealing,” providing fair compensation, and being generous with others as God has been generous with you. At its core, the command calls believers not merely to avoid theft, but to become people marked by honesty and generosity.
If you’ve ever wrestled with comparison, entitlement, anxiety about provision, or the temptation to justify questionable choices, this episode offers both conviction and hope. Listen to this thoughtful conversation on the eighth commandment and discover how God’s design leads not to restriction, but to freedom, trust, and contentment.
Highlights from this Episode
Austin: Welcome to WYITW. We are nearing the end of our 10 Keys to the Universe series, where we examine each of the Ten Commandments and learn how each one is a compass to help us navigate the wilderness of life when we’re stuck or confused or lost. Today we have arrived at the very short and sweet 8th commandment: “You shall not steal.”
Like many of these commandments, there is more than meets the eye to this one. And to help me unpack this I have brought someone I’ve known for over a decade, first as a college student and now as a co-worker at The Crossing, as Operations Director, and recent seminary graduate: Kaelyn Mislan!
Kaelyn: Thank you for having me!
Austin: I first knew you as a college student involved with The Crossing’s college ministry Veritas - you were the drummer! But what struck me is your love of people (especially people different from you) and your love of learning - you asked really good and thoughtful questions, which explains why you decided to pursue a seminary degree through Covenant. Our discussion today will be better for having you here.
Let’s define what stealing is so we can all be on the same page. I like how Old Testament scholar Douglas Stuart explains it in his Exodus commentary: “Stealing is taking something that does not belong to you without permission.” Short and sweet and clear—just like the commandment! But simple commandments are sneaky because we can be tricked into confidently thinking we keep them.
Kaelyn, let me put you on the spot for a second—have you ever stolen anything? Or if you can’t think of it, are you willing to throw someone else under the bus and talk about a time you saw someone else stealing?
Kaelyn: Part of my job is security stuff at the church, and we had a legit instance of thievery a few months ago. Also, when I started dating husband he was the type of guy that put soda in a water cup! What about you? Have you stolen anything?
Austin: I have two stealing stories: one where I’m the dummy and one where I’m the hero. When I was in 7th grade, I stole my best friend’s baseball card. And then I came to school THE NEXT DAY claiming that I found the exact same card in a pack. So dumb! But I was a hero when I caught a shoplifter at a clothing store where I worked. She was trying to make her way out of the store with about 80 items of clothing. I think all of us probably have each kind of story in our background.
To start, let’s take a look at 3 reasons why stealing is wrong.
First, stealing is wrong “because God says so” and that could actually be all the reason we need. He’s our Father who created all things, set up life in his way, and designed the rules. We need to be careful not to “put God in the dock” as C.S. Lewis says. In other words, be careful not to put God on trial as if he needs to justify himself. Nope. If he says it, it stands.
Second, stealing is wrong because it violates a person’s right to ownership. Douglas Stuart also pointed out how “legal possession and personal ownership of things are permitted implicitly by this commandment.” If Israel was a completely communal society with no rights to personal property or ownership, stealing wouldn’t be a command because no one person could claim “this is mine.” But the fact that God says “don’t steal” assumes that a person can claim a right to something.
Kaelyn: This command has no direct object, so we shouldn’t be stealing anything - which makes us think past the obvious forms of stealing and into more subtle, less obvious forms.
Austin: That’s a great point that we will explore in a bit.
Third, stealing is wrong because it threatens the social order and potentially causes others to be in pain, to be at risk, or to not have access to necessities. In the immediate context Israel is living an agrarian lifestyle. Not a lot of grocery stores around! So, if someone steals food, others will go hungry. If someone steals an animal, it compromises food and sacrifices. Stealing clothing means others will be cold or exposed.
Kaelyn, any other thoughts on this point, or other things come to mind as to why stealing is wrong?
Kaelyn: It violates God’s character. In fact, laws tell us something about the lawgiver and their values and character. God is the giver of life and all good things. He is generous and provides for even the birds and the flowers.
Austin: In the same way but reversed, when a person steals it reveals where their mind and heart are at, which is a problem. When someone steals, perhaps even for understandable and benevolent reasons, they are placing their personal needs over and above others’ needs.
Their personal rationale and logic is placed at the center of the universe; this justification of motives leads to a “It’ll be fine” mentality. If someone says, “I know stealing is wrong but…” That’s a big, problematic but!
Is It Stealing? – Lightning Round!
Now that we’ve covered some of the obvious points, let’s get to examples of stealing. Time for the lightning round! Let’s go one at a time. Hit me with the first one!
Q: The game has already started, and you move down to empty seats near the field. Is that stealing?
A: Probably not. The seats have already been purchased, enough time has passed to assume the ticket holders are not coming, and you already paid for admission. The important caveat is that if the original ticket holders arrive, you move immediately.
Q: You find a $20 bill on the ground outside a gas station and keep it. Is that stealing?
A: The wisest response is to turn it in to the employee working there in case someone comes back looking for it. Ethically, the money clearly belongs to someone, even if the owner is unknown.
Q: You take extra Chick-fil-A sauce packets beyond the limit listed in the app. Is that stealing?
A: It depends on the scale. Taking one or two extra packets probably falls into a gray area. Taking a large amount knowingly exceeds what the restaurant intended to provide and begins to look more like taking resources that were not offered to you.
Q: A struggling mother waits behind a restaurant dumpster for discarded leftovers to feed her family. Is that stealing?
A: Probably not. Once the restaurant throws the food away, they are relinquishing ownership of it. Even though the dumpster is still on their property, the food itself has been discarded.
Q: You order something online, it never arrives, so you get a refund. Then the item eventually shows up. Is keeping both the refund and the item stealing?
A: In most cases, yes. You now possess both the product and the refunded money, meaning the company absorbed the loss twice. Even if the mistake was theirs, knowingly keeping both crosses into dishonest territory.
Q: You work a salaried remote job and spend an hour talking to a friend during work hours. Is that stealing company time?
A: Not necessarily. Salaried work is often based more on completing responsibilities than tracking exact minutes. The key question is whether both employer and employee understand and agree to the expectations. The answer is clearer if you are being paid hourly.
Q: You don’t pay a parking meter because you think you can get away with it. Is that stealing?
A: Yes. Cities budget around expected meter revenue and intentionally avoiding payment takes resources away from services funded by those fees. The effect feels indirect, but if everyone adopted that mindset, the system would break down quickly.
Austin: We’ve talked about what not to do. Now let’s talk about what we should do. These are the things we should strive for, but there are also ways we can fertilize the soil and roots that will help contribute to healthier growth. We’re going to share 4 truths with you: 2 about God and 2 that provide guidance.
2 Truths About God
Truth #1: God is our Father who will provide for us. In Matthew 6:25, 30-32, Jesus tells his followers not to be anxious about what they will wear and what they will eat. This is important insight because anxiety precedes the act of stealing, and it shows that behind the mindset that says “I have to steal” is a lack of trust.
Jesus then gives the rationale as to why his followers don’t need to be anxious in verse 30, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Truth #2: God himself is more satisfying than anything we could acquire for ourselves. In Deuteronomy 8:4, it says, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
2 Truths that Give Guidance
Truth #1: Honoring Personal Ownership. We are stewards. We have been given so many things by God, and he calls us to take care of them. Don’t steal someone’s intellectual property and claim it as your own. Give credit where credit is due.
Truth #2: Honoring fair and just payment/reward for work and services offered. No demanding something that you haven’t earned or is unreasonable to ask for. No taking advantage of fair and just payments given to you without putting in the work (time stealing). 1 Timothy 5:18 says, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
This goes the opposite way too—don’t short-change your workers! You’re “stealing” from them in this sense. The full extent and spirit of the law is to be overly generous because God is generous with you.
Austin: There may be times when you need something that you don’t have, and you find yourself tempted to cut corners or to steal. Ask God to show you and convict you of these impulses. And ask, “Where and how can I rely on God?” Ask others for help, especially in the body of Christ. Galatians 6:1 says, “Bear one another’s burdens.”
Kaelyn: You can also ask yourself, where do I have abundance? Where am I overflowing with resources, whether that’s financially, relationally, with my time, effort, or skills? Where and how can I be generous and connect with people in need?
Austin: That’s so good. At the end of the day, the 8th commandment isn’t just about what you take or don’t take, it’s about who you trust. The good news of Scripture is that God is not stingy or forgetful. He is a good father who knows what you need, sees what you lack, and calls you into a full life through Jesus.
So as you step out of this conversation, maybe the question isn’t just, “Am I taking what isn’t mine?” but also, “Where am I failing to trust the one who has already given me everything I truly need?”
Thank you so much for joining us today, Kaelyn! We really appreciate it!