Exodus 22:1-15 You can own it.- That’s what this scripture is based on. Personal ownership
- We are in a cultural revolution. I wrote this sermon earlier this week. I’m going to go with it
- It is important that your Biblical worldview affects your political worldview. Be congruent.
- I’m going to teach you some stuff that some know, some wont. What the BIBLE says.
1. You are allowed to own stuff
- To understand these concepts and applications to this scripture, you have to have a baseline understanding of ownership. You have to fundamentally agree that individuals can own things
- Land, items, money, intellectual property, etc. A person is allowed to their items.
- The Bible says Ex 20:15 You shall not steal. Demanding that what someone else owns, does not belong to you, but belongs to someone else and it is not your right to take it. Ownership
- Either through force or subversive means, trying to take a persons personal property is wrong
- There are some that misuse scriptures to try and justify that Christians should be collectivist, and if you want to hermeneutically come to that conclusion, you’re wrong. Bible not teach that
- The most biblical end based on a simple reading, is give it all to the church, let us manage it, and we’ll all live together in a plot of land- Then we’re a cult. But that’s not the full of scripture
- The biggest problem with this ideology is that it’s always centered about what OTHER people should be doing with their items and money, not what YOU should be doing with it.
- Do not argue with me unless you have given away EVERYTHING to the poor and given EVERYTHING to the Church. Property, deeds, monies, investments. None of you not one. You know that’s not true
- Acts 2:44-45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
- Yes. The early Christians did this because they lost jobs and resources and needed the group
- It may come back to that, but not yet. Now You don’t lose your job when saved.
- Acts 4:32-35 neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
- Again, we can collectively do this, but you wont. And I don’t think we should or need to.
- This describes what was happening, not setting a biblical mandate- Paul never demanded.
- 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 2 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.
- This was and is about churches supporting churches, not equality of financial outcomes.
- 1 John 3:17-18 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
- And we do this. We have done this. We will continue to do this. Most scriptures about Charity have to do with the people of God within each other, not to the outside community.
- This angers some people, because they see the church as a source of more income for society
- They can’t fix homelessness with their billions of dollars, the church cant do it with its thousands, but we can keep people from homelessness. We can help our own.
- “Church is only for its own”. Well, most of scripture supports that. Not the opposite.
- Bible is for the Church-James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
- Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.
- This was to an individual with a heart issue, not an edict for the entire church 1 on 1 only.
- Joseph of Arimathea- a Rich man who was a disciple of Jesus- No demand on him to give away
- The issue is, and continues to be, you own what you own, others own what they own.
2. Your heart condition shows your belief
- Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. commandment is still true today– 1 Cor 6:10 the covetous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Eph5:3 or covetousness not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints. Col3:5 Therefore put to death covetousness, which is idolatry.
- You must affirm the right to private property and the sinfulness of theft and covetousness.
- Covetousness comes from a belief that others are not allowed to own, you should have it, and you have a right to take it from them. You want what they have and feel justified in taking it.
- Todays scripture presupposes that individuals have a right to own their property and should be renumerated and compensated for losses that are at the hands of another person.
- Covetousness is a heart condition that stems from a belief system. You believe wrong.
- Everything belongs to God. Some things are entrusted to you. Some are for others.
- I think sometimes my covetousness is connected to my life choices. Pain of regret
- Joined army in 97 for job, dot com boom 98-2000. All my friends made huge money. Oops
- Bible does not guarantee equal outcomes from peoples lives but it does demand that all work.
- 2 Thes 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (Jesus said The poor you will have with you always)
- Through 20 years of benevolence, I know some fall on hard times not of their own doing.
- But the root cause is typically, lack of future planning, poor budgeting, frivolous spending, lying to yourself and the church, unwilling to sell expensive items you bought, unwilling to admit you’re the author of your own destruction. And a heart that thinks others should float you.
- The Bible never demands redistribution of wealth. Never. It is not centered around that.
- This verse underscores personal responsibility and the importance of work, which contrasts with the communal redistribution of wealth.
- You’ll commonly hear phrases like “fair share” “redistribution of wealth” “Income inequality” “people over profits” “wage gap” “living wage” etc. These are coy covetous meanderings
- You have politicians worth Millions crying over someone elses billions while giving up nothing
- Biden giving 4% of wage, .2 % of 10m net worth. Trump 500k x2 then nothing in 2020
- The point is politicians want your money, and others money for their projects to get elected
- And they believe in political ideologies that do not agree with biblical principles and you must reject them.
- I think we need to raise taxes and cut spending. But I don’t need the Bible to defend it.
3. The incompatible ideologies- Marxism, socialism, communism
- Marxism: A social, political, and economic theory originated by Karl Marx, focusing on the struggles between capitalists and the working class. (Capitalist provide the means to start business, workers are paid a wage to produce the profits)
- Marxism wants to stop class struggle, replace with socialism and eventually communism
- Problems- Taking others capital investment (ownership) That belongs to someone else
- Socialism: An economic and political system where the means of production (the resources and tools necessary to produce products and services) are owned or regulated by the community as a whole (The government) but then All the higher net worth individuals that take from the billions and the lowers, while maintaining their standard of living. “For your benefit” Of course.
- Key Concept: Redistribution of wealth and collective ownership.
- Problems- Taking others wealth and labor which they have earned and are entitled to own.
- Communism: A classless, stateless society where all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. Every one is ‘equal’
- Key Concept: The end goal of Marxism and socialism, resulting in a classless society.
- Take away everything you own, and it solves it all. Except of course, the overlords.
- Marx “Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property.”
- All of these concepts are debunked by the simple understanding of agreement that an individual is entitled by God to their own possessions being protected by theft by another.
- Consequently- Church is only entity to ever truly own land- Can’t be taxed off it. Forever.
4. Bible teaches Generosity and Voluntary Giving:
- God’s standard for sharing what you own, comes from a correct heart condition not force
- 2 Cor 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” Philemon 1:14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 1 Chron 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; Ex 25:2 Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. Ex 35:5 Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze.”
- Any political system that demands taking wealth, property, labor or resources from an individual under the guise of the common good through the threat of force is not biblically compatible.
- If you believe that’s the best for a country, that’s on you. But it is not biblical. Reject it!
- People say they want equality- but its not. Income taxes go from 10% to 37%. That’s not fair
- God wants generosity, but its when you’re WILLING. Bless God, same rate for everyone 10%
- Tithing is biblical, but you need a heart change on it. To non-tithers, you understand personal ownership, you wont even give to God. Other’s $ don’t belong to you, 10% don’t belong to you.
- You are unwilling because although you own what you have, you think it came from you
- That’s a whole nother sermon we’ll get to later. The point is, the bible way is willingness
- We are supposed to be giving tithes, maintaining church, helping others in church, spreading Gospel, creating meeting places for others. Your heart should not need to be forced.
- And when this worldly ideology comes into the church, people begin to believe that the purpose of the money of the church belongs to them, entitled to it, and be used outside
- The church has no biblical responsibility to take care of anyone outside the church
- We can choose to, but not required to. There is a never ending need in America because it has lost its way. If people would stay married, off drugs, budget, work, show restraint, there is no end to personal wealth and production in America. The people we help are changed (in hotel)
- The problem is not that too many have too much. It’s that too many do too little. Unwilling.
- But people don’t want to have the ‘personal responsibility’ conversation.
- You’re entitled to live. Not a certain house, car, vacation, clothes, trinkets, experiences etc.
- If you want more, do more. Sacrifice more. Don’t blame the system or others. Its on you.
- Now you can understand this scripture
- Restitution and Responsibility (Exodus 22:1-4)
- laws concerning theft and restitution. If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, they must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
- The severity of the restitution underscores the value of what was taken and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and the value of someone else’s property.
- What does it mean to you- You must recognize the impact of your actions on others.
- When you wrong someone financially, its not enough to simply apologize, make it good.
- They can release you from your obligation if they want, but realize taking is severe.
- Throw this out here- if you’re one of the never givers/servers- You’re taking from others.
- You have a mindset that what others have belongs to you and you are entitled to it.
- Protecting Property and Community (Exodus 22:5-6)
- These verses address situations where someone’s negligence leads to the loss or damage of another person’s property. Whether it’s letting livestock graze in another’s field or allowing a fire to spread, the responsible party must compensate the loss.
- “Make restitution of his best” God demands the replacement isn’t from leftovers, but best.
- What does it mean to you: we are called to be mindful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. As a church, our buildings, monies etc. As individuals, take care of what you have.
- But negligence isn’t an excuse for damaging other people’s property. Hurts community.
- Don’t let your livestock out. Don’t cause a fire in someone elses field.
- Today- Watch how you park. Have car insurance. Watch your kids. Make it good (hole in wall)
- Safeguarding Trust (Exodus 22:7-13):
- the focus shifts to issues of trust and honesty. When someone entrusts their belongings to another for safekeeping, and those items are stolen or damaged, the response involves a careful investigation to establish the truth. If the trustee is found innocent, no restitution is required, but if guilty, they must make full restitution.
- The principle- is if you have what belongs to another, take extra great care of it.
- If it’s in your control, you are responsible for it until you give it back AND GIVE IT BACK
- Give it back better than you got it. Cleaner, fuller, fixed, etc. If they trusted, treat it great.
- Our actions, even if unintentional, have consequences. Make it right.
- Trust is a cornerstone of any community. We must be trustworthy in our dealings and uphold the truth. When trust is broken, it takes sincere effort to rebuild it.
- If you’re in Church and you’ve broken or destroyed someones stuff. Make it right.
- The principle again, is- other people are entitled to what belongs to them. Don’t borrow if not
- Fairness in Borrowing and Lending (Exodus 22:14-15):
- emphasizes fairness and accountability. If someone borrows an animal and it gets injured or dies, the borrower must compensate the owner unless the owner was present or it was hired.
- What it means to you- In financial and personal interactions, fairness and transparency should guide us.
- We should honor our commitments and deal fairly with one another, reflecting God’s justice and love. Personally or in business. If you say you were borrowing, they should not have to ask
Final thought- You own your stuff, but God owns you, so he owns your stuff. Be a good steward.
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