Traditionally in the United States a quarter of all personal spending takes place during the Christmas shopping season. While many look with delight on this as an indication of a booming economy, there is another Christmas "tradition" that reflects our sagging morality: shoplifting generally rises about 5 to 10 percent during the holiday season. Retail authorities estimate that in the bustle of this holiday season shoplifters will steal products totaling billions of dollars. But there is another type of crime that happens in offices across America every day: white collar stealing.
Quite obviously, many people have either forgotten or don’t care that the Bible repeatedly warns against all forms of dishonesty. It says, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; but he that gathereth by labour shall increase” (Proverbs 13:11).
Why do people steal? Sometimes it is out of need. Yet in our day with the availability of work for the able and the abundance of relief for the disabled, stealing could hardly be justified for this reason. Sometimes people steal “just for kicks.” If that’s why a person steals that’s what he ought to get—and a good, swift one at that. Few things are more dangerous and make less sense than dishonesty for fun. The basic cause for stealing is greed. People want the pleasure of things without paying for them.
The thief has a perverted sense of values. He seeks riches, but the Bible tells us that it is better to be honest than rich (Proverbs 19:22). So the thief actually robs himself of dignity and self-respect. He robs himself of the joy of owning something he has earned by his labor or received out of love.
Let us strive then to be honest and truthful in all of life. Let us give ourselves to the true values of life. Let us earn honestly what we possess and we shall be rich indeed.