Steal No Longer

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. – Ephesians 4:28

The fourth chapter of Ephesians has a great emphasis on the importance of the body of Christ. In Eph 4:4-6, we read that there is one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father that unify us as the Body of Christ. In other words, in Jesus we are all one. Paul continues then to show in Eph 4:11-13 how certain parts of the Body exist to enable and equip the whole Body of Christ to edify one another, unifying us further. Then in Eph 4:16 Paul goes on to point out the fact that the body of Christ is made up of individual parts who work corporately emphasising the importance of every part doing its share.

It is in this great context of oneness and one-another-ness that we find Eph 4:28. Often this verse is read in relation to those who stole before coming to Christ, and now should seek to do the opposite (give). But what if (keeping in mind the predominate context of the chapter) this is a message to Christians as Christians. In other words, the context of this passage could mean that Christians (as members of the Body), who do not do their share, are actually stealing from the Body of Christ.

How our own physical bodies function will lend light to this concept. God has designed our body’s members to work in harmony for the whole body’s ultimate good. In other words, the feet do not work simply for their own purposes. The feet serve the body, but also receive what they need from the body. The feet enable the body to walk from point A to B, but the body also supplies the feet with the nutrients (via digestive system through the blood), oxygen (via the lungs through the blood), direction and balance (via the head) etc. that the feet require to do their job and to exist. If part of our body did not contribute toward the wellness of the body, and only absorbed the body’s energy, we would call that part a parasite. A parasite only seeks its own benefit which weakens the body and does not strengthen it.

Christians who do not do their part in the body, I believe, are being exhorted here to steal no longer. Rather let them use what God has gifted them with for the benefit of the Body, that way he can give to him who has need. He will be receiving, but not thieving. He will be giving, but not depleting. It has been said that in churches 90% of the work is done by 10% of the people. Oh wouldn’t it be beautifully healthy if 100% of the work was done by 100% of the people? The irony of it is, only those who do their part truly enjoy the blessing of being part of the Body. Eyes that do not function but only draw away energy and nutrients are neither blessed nor blessing, yet always absorbing. Oh the beauty of a functioning body. Let him who stole steal no longer, rather let him fulfil His God-given role in the Body of Christ, that he may be used to satisfy him who has need.