You shall not steal. – Exodus 20:15 NRSVCE
The Seventh Commandment forbids theft, that is, usurping another’s property against the reasonable will of the owner. (CCC no. 2408)
The Seventh Commandment seems pretty straightforward that you shouldn’t steal from another however the Catechism provides even deeper context as to how this applies. It reveals that all of creation belongs to God and we are simply stewards or caretakers of what is created. All good things are from God and God allows us to share in His riches. He allows us the privilege to claim certain possessions as our own however He calls us to respect and be good stewards of the possessions he has provided. These possessions must always be seen as a gift from God and be used for the glory of God and the good of others. In order to glorify God and provide for the good of others, this Commandment shows a required respect for the poor and care for those in need. It requires us to see the need for generosity and in the same way that God is generous to us.
WHAT DOES THE COMMANDMENT REQUIRE?
According to the Catechism, “The seventh commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping the goods of one’s neighbor and wronging him in any way with respect to his goods. It commands justice and charity in the care of earthly goods and the fruits of men’s labor.” (CCC no. 2401)
The Catechism goes on to say that, “Even if it does not contradict the provisions of civil law, any form of unjustly taking and keeping the property of others is against the seventh commandment: thus, deliberate retention of goods lent or of objects lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages; forcing up prices by taking advantage of the ignorance or hardship of another. The following are also morally illicit: speculation in which one contrives to manipulate the price of goods artificially in order to gain an advantage to the detriment of others; corruption in which one influences the judgment of those who must make decisions according to law; appropriation and use for private purposes of the common goods of an enterprise; work poorly done; tax evasion; forgery of checks and invoices; excessive expenses and waste. Willfully damaging private or public property is contrary to the moral law and requires reparation.” (CCC no. 2409)
In essence, the Seventh Commandment forbids us to do anything wrong to the goods and the property of our neighbor. Everyone has the right to have goods and property and they can acquire this through work or as a gift. This Commandment forbids acquiring anything through unjust means such as theft, robbery, cheating, stealth, deceit, fraud, force or violence, unjust wages, etc. The severity of the sin against this Commandment is in proportion to the wrong that is caused to the person who lost or missed out on something.
In addition, this Commandment has a strict obligation to provide restitution for goods or property stolen and the damage done. The Catechism provides the example of Jesus blessing Zacchaeus for his pledge of restitution, that if he defrauded anyone of anything, he will restore it fourfold. (Luke 19:8) It goes on to say, “Those who, directly or indirectly, have taken possession of the goods of another, are obliged to make restitution of them, or to return the equivalent in kind or in money, if the goods have disappeared, as well as the profit or advantages their owner would have legitimately obtained from them. Likewise, all who in some manner have taken part in a theft or who have knowingly benefited from it – for example, those who ordered it, assisted in it, or received the stolen goods – are obliged to make restitution in proportion to their responsibility and to their share of what was stolen.” (CCC no. 2412)
Anyone who, directly or indirectly, has taken possession of the goods of another, is required to make restitution to them. If the goods have disappeared, they must return the equivalent in kind or money including any profit or advantages that the owner would have legitimately obtained from them. In addition, all who took part in some manner with the theft or benefited from it, are required to make restitution in proportion to their responsibility and their share of what was taken. When providing restitution, some have asked well how much is enough? Should it be 10 times what was lost, 4 times what was lost, doubled what was lost? Could I just give them the amount lost plus 20%? If you are contemplating this question, I would suggest another question – when Jesus comes to judge you, do you want to show Him the D+ level of restitution you provided or would you prefer to show him an A+ level response to be assured you are saved? Are you willing to bet your soul for eternity that you did enough?
God wants us to act justly and with charity in our relationships with one another. He wants us to be proactive in charity and justice for care of the poor and our neighbors. Love for the poor and our neighbors is blessed by God and it is how Jesus Christ will recognize us as His disciples. This can be demonstrating in our family, our business, our community, and beyond.
In addition, we must be good stewards of any property which includes making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to your family and others (CCC no. 2404) In the production of goods and services, we are obliged to do this in ways that benefit the greatest number and use them in moderation. (CCC no. 2405) All promises and contracts are to be strictly observed to the extent that the commitments made are morally just. (CCC no. 2410)
These are just a few examples of how this Commandment could be broken, for more examples, review the section of the Catechism reviewing the Seventh Commandment.
As with all sins, an important element of forgiveness is the requirement for true repentance. If repentance is true, it leads to a desire to redress wrongs which includes making restitution for what is stolen.
FORGIVENESS, TRUE REPENTANCE, AND RESTITUTION
If we want to be forgiven of our sins and we are truly repentant, how do we make it right? How do we provide restitution for the wrong committed?
WHAT IS RESTITUTION?
The Catholic Encyclopedia as reprinted on Catholic.com, describes restitution and how it applies to the Seventh Commandment. Restitution is “an act of commutative justice by which exact reparation as far as possible is made for an injury that has been done to another… An injury is done and justice violated when keeping from another against his reasonable will what belongs to him, and by willfully doing him damage in goods or reputation. Commutative justice therefore requires that restitution should be made whenever that virtue has been violated. This obligation is identical with that imposed by the Seventh Commandment, ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ For the obligation not to deprive another of what belongs to him is identical with that of not keeping from another what belongs to him. As theft is a grave sin of its own nature, so is the refusal to make restitution for injustice that has been committed.”
REPLACE, REPAIR, AND RESTORE TO WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN
Restitution is not simply any kind of reparation for injury inflicted. It is the exact reparation as far as possible. In addition, if time has passed and there are things that the injured person missed out on because of the injury (loss of interest, missed opportunities due to reputational harm, timing, etc), it’s not just getting the person back to where they were, it is restoring them, and their reputation, back to where they would have been if the injury hadn’t happened in the first place. If you are truly repentant for what you have done, not done, or contributed to, that led to the injury of another, this godly sorrow will inspire you to act to make up for the injury caused and receive God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.
The Catholic Encyclopedia goes on to say, “Commutative justice looks at objective equality, and prescribes that it be preserved. For this reason Aristotle called this species of justice corrective, inasmuch as it corrects and remedies the inequality which an act of injustice produces between the injurer and the party injured. The one has less than he ought to have, because the other has taken it away, and they will not be quits until restitution is made. In cases where an injury is irreparable, the injurer will be bound to do what he can so that the injured party may be content.”
Restitution is also required when there is, “the causing of unjust damage to the property or reputation of another… The deliberate causing of unjust damage to the property, reputation, or other strict rights of another imposes on him who does the damage the obligation of making restitution for it… For, although in this case there is no possession of what belongs to another, still the wronged person has not what in justice he should have, and that through the unjust action of him who did the damage. The latter therefore has unjustly taken away what belonged to the former, and he must restore to him something which is equivalent to the loss which he has suffered and which will balance it, so that equality between them may be restored.”
CARE AND LOVE FOR THE POOR
The Catechism makes it clear that, “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them… It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones.” (CCC no. 2443) “Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to ‘be able to give to those in need.’” (CCC no. 2444)
In living out our faith in our family and business, we are required to assist those who are poor and in dire need. Whether someone is spiritually poor or they don’t have the basic needs to survive, we are called to help. If they were born into poverty or became poor because of injuries, mental illness, job loss, or even personal irresponsibility or neglect, we must help them and make sure that their basic human needs are met. We are all created by and in the image of God and thus we are all deserving of love and basic human dignity.
This starts with ourselves because we can’t help others if we aren’t good stewards of the gift of life that God has provided for us. Beyond ourselves, it expands to our family. By aiding our family to ensure they have what they need spiritually, for survival, and for their own human dignity, we create more “helping hands” for the poor. From there, we can expand our care and love for the poor through our community and our business.
This does not mean that we should create systems or assistance that fosters anyone not taking responsibility for themselves when they can. It is an act of love to help another become personally responsible for themselves. This helps foster their human dignity. In addition, when someone is lifted out of poverty, they may also become another “helping hand” for others, thus creating a virtuous cycle toward the overall good of others, as well as spreading the love and care for others.
According to Ascension Catholic, “It will always be a gross irresponsibility and serious sin for owners of private property to live in utter luxury while millions of our brothers and sisters are starving to death or lack the most basic human needs. In an ideal world, the common good fosters private property, and private property fosters the common good. Life and dignity of the human person. All humans (born and unborn) are sacred, created in the image and likeness of God. This principle places persons above things – being above having. It calls us, individually and as a community, to protect human life at all stages and to advocate on behalf of all whose dignity is mistreated. St. Paul tells us: ‘We are one body, when one suffers, we all suffer.’ The family, being the heart of society, must especially be protected and strengthened, and not undermined. The moral test of any society is how it treats its vulnerable members. While Jesus loved all people, he had a special love and concern for the poor, the oppressed and the sick. So must we his disciples. The poor have the most urgent call on the conscience of a nation. As a nation and individually, we are called upon to look at public policy decisions and our own personal decisions in terms of how they affect the poor.”
By breaking the Seventh Commandment, we are showing a love of property, riches, wealth, power, etc. is more important to us than our love of God and our love of our neighbors and therefore breaking the two Greatest Commandments from Jesus (see Matthew 22:34-40). Also, remember Jesus said that, “No one can serve two masters; for he will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24 NRSVCE)
HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR FAITH?
- Remember that all of creation belongs to God and we are simply stewards of what is created. God allows us the privilege to claim certain possessions as our own however He calls us to respect and be good stewards of the possessions he has provided. These possessions must always be seen as a gift from God and be used for the glory of God and the good of others.
- As one of the Ten Commandments that falls under the Second Greatest Commandment communicated by Jesus, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, we should look at our decisions and actions through this lens. Do all of our actions in regards to the goods, resources, skills, property, etc. of ourselves and others (personally or in the business world) demonstrate that we love our neighbor as ourselves?
- As with any of the Commandments, it’s important to contemplate where you may have violated this Commandment when doing an examination of conscience prior to going to confession. Where you may have gone against this commandment, confess, repent, make it right as best you can, which would include providing restitution for those you may have sinned against, and ask for forgiveness from them and God. God knows our heart. He knows if there is true humility and acknowledgment of the sin, true contrition for the sin, and the true desire to repent and avoid the sin in the future. Without these things, forgiveness is not possible. God gives us the path to accept His grace and to be forgiven of our sins however He also gives us the free will to choose not to take the path to forgiveness.
- Examination of conscience: Have I taken what does not belong to me? Have I withheld giving something to the rightful owner? Have I, in any way, influenced, assisted, or supported someone in taking something away unjustly? Have I fulfilled all promises and commitments I have made with others? Have I provided restitution where necessary and in a fashion that is commensurate with what was lost and the injury caused? Do I work diligently for the pay I receive? Do I share what the Lord has given to me? How are you working to assure that all people have the necessities to live and grow?
HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR FAMILY?
- Protect and strengthen families by always placing people over things and being over having.
- Be generous as God has been generous to you, especially to those in need. Avoid wasteful or excessive spending, especially on yourself. “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them: ‘Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would borrow from you’; ‘you received without pay, give without pay.. It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones. When “the poor have the good news preached to them,” it is the sign of Christ’s presence.” (CCC no. 2443)
- Be a good steward of all gifts that God has provided to you and your family. The ownership of any property makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others, first of all his family. (CCC no. 2404)
- Don’t damage the property or reputation of others intentionally and without a justified purpose. Sometimes through gossip, triangulation, venting, etc, family members can damage the reputation of another. If you don’t have something nice to say, it is better to talk to the person versus about the person. Talking to the person respectfully can strengthen a relationship and avoid harm to their reputation, whereas talking about the person will generally harm the relationship and their reputation.
- Make and keep all promises and commitments that are morally just and made in good faith to all neighbors, especially your family members. (CCC no. 2410) This would include paying debts and fulfilling obligations that are freely taken on. (CCC no. 2411)
- Don’t cheat at games, especially when gambling is involved. Gambling is not sinful in itself as long as it is done with moderation and does not involve excessive risk. But excessive gambling or cheating so as to win a wager is sinful.
- These are a few examples of selfishness however there are many ways that we have excessive self-focus, greed, and a desire for more that can lead to sinful actions that harm ourselves or others.
HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR BUSINESS?
- “Goods of production – material or immaterial – such as land, factories, practical or artistic skills, oblige their possessors to employ them in ways that will benefit the greatest number. Those who hold goods for use and consumption should use them with moderation, reserving the better part for guests, for the sick and the poor.” (CCC no. 2405) In other words, use the talents, gifts, and resources that God has provided to provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number. Do this morally, ethically, and in good faith. Don’t use deception or an unfair advantage to sell goods for more then they’re worth. Don’t abuse the use of resources for selfish reasons. Don’t waste or use goods in a way that is unreasonable, excessive, or destructive.
- “Promises must be kept and contracts strictly observed to the extent that the commitments made in them are morally just… All contracts must be agreed to and executed in good faith.” (CCC no. 2410) Keep your word, fulfill your commitments, satisfy your contracts. Don’t take out loans you can’t reasonably pay or don’t intend on paying. Make sure to pay back any money that you freely borrowed and justly owe.
- Keep in mind that any system that, “subordinates the basic rights of individuals and of groups to collective organization of production is contrary to human dignity.” (CCC no. 2423)
- “A theory that makes profit the exclusive norm and ultimate end of economic activity is morally unacceptable. The disordered desire for money cannot but produce perverse effects. It is one of the causes of the many conflicts which disturb the social order. A system that ‘subordinates the basic rights of individuals and of groups to the collective organization of production’ is contrary to human dignity.” (CCC no. 2423) In other words, we should avoid excessive burdens on employees to increase production. This is especially true when these burdens affect an employee’s family and spiritual life. For example, requiring excessive hours to the detriment of the personal and family life would be immoral.
- “Every practice that reduces persons to nothing more than a means of profit enslaves man, leads to idolizing money, and contributes to the spread of atheism. ‘You cannot serve God and mammon.’” (CCC no. 2424) Those in authority should take care not to become excessively rich to the detriment of others. Obtaining wealth is not immoral, but it can lead to many temptations.
- “Human work proceeds directly from persons created in the image of God and called to prolong the work of creation by subduing the earth, both with and for one another. Hence work is a duty: ‘If any one will not work, let him not eat.’ Work honors the Creator’s gifts and the talents received from him. It can also be redemptive. By enduring the hardship of work in union with Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth and the one crucified on Calvary, man collaborates in a certain fashion with the Son of God in his redemptive work. He shows himself to be a disciple of Christ by carrying the cross, daily, in the work he is called to accomplish. Work can be a means of sanctification and a way of animating earthly realities with the Spirit of Christ.” (CCC no. 2427) In other words, work is redemptive, sanctifying, and a duty. It honors God and demonstrates your discipleship of Christ. Perform your work with that in mind. Am I honoring God and demonstrating my discipleship of Christ in what I’m doing and how I’m doing it? Don’t dishonor God, yourself, or your employer by being negligent, doing poor quality work, misusing goods, or by wasting time or resources.
- “…Work is for man, not man for work. Everyone should be able to draw from work the means of providing for his life and that of his family, and of serving the human community.” (CCC no. 2428)
- “Everyone has the right of economic initiative; everyone should make legitimate use of his talents to contribute to the abundance that will benefit all and to harvest the just fruits of his labor. He should seek to observe regulations issued by legitimate authority for the sake of the common good.” (CCC no. 2429) All employees and employers should make sure to follow all policies, guidelines, and regulations from legitimate authorities for the good of all.
- “Those responsible for business enterprises are responsible to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations. They have an obligation to consider the good of persons and not only the increase of profits. Profits are necessary, however. They make possible the investments that ensure the future of a business and they guarantee employment.” (CCC no. 2432) Business leaders should not use their influence or power over others in authority to make decisions to your personal benefit. This is especially sinful if those decisions are harmful to others while they benefit you.
- “Access to employment and to professions must be open to all without unjust discrimination: men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. For its part society should, according to circumstances, help citizens find work and employment.” (CCC no. 2433)
- “A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice. In determining fair pay both the needs and the contributions of each person must be taken into account. ‘Remuneration for work should guarantee man the opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on the material, social, cultural and spiritual level, taking into account the role and the productivity of each, the state of the business, and the common good.’ Agreement between the parties is not sufficient to justify morally the amount to be received in wages.” (CCC no. 2434) In other words, don’t steal from employees by paying them less than what they’re work is worth. Wages should be paid commensurate with the work performed. A worker should be paid a sufficient amount to care for themselves and their family. Without a focus on the dignity of the person, some may unjustly reason that if someone is willing to work for a low wage, then that is a fair wage. This is a slippery slope and often leads to immoral practices.
- “Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to ‘be able to give to those in need.’ It extends not only to material poverty but also to the many forms of cultural and religious poverty.” (CCC no. 2444)
For more specific details in regards to requirements of this Commandment and additional examples of how it could be followed, please visit the Catechism and MyCatholic.Life.
Take care and God bless. I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.
ADDITIONAL WISDOM FROM THE BIBLE
- “…thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:10 NRSVCE
- “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” – 1 Timothy 6:10 NRSVCE
- “Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.” – Ephesians 4:28 NRSVCE
- “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another.” – Leviticus 19:11 NRSVCE
- “You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning.” – Leviticus 19:13 NRSVCE
- “Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.” – Proverbs 10:2 NRSVCE
- “The Rich Man As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” – Mark 10:17-25 NRSVCE
- “The Rich Young Man Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these;[a] what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money[b] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold,[c] and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” – Matthew 19:16=30 NRSVCE
- “Bread gained by deceit is sweet, but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.” – Proverbs 20:17 NRSVCE
- “Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” – Psalm 62:10 NRSVCE
- “The sinner will not escape with plunder, and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.” – Sirach 16:13 NRSVCE
- “Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly, and do not wait until death to be released from it.” – Sirach 18:22 NRSVCE
- “When someone delivers to a neighbor money or goods for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, then the thief, if caught, shall pay double.” – Exodus 22:7 NRSVCE
- “Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’” – Luke 19:8 NRSVCE
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: When any of you sin and commit a trespass against the Lord by deceiving a neighbor in a matter of a deposit or a pledge, or by robbery, or if you have defrauded a neighbor, or have found something lost and lied about it—if you swear falsely regarding any of the various things that one may do and sin thereby— when you have sinned and realize your guilt, and would restore what you took by robbery or by fraud or the deposit that was committed to you, or the lost thing that you found, or anything else about which you have sworn falsely, you shall repay the principal amount and shall add one-fifth to it. You shall pay it to its owner when you realize your guilt.” – Leviticus 6:1-5 NRSVCE