"If You Used To Be A Thief..."

 “If you used to be a thief you must not only give up stealing, but you must learn to make an honest living, so that you may be able to give to those in need.” Ephesians 4:28 Phillips

It is a thought-provoking situation. Paul is urging those who have resorted to stealing, likely out of sustenance, to cease their thievery so they can give to those who are also in need. How can Paul ask those with nothing to stop stealing so they can provide for others in need? Aren't they in need themselves? Aren't they stealing to meet their own needs? This may seem contradictory, but it all depends on looking at this from Paul’s perspective.

Paul, in his teachings, emphasizes the trust in God’s provision and not what we can provide for ourselves; he relies heavily upon this passage: “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25 ESV. This trust in God’s provision should reassure us, even in times of scarcity. Paul reassures those who were thieves that if they give that up and partake in honest work, they will have enough for themselves and others with more significant needs.

Paul's teachings are rooted in the love of the Father, a love that is revealed through Jesus Christ. When men and women joined the Way, some were recruited as helpers of the community of believers, assisting those with little means of sustenance. There were also artisans located throughout the city of Ephesus and many near the location where the church met daily, and these artisans may have provided employment for the new Christians as they were growing in their knowledge of Christ. Paul's ultimate aim was to touch the hearts of his converts, revealing to them the love of the Father through Jesus Christ and His suffering, a love that provides security and comfort even in the most challenging times. 

When we share the Gospel with others, we are faced with a crucial question: we love them with the accepting love of Christ for sure, but do we correct their errant behavior? According to Paul, if a thief turns to Christ, he will experience firsthand that the Lord can provide for their needs, making stealing unnecessary. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8 ESV

Navigating the delicate balance of leading people to Christ while loving them without judgment is crucial in our society. We must address how their actions may affect others while also speaking the truth to them in love. Our aim is not to change their behavior but to challenge them to trust Jesus, test Him, and witness the fulfillment of His promises in their lives.                            

Paul was an exceptional apologist who illustrated God's love through relatable examples. Our aim is akin to that by sharing the message of Christ without bias or judgment and entrusting the task of transforming hearts to God. I have observed numerous individuals willingly renounce their sinful ways without the need for direct confrontation. Confrontation often leads to resistance.

In the Beatitudes, we are called to be peacemakers, which begs the question, “What is peace?’ Peace is described as wholeness, harmony, and rhythm. We bring the kingdom of God to those who need to be made whole, those who need harmony and rhythm in their lives to rest from their pursuit of the opposite things. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 ESV

Consider this: In Matthew 5:9, a powerful statement often goes unnoticed: "...for they shall be called the sons of God." It's truly remarkable that Jesus would acknowledge our role as peacemakers and bestow upon us the title of God's sons. This signifies the restoration of the divine order and reflects one of the key traits of Jesus Himself as the Prince of Peace.

In other passages, Paul makes it clear that Christ lives in us and that it is through Christ that we live, move, and have our being. (Acts 17:28 ESV) It seems appropriate that our efforts to reach others with the love of Christ is actually Jesus manifesting Himself through us. Through practice, we communicate that love in ways that affirm others and introduce Christ into their lives in ways that others want to receive.

Paul believed that as Christ abides in us, we are changed into a deeper image of Jesus. We become walking, talking epistles. “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NKJV

Stephen Barnett