Stolen Merchandise Has No Home

After reading all of the books of the old and new testaments, specifying which verses are the most influential, can vary from time to time, depending on the situation at hand.

A 4 year old doesn't know what stealing is until they are told.

A nice big marble was discovered at a store. The first big marble I had ever seen. My mom wouldn't buy it. Well, that meant putting the marble into a pocket, was the only way to get the marble home.

Upon arriving home, the porch seemed to be a nice place to get out a marble and roll it across the floor. As the marble rolled across the floor for the first time, it disappeared into a hole, that was just large enough for the marble to go through. It fell through the floor into the crawl space basement below. (Snakes had been sighted in the area, so crawling under the porch to get the marble was not an option).

My mother taught me, on this day, one of the Commandments. Thou shalt not steal.

Matt 19 : 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

Another occasion later in life, had a similar outcome.

I bought tools with a check. The next week I was to relocate out of state for a new job. I closed my checking account and left town. I learned later the check, I had written didn't reach the bank before I closed the account.

On the new job, the tools I had purchased, got stolen. Then I recalled the lesson previously learned: Stolen merchandise has no home.

Some time later, I decided to conquer life with good, not evil. When there are various opinions of what to do, who do you trust? I decided to take the advice of the Word of God, instead of man's opinion.

Acts 10 : 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

John 10 : 1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Galatians 1 : 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I have learned, being determined not to lie, requires more thinking, at least for a time. (However remembering what lies you told to who, is also challenging, and can get very confusing for those that choose to take that road).

I have learned that always telling the truth or being silent, is the best way to go. (Children can also detect dishonesty quite often). When you tell a child they are going to break their neck if they don't get off a ladder, we either know or at least hope you are lying).

A question we should all ask ourselves: On judgment day, how will we answer God, if asked, why didn't you read the instruction books?

Will the answer be: "I read modern commentaries of the Word of God and my school books. There is so little time. I just didn't have the time to read your books".