Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need."
Text: Ephesians 4:28
PAST PROBLEMS
What were the Ephesian believers like before they came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? From what we can gather, the following were some of the past problems they faced.
1. The problem of being worldly (Ephesians 2:2)
2. The problem of deceitful lusts (Ephesians 2:3; 4:22)
3. The problem of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2)
4. The problem of anger (Ephesians 4:26)
5. The problem of giving in to the temptations of the devil (Ephesians 4:27)
6. The problem of stealing (Ephesians 4:28)
What a motley group of sinners! Yet, through the redeeming grace of the Lord Jesus, the Ephesians had become people of faith (Cf. Ephesians 1:15). Their lives had been transformed by their faith in God, and they had begun to manifest much love in their conduct.
A SOLEMN REMINDER
Paul addressed the problem of the sin of stealing most directly. This was one sin that both Jew and Gentile knew well. The Jews knew about this law through precept (Cf. Exodus 20:15). The Gentiles knew about this law instinctively. Society frowns on those who steal from others.
The true believer must never ever resort to stealing. Stealing was something that belonged to the past. Having put off the old man, and having put on the new nature, the believer knows that he must never return to his past ways- that of stealing from others.
A HARD BUT GREAT ALTERNATIVE
What if the individual knew no other “trade” than stealing? Paul firmly suggests that he should try his hand at “labor”. This word is derived from the Greek “kopiao”. This word suggests the word of a humble laborer. (The hands of an expert thief are often unused to hard labor. In order to be skillful in the art of stealing, the hands must be both swift and nimble.) To labor would virtually destroy thieving skills.
Paul strongly suggests that even if a man has to be reduced to the lowest type of menial labor, he must be prepared to do so. There is no indignity in doing the work of an honest man. To continue stealing is absolutely unacceptable, yes, even unthinkable. The genuine believer would be prepared to work at the humblest of jobs.