I Can’t Afford to Steal

You know why I can’t afford to steal? Because whatever I think I might be getting away with, it will come back on me ten times, and not in a positive way. Karmic payback is one tough woman and I don’t want to mess with her. No matter how trivial something maybe the consequences of stealing be it physical, mentally or emotionally is just plain wrong.

While the Eighth Commandment seems very direct and clear – “Thou shalt not steal” – the definition of stealing appears to be a rather murky one for some. People who would be shocked at hearing that an acquaintance robbed a bank, or took money from
a friend’s wallet, may see no problem with shoplifting from a store, running a stop sign, cheating on an important test, or manipulating someone into destructive behavior, such as drinking, drugs, or unprotected sex, that goes against their better instincts. Stealing your best friend's boyfriend or girlfriend can cause you to lose a very good friend for life.

In today’s difficult economy it’s easy to think about small ways of stealing or getting away with something. Take for example you are given too much change at the grocery store, would you just take the money or would you return it? These little trivial acts are all part of our personal integrity and what goes around does come around.

There are people who swear that they have never stolen anything in their life. But they may be playing solitaire on the computer at work when they should be doing their job. They can spend 30 minutes talking to a co-worker about family problems. Taking home paper, pens or paper clips is no big deal. This is a form of stealing.

Let’s say your boss is a brutish person and you feel justified in not giving 100 percent of yourself to the job. Or maybe you are a bookkeeper and realize that the boss doesn’t check the books carefully. You realize you could pilfer a little bit of money here and there and they would never know the difference.

A humane and good-natured world is one where people respect the property and goods of others, which is why all civilized societies have laws not only against stealing another person's property and money, but also one's ideas, artwork, writing or inventions.

Great spiritual reward for not being a thief in any way is a clean conscience and a heart of peace. Also, there is the tremendous spiritual reward of feeling healthy pride and peace knowing that the object of labor you have produced is uniquely your own, and that you have truly contributed to the world of usefulness by giving instead of stealing

Not stealing what belongs to someone else helps us to rise above our natural will and understanding and inhabit the Promised Land of goodness, which is our inheritance from God. We are to give credit where credit is due.

If you steal with the motivation of greed, envy, wrath, lust, and the rest, the consequences will be severe. In fact, the more severe the damage to others, the more severe the consequences. And these consequences are not simply spiritual - to be meted out in some hereafter - all spiritual teachings talk about consequences and suffering in this very life - both psychological and physical. Let’s face it, you will get karmic payback and that is one tough payback.

Think about your actions and the consequences the next time you feel you might be getting away with something. You may think twice and change your mind. Remember karma does not forget.