Let the Thief Steal No Longer

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about our relationship with Christ as one of transformation: “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (4:22-24). The apostle uses the imagery of clothing, putting off and putting on, to show the contrast of what we were before and what we should become after Christ has entered our lives. But it’s more than a fresh set of clothes we are putting on, but an entire self, a renewed spirit of mind, a self made in the likeness of God.

Because of what Christ has done for us, we are called to “no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds” (4:17). Often this Christian call is perceived as wholly negative, even by Christians. What I mean by that is this: we see being a Christian as a big long list of don’ts. To be a Christian means don’t commit fornication, don’t steal, don’t covet, don’t envy, don’t think impure thoughts, don’t… fill in the blank. Being a Christian certainly involves the elimination of sinful acts, but that is not the entirety of what being a Christian is. Putting off the old self is just one step. There is a second: the putting on the new self.

Paul gives several examples of what this kind of transformation looks like: “Having put away falsehood, let each of you speak truth with his neighbor” (4:25). Notice it is not simply the elimination of falsehood from our lives, but instead speaking truth in its stead. Another: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (4:29). Paul exhorts us to completely rethink how we’re using our speech. No longer are we to use it for corruption and self-indulgence, but we ought to use our words for the benefit of others.

The example that I think really demonstrates this transformation well is 4:28—“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Let’s break down and analyze this verse in detail.

Let the thief no longer steal. This part is familiar. It echoes one of the Ten Commandments. “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). As I mentioned earlier, sometimes this is where we stop in our minds. We think being a Christian is merely “stop stealing” or insert whatever particular sin we happen to be struggling with. But for the one who is tempted by a sin, knows that this is difficult, it requires a lot of self-control (which is good, it is one of the fruits of the Spirit). But consider this: if you are someone tempted by stealing, and all you do in your mind is say to yourself: “Don’t steal. Don’t steal. Don’t steal.” What have you filled your mind with? You’re putting the very thing you’re tempted by in the forefront of your mind. This makes self-control extremely difficult in the long run as you go day by day, year by year, decade by decade. That’s why this is not the end of the Christian transformation, but only the beginning.

But rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands. The focus of our attention should not be on the sin, but rather a productive and good use of what we’ve been given instead. The focus on a positive, good, righteous action makes the work of avoiding sin much easier. It keeps us busy, and it refocuses our mind away from sin and toward something good. But notice, this change in action is also a reversal of the previous state of thievery. Theft is dishonest, taking away the work and produce of others. Honest work with our own hands is a good, productive, fruitful, righteous endeavor. And honest work, through what it does and provides, eliminates the need and temptation of theft. But the transformed Christian “new self” goes even farther than this…

So that he may have something to share with anyone in need. The honest work with one’s hands is not or should not simply be for your own benefit. Part of this transformation is taking the focus off of yourself entirely and looking to the good of others. Notice, theft is an entirely selfish act, and giving to those in need is an entirely selfless act. The new self is about living in the righteousness of God, not living for yourself, but for others. It is good to honestly work and provide for yourself rather than stealing, but it is righteous and good to use what you’ve been given to help and bless the less fortunate. This demonstrates another problem when we simply stop at the “Don’t steal” part. When we’ve stopped at that, our focus is still on ourselves. As Christians we are called to broaden our vision to include those around us.

I hope this helps and encourages you on your walk with God, on the ongoing transformation and renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus. Put off the old man of sin and death, and put on the new man made in the likeness and righteousness of God.