Sticky Fingers and Sticky Faith

“not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10)

I love how my wife decorates our home. She would never consider herself any sort of interior designer, but she’s got a very special touch. Deb’s decorating signature includes lots of pictures. Lots of family pictures. They’re everywhere throughout our house. She adorns our home with snapshots of kids and grandkids, parents and grandparents. Paul tells Titus that we decorate what we believe about God by how we work. He said that bondservants do this by “not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10). In other words, we shouldn’t have sticky fingers but a sticky faith.

Paul is in the middle of telling his man Titus how and what to teach new believers on the island of Crete about what it means to follow Jesus (Titus 2:1-10). Older dudes teaching younger dudes (Titus 2:2, 6). Older ladies teaching younger ladies (Titus 2:3-5). He wraps this section up with instructions to bondservants. These are slaves and indentured servants who have placed their faith in the resurrected Rabbi from Nazareth. A modern application for this would be for every one who works for a living. Every employee should willingly obey their supervisor, work to put a smile on the boss’ face, and not complain and whine about what they have to do (Titus 2:9). The apostle goes on to say that how we work says a lot about what we believe about Jesus.

First of all, a good employee shouldn’t steal, or as Paul writes “not pilfering” (v10). This is the Greek verb nosphizomai, which literally means to separate. If it belongs to the company, it stays there. It this particular sense, it describes embezzling, misappropriation, stealing, and secretly taking stuff for your own use that doesn’t belong to you. Dr. Luke uses this same verb when writing about those early church embezzlers Ananias and Sapphira. This couple sold some real estate and then lied to say they were giving all the proceeds of the sale to God. They “kept back (Gr. nosphizomai)” some portion of profit for themselves (Acts 5:2-3). It’s not that they didn’t give all of the profits to support the new church. Their sin was lying and secretly skimming off the top. 

Don’t embezzle. Do we really need to tell you that? Apparently Paul thinks so. But this is so much more than some white collar crime to misappropriate thousands of dollars from the company coffers. This isn’t about the amount but the sin behind it. Don’t sneak stuff out of the supply closet. Don’t juggle the numbers on your expense report so that you actually make out like a bandit. Don’t steal time by goofing off when you should be working. Every one of these are examples of how each one of us skims from the top. Sticky fingers are a sign that what you and I were taught didn’t stick.

We’re called to be “showing all good faith” when we’re at work. This has a couple of very important aspects. First of all, a follower of Jesus should be faithful and steadfast in their work. We don’t give up when things get tough. We must stick to a project until it’s complete. Our Savior is the ultimate example of powering through in the most difficult circumstances. Aren’t you glad He didn’t give up when it got hard? The other implication is that there should be absolutely no separation between our work life and our faith in Jesus. I haven’t just given Him my Sunday mornings. He’s my Lord 24/7/365. That clearly includes when I’m on the job. My trust in Christ should have a tremendous impact on how I work. It becomes obvious to folks around me at work that what I’ve learned about my faith has stuck.

The Apostle Paul then tells us the reason why first century bondservants and 21st century employees should shine at work. “So that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (v10). A closer look at the original language reveals the verb kosmeo, which means to decorate, embellish, make beautiful and attractive. It’s the same root that gives us our word cosmetics. Jesus slammed the religious police for being hypocrites and spending money to “decorate (Gr. kosmeo) the monuments of the righteous” (Mt 23:29). Christ’s crew was blown away with the ornate decorations of the temple and “how it was adorned (Gr. kosmeo) with noble stones and offerings” (Lk 21:5). Pete writes that women who follow Jesus don’t so much worry about their makeup and wardrobe but “adorn (Gr. kosmeo) themselves, by submitting to their own husbands” (1Pet 3:5). Does how I work make what I know about Jesus more attractive to those around me?

Here’s the deal. If we claim to follow Jesus, my shoddy work, laziness, and a bad attitude trashes His rep. It reveals that we really don’t have an understanding about who He is, what He’s done, and who we are without Him. How we work should make Jesus more attractive and more beautiful to those around us. I’m not talking about slapping a Jesus fish on your car. This isn’t about slinging a cross around your neck. It has nothing to do with dropping a Bible on your desk. All of those things may be awesome. But a great witness for what He’s done in my life is to bust my butt and be a hard worker. Will I fall short? You betcha. Will I bring embarrassment on the One who rescued me? Take it to the bank. But when I do, I must be accountable to my mistakes and know that nothing that happens at work changes my standing in Him. 

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to have sticky faith, not sticky fingers.

Sticky Fingers and Open Hands

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need (Eph 4:28).

Paul continues to let us know what it looks like after God transforms us from the walking dead to being “alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:1,5).  Because of who Jesus is and what He’s done for us, we’re able to make a major wardrobe change.  “Put off your old self” and then “put on the new self” (Eph 4:22-24).  Without the mind-bending blessings of God doing for us what we could never do for ourselves (Eph 1:3-14), following the commands in the last half of this letter is pointless and frustrating.  But through the strength of His Spirit living in each of us (Eph 3:16), we have the power to do what God commands.  And in this case, Paul couldn’t be any more blunt.  “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (v28).  God has the power to transform us from having sticky fingers to open hands.

Stop taking.  Start working.  Start giving. 

The apostle begins by telling the Ephesian believers to stop stealing.  Apparently there are thieves who are members of the church.  This congregation is not be made up of the best and brightest of the city’s society.  These early followers of Jesus aren’t well scrubbed, buttoned down and have their stuff in one bag.  Some of the folks that heard the Gospel from Paul during his three-year stay in Ephesus are thieves (Acts 19).  Since the city was a major commercial center and seaport, it makes perfect sense that stealing was prevalent.  The apostle acknowledges that Jesus has gotten His hands on folks with sticky fingers.  Yeah, that’s right, criminals.  And once He does, their lives change.  They just don’t change overnight.  It’s a process.  A huge part of that process for these crooks is to stop stealing.

In describing the Ephesian thieves and what they do, Paul uses the same word twice.  Literally, “the one who steals must no longer steal.”  This is the Greek verb klepto.  Looks familiar, right?  Yeah, thought so.  It means to steal, take by theft, take secretly without the owner’s permission.  Thieves must stop thieving.  Stealers must stop stealing.  Kleptos must stop klepting.  Step one: stop taking.

Ripping off others is such a big deal to God that He included in His Top Ten.  “You shall not steal” (Ex 20:15).  It made it to number eight on the countdown.  So it’s a pretty big deal.  Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you.  Paul wants us to see God as our gracious Provider.  When I steal, I’m telling Jesus that what He’s given me isn’t enough.  It’s really the result of idolatry.  That’s when I make something I don’t have so important that I’m willing to commit a crime rather than following Jesus.  If it doesn’t belong to you, don’t take it.  Here’s where this gets a little dicey.  God’s not just talking about hot wiring your neighbor’s Benz or pulling off a big bank job.  The size of the crime doesn’t matter.  Theft is theft.  A little something from the supply closet at work to use at home.  Fudging your expense report a little here or there.  Running a personal errand on company time.  Yeah, that’s stealing.  You’ve got sticky fingers.  Stop it.  

Step one: stop taking.

Paul tells us that once we stop stealing, it’s time to start working.  “Rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands” (v28).  The word for “labor” here describes becoming absolutely exhausted and physically spent when you work.  In other words, stop taking the easy way out and simply taking what’s not yours to get what you want.  Before He ever went on His three-year tour of healing and preaching, Jesus swung a hammer as a carpenter for at least 10 years, probably longer.  Our Lord knew what it meant to put in an honest day’s work.  

That does NOT mean that any sort of job that doesn’t have a blue collar isn’t godly.  The apostle is emphasizing effort here.  Do you give your employer everything you’ve got?  Are you a hard worker?  Do you roll up your sleeves and maximize your time and energy to honor Jesus in the workplace?  Paul certainly knows what a day’s work looks like.  He and the boys busted their butts 24-7 when they were in Thessalonia (1Th 2:9).  One reason was to not be a burden to their hosts.  The second reason was to be an example to them (2Th 3:8-9).  Stop stealing.  Stop slacking.  Start working.  We’re to “admonish the idle” (1Th 5:14) and avoid slackers (2Th 3:6).

Step two: start working.

Once we get to work, we can earn a paycheck.  Dave Ramsey says his grandmother always told him there’s a great place to go when you need money.  To work!  An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.  Jesus is transforming us from takers to makers.  Paul has some tough talk for folks who fail to bring home the bacon for their families.  “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1Tim 5:8).  Come on, dude.  Don’t be a slacker.  Stop stealing.  Start working.  Start earning.  By the way, if you’re a boss and have folks working for you, pay your employees well.  They’ll be less likely to steal.  From you.

Step three: start earning.

Then Paul gets to his BIG point.  The reason we’re to stop stealing, start working and start earning is so that we can start giving.  We’re to “have something to share with anyone in need” (v28).  A HUGE part of what God is doing in our lives is turning us into givers.  God blesses us so that we can bless others.  Don’t be stingy with His grace.  Let it flow through you to those around you in need.  Or in the words of those great philosophers the Red Hot Chili Peppers, give it away, give it away, give it away now!  In a personal meeting with the top dogs in the Ephesian church, Paul strongly encouraged them to remember to reach out to those who don’t have much.  He drops a quote from Jesus in the process.  “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).  God blesses my socks off when I give to those who are struggling to make it.  And there’s a good chance that by giving to them, these folks won’t have to resort to stealing to live.  Here’s the deal.  We give because God gives.  He’s remaking us in the image of His Son (Rom 8:29).  Since God is a generous Giver (Jn 3:16), He’s making us into givers too.  And He thinks that’s hilarious (2Cor 9:7).

Jesus is turning my sticky fingers into open hands.

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