Administer property without right
The Bible consistently upholds the principle of respecting others’ property rights and correcting past wrongs through restoration.
Luke 12:48 highlights accountability stating that when you have been entrusted with much, even more is required from you.
Luke 16:10-12 explains that you are called to be trustworthy and diligent in handling other people’s property as a reflection of your character and faithfulness to God.
The eighth commandment, Exodus 20:15, directly forbids the unlawful taking of another’s property.
The tenth commandment, Exodus 20:17, reinforces the sanctity of personal property. It forbids not just the act of stealing, but even the desire to wrongfully acquire that which belongs to another.
These commandments promote respect for others’ property.
Proverbs 11:1 warns against dishonesty and states that using unfair or deceptive practices when administering property is an abomination to God.
Leviticus 6:2-5 outlines the process to restore property entrusted to you that you’ve wrongfully taken or administered without right; requiring you to restore in full plus 20% thereof.
Proverbs 6:30-31 explains that when the original property cannot be restored, you are to restore sevenfold.
Ezekiel 18:20-28 shows the justice and fairness of God:
- If the wicked turns from all his sins, keeps all of God's commandments, and does that which is lawful and right, then he shall live; all his transgressions shall not be mentioned.
- When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits sin, and dies in his sin, then for his sin he shall die; all his righteousness shall not be mentioned.
Repent and do that which is lawful and right.
Scriptures
Luke 12:48
48. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 16:10-12
10. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
12. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
Exodus 20:15
15. Thou shalt not steal.
Exodus 20:17
17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Proverbs 11:1
1. A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
Leviticus 6:2-5
2. If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
3. Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
4. Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
5. Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, [and] give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
Proverbs 6:30-31
30. [Men] do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
31. But [if] he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
Ezekiel 18:20-28
20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24. But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26. When a righteous [man] turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27. Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.