p. 179 | THOU SHALT NOT STEAL by C. McC.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 4, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 23

“THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.”

By C. McC.

Among the ten commandments is this one,—“Thou shalt not steal.” It is a commandment that most of us firmly believe we keep. We may covet our neighbor's goods, but we are much too respectable to steal them. We consider stealing a despicable sin, and the thief one of the lowest of mankind. The burglar who creeps into our house at night and makes off with our money, jewels, or other valuables, is a low wretch who deserves shooting. The petty thief who steals a loaf of bread is placed in prison and forever after has the contempt of his more honest or less hungry fellow-men. The word “contempt” expresses clearly the feeling we have for those who break the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” We can have no pity for a weakness so mean, a sin so contemptible.

And yet, do not we, who pride ourselves on our freedom from this sin, sometimes take that which is not our own? We do not steal our neighbor's jewels or his money; we do not enter his barn at night and carry off his corn; we do not steal his coat, his hat, or his umbrella; but there is something more precious to men and women, more to be valued, more to be carefully guarded and protected than precious jewels and costly raiment,—something that if men or women lose, or have stolen from them, leaves them without a hope or a prospect in life, cast adrift on the waves of public scorn, without a plank to hold to or a hand to help. How many have been guilty of stealing from a neighbor his most precious possession, his good name!

We, who would scorn to steal a shilling, who would consider ourselves disgraced by having the word “thief” whispered in our ear, do not scruple to take from our brother his good name. By hints, winks, shrugs, and insinuations we steal away the character of a friend. Sometimes we do it thoughtlessly, from mere love of talk. We gossip; gossip leads to slander, and slander is contemptible. Sometimes we do it from pure malice, because we wish and intend that harm may be the result. We steal the good name of one we envy and dislike. Can the petty thief of a penny cake be more mean, more low—can he be half as cruel or malicious as he who thus steals away the joy and peace of a human life!

The good name of a woman is the great and most precious gift of her life; without it existence is but torment and misery. Beauty or wealth cannot compensate her for the loss of her reputation as a pure woman. Knowing this as women do, is it not strange that they should seek to take from one another their very life, to take that without which they would be scorned and mocked, to steal that precious gift of womanhood, a pure and spotless name?

In quoting the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” let us who never feel tempted to abstract pocket-handkerchiefs or watches, pray that we may be guiltless of stealing from our neighbors their good name and reputation. C. McC.