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EPHESIANS - Be Filled With The Spirit
Meditations, Reflections, Prayer and Questions over the Epistel to the Ephesians

Part 3 - An Introduction into the ethics of the apostle (Ephesians 4:1 – 6:20)

You shall not steal, but work and help the needy (Ephesians 4:28-29)


Ephesians 4:28-29
4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers”
(Eph. 4:28-29).

In the event you find a book, a pair of pliers or an onion in your house, that which you did not legally acquire, bring it quickly back to its owner and apologize to him that it lay hidden with you for so long. Every stolen item needs to get out of your house, as long as it can still be given back. How much deceit, hypocrisy and theft is concealed behind the mask of so-called “decent people”! In German there is a mocking satire that reveals who we are:

If everyone had a small window above his brow, how the thoughts behind would buzz when every soul could look within; what a rush there would be to buy opaque windows!

Paul himself worked hard with his hands during the day in order to, in the evening, testify to the gospel without receiving donations. He taught no empty theories, but practiced what he preached. We need to examine ourselves and see if we, like the Jews, are only giving the tenth, or if we, like Jesus, are presenting our entire life as an offering.

Today socialism and the trade unions are proclaiming the so-called right of workers to higher wages and more pleasant working conditions. This may in part be justified, yet measured against the work and living conditions in Africa and Asia most Europeans are living in a land of milk and honey. Who helps the millions of hungering and the widows and orphans in the developing countries? In our day and age many Europeans fly to third world nations just to have a cheap vacation. Do you not recognize the need and distress in the eyes of the dark-skinned? Alone the cost for modern weapons paid out to protect industrial countries would be enough to feed and satisfy all of the hungering in our world!

Paul continued on in his catalogue of vices and put the spotlight on superficial gossipers and jokers, who from time to time, following a serious church service, want to lighten the atmosphere with their false humor (Matt. 13:4, 19). More than half of our discussions could be centered on Jesus and the Bible, instead of on empty talk about the weather, crisis, politics or other daily themes. We need to pray for Spirit-leading in such conversations, so that our words can be directed toward uplifting themes and that they can testify to those present what is good and helpful, as well as that which will bring them a blessing for eternity.

Question:

  1. Why do we not gladly bring back foreign property to its rightful owner?

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