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. - Ephesians 4:28
Today we continue our study of Question 141 of the Larger Catechism, which asks, “What
are the duties required in the Eighth Commandment?” The second part of the answer
states, “The duties required in the Eighth Commandment are… a provident care and study
to get, keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the
sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition; a lawful calling, and diligence in
it; frugality.”
God made us physical creatures in a physical world with physical needs. We need to
regularly eat and drink in order to satisfy our human nutritional requirements. A certain
amount of clothing and shelter are indispensable for our protection and health. Likewise,
our bodies need habitual exercise and rest to function properly. Moreover, we must guard
against injury, sickness, diseases, infections, and other maladies that can afflict and harm
us. And in addition to all of these inherent & perpetual physical needs, we must contend
with changing weather conditions, impermanent home, work, and state environments,
differing age, ability, personality, learning, relationships, & many other factors, which all
play a role in determining what kind of and how much clothing, food, work, rest, shelter,
and etc., will be sufficient for us in different circumstances. The Catechism includes and
addresses all of these various aspects by enjoining on us “a provident care and study to
get, keep, use, and dispose” those things which we need: suitable to our current condition
and necessary to the sustenance of our natures. We are to look at our situation, determine
our need, and wisely seek to fill it.
How do we go about securing what we need in order to live and serve God in this world in
a way that is godly and not sinful? First, we should recognize that the God who made us
with ongoing physical needs, made a world that is amply suited to meet those needs, and
He has given us the right to use the things of this world as we need them. Thus, God gave
mankind the plants of the ground, the fruit of the trees, and the animals to use for his food
(Gen. 1:29; 2:16; 9:3). God gave these things to us to use for our needs. Therefore, it is wrong
for any man or group of men to say that we should not use them (some environmental
and animal rights groups), or that we can only use certain kinds of them (false religions
and man-based scientific conclusions). Likewise, in giving parts of His creation to us, God
shows us that it is good for us to acquire things as our own possessions. So that private
property can also be said to be necessary for our well-being and that it is a God-given,
indispensable right that no man can take away without disobeying his Creator and doing
harm to his fellow men.
Furthermore, by example, God showed Adam and Eve how to make clothing for
themselves from the skin of animals (Gen. 3:21). Therefore, it is good and right for us to do
likewise, for it is needful for us to have clothing in this fallen world for our protection and
care. God commanded man to work, giving him the task of tending the ground and
ordering His creation (Gen. 1:28; 2:15). He also showed him the pattern of working six days
and resting one. Accordingly, man has a need to regularly work and rest, which need is
inherent in his created, human nature. So that to not do either one on a regular basis will
surely be harmful to him. The Catechism addresses this need in setting forth our duty to
have a lawful calling and to be diligent in it. Each human being has a vocation, a calling
from God to work, and it is by this work that we produce a commodity that we can barter
to honestly and uprightly secure the things we need.
Thus, we see how God has arranged it so that we can provide for our own needs
legitimately, without stealing:
1. He has created a world with a renewable supply of all the things we need.
2. He has commanded us to work in order to rightly earn the things we need.
Frugality means that we are to not squander the resources of this world. We should
remember that all creation belongs to God. He has given it to us to use as we need; we
earn portions of it by our work, but it was made by God. Honor to God and due
thankfulness demands that we appreciate His goods and not waste what He has
graciously and lovingly given, but also that we do not worship it by elevating any part of
this world above the dominion of every man.
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