THOU SHALT NOT STEAL,
COVETING OK? © 2013
by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.(*)
Other related posts by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr. can be found at:
Thou shalt not
steal is the 8th of 10 commandments endorsed by Moses. In
this edition of The Coveted Commandment, I find it necessary to explore how this
commandment has exploded in such a way as to have so many caveats,
interpretations, or references, that the punishment(s) too have evolved from
cutting off of hands, hanging, retribution in the form of livestock, to
imprisonment, and yet, apply more to those of lesser means, than those in power.
Thou shalt not
steal, from its original verse, was unambiguous. Or, so I thought. Stealing, as referenced in the original
commandments, was said to relate to kidnapping, or the theft of a human person,
forbidding slavery. In
other laws, the 8th commandment references the unauthorized taking
of one person’s possession and using it without their permission.
For the most part,
historically, even today, it seems that stealing had three components:
1. it was wrong to take something that did not
belong to the taker,
2. that for so
doing, there would be a penalty, and
3. it would be the
carrying out of those penalt(ies) that would satisfy the misdeed. For example: 2 times the possession in
livestock; labor for the offended and/or
other restitution as determined by the courts.
Why has this
commandment evolved where it lends itself to the many misinterpretations, and
perhaps has given way to the idea, that theft, or the unauthorized removal of
or taking of others’ possessions, can be categorized in such a way as to have
little to know meaning, particularly by the levels of punishments that are
currently in place. To steal, or to take
something that does not belong to you, is degreed, in such a way, that
depending on what is taken, or who is taking it, that the act of taking is in
itself, circumspect.
Who Steals?
Don’t expect a
statistical perspective on this, but I am going to go out on a limb here and
suggest that everyone steals. Please
don’t call your attorneys on me, I mean this in the most positive, respected
way, that many of us are thieves. And, I
believe that many of us are in good company.
I am sure that our sweet mothers stole a recipe or two from grandmother;
that our fathers “borrowed” a tool or two from a friend but didn’t return
it. I don’t doubt that one of our
men/women of the cloth lifted a pen or two from a parishioner, inadvertently of
course, but has yet to return it. I am sure several of us have stood by the
punch clock a few minutes longer, or maybe punched in earlier than was allowed.
But, enough of this pettiness. Let’s go big time and look at those who hold
public office and who have misappropriated campaign funds. Let us not forget those who are in positions
of authority and who, without consent, and in violation of various laws, have
taken kickbacks and bribes. We know that
goes on, all throughout our various governmental bodies. But, I don’t want to overlook those who
commit thefts on almost a daily basis.
We have to include
our petty thieves. We have into include
the small-time bank robbers; the simple robbers, as well those who commit fraud
on their jobs. We have to include those
carjack, or who commit burglaries of our homes.
And of course, we have to include our own thefts that we each have
committed. Now, now, don’t thank
me. I can only point and accuse if I
also point the other four fingers at me.
I have too have stolen, lifted, taken, or committed a theft, of some
kind or another. The amount(s) are
immaterial, because stealing is stealing.
Why did I do it? Why does anyone
steal? What is their/our motivation?
What is the Motivation behind Stealing?
Why do we
steal? It can be said that stealing is
inevitable. We all are subject to take
something that doesn’t belong to us. We
could find a $10.00 bill on the ground and try to find out who owns it, the
same way we would if we found a bag of money containing $10,000. Or, would we keep the $10,000? Would that be stealing? If it is stealing to keep the $10,000, is it
not stealing to keep the $10.00? Why
would we return $10,000 and keep the $10.00?
Why do people
steal on their jobs? Why do people steal
in public office? Why do people break in
other people’s homes or cars? What is
the motivation to steal? Is it fair to
say that some people are born thieves? Is it fair to say that some people were
raised to be thieves? Is it fair to say
that circumstances forces us to steal other people’s things?
Does a lack of a job
justify stealing? Does a low income job
justify stealing? If either of these are
justified, then why do people who have jobs, paying well above the minimum wage
commit thefts from their jobs, on their jobs, or regardless of the fact that
they have a job? What is the motivation
to steal?
We know that
families who are hitting on hard times, they may steal food and milk to feed
their families? Are they justified? By the same token, the teller who short
changes his/her customers may do so because maybe it is easy to do so. The unintended consequence is that the teller
buys himself/herself things that their salary would not allow them to buy
ordinarily. Is this justified?
What about the
politician, who hides campaign contributions?
Is he/she justified? Or the
non-profit worker who handles donations, who shaves a few dollars off of the
top, are they justified in taking that money and paying for a loved-one’s
surgery or special needs?
When is stealing
justified?
When is The Best Time to Steal?
The best time to
steal? Is that not the dumbest question
to ask: “When is the best time to
steal?” The question is perhaps dumb,
but apparently there is an answer. From
my distant background in law enforcement and security, the best time has little
to do with the clock. It has more to do
with the opportunity. The opportunity is
more often than not about the victim.
The victim can be me, or you. The
opportunity is the failure of the victim to take every reasonable care to
protect their valuables-from thieves.
Am I blaming the
victim for their losses? Yes. We live in a world of theft, thieves, and
those who take things from us. To
believe that no one is stealing, or not taking something of value from us, or
anyone, is to be naïve. Thefts are
occurring everyday, not only throughout America, but throughout the
world. Thefts are an integral part of
lives, and yet, many of us act as though we can put our valuables down, leave
our doors unlocked, or not take preventive action to prevent the loss of our
valuables.
We know that
thieves break in and take our valuables.
We know that our leaders misappropriate funds. We know that thefts occur all the time, but
not to us. Why? Because we know when the next theft is likely
to occur, so we are always on guard.
Always. On guard.
Antedotal story: My wife and I parked our 1998 Plymouth
Voyager in a garage in the CBD during Hurricane Katrina, while we drove our
2004 Jeep Cherokee to Texas. The Voyager was locked, and all valuables
were removed. After the storm, we
discovered that the Voyager had been stolen from the garage. We later learned that the vehicle was in Houston, Texas. When it was eventually returned to us, we
found diapers in the back seat and clothing for children, and a partial pack of
cigarettes. The theft, while not
acceptable was forgivable. Someone had
stolen our vehicle to save their family from the outcome of a major
disaster. It cost us to restore the
vehicle, because the only damage was the rear window. We understood, and we forgave.
We were the
victims of this crime. The opportunity that
was taken advantage of, would have been to someone, even if not us. The doors on the van were locked, and the
steering wheel had a locking bar. But we
created the opportunity for the theft of our vehicle. We put it where we thought it was safe from
potential damaging flood waters at our home, which did flood, but we put it
where someone would need it for their benefit, not ours. They stole our vehicle. Had we left it at home, it would have not
been stolen (maybe). Just flooded.
We didn’t understand
that the timing was right for a theft.
We didn’t realize that we created the opportunity for someone who,
whether they stole that one time, or everyday of their lives, the opportunity
was right, and we created it for that purpose.
This example is not
to suggest that thefts are okay, or that are all thefts are forgivable. If the same person(s) were to come along and
steal our car again, or break into our home, we would not necessarily be so
forgiving. But, we are still guilty of
providing the opportunity for theft.
Here is how:
In general, we
lock our cars, we lock our homes, and put passwords on our bank accounts. This suggests that we must have something of
value and we know it. The more security
we employ, the perceived higher value our possessions suggest. So, what should we do? Not lock our cars? Or not locke our
homes? No! There is nothing we can do to deter
thefts. Thefts are inevitable. Someone is going to always steal something,
and not anything that we can do, can stop them from trying. Even if we have guns in our homes, it does
not discourage a committed thief from attempting to steal from us, and in some
cases, do us harm.
The best time for
a thief to commit a theft is all the time.
Just like in boxing, your opponent/thief is waiting for us to drop our
guard. We are an opportunity waiting to
happen for those who are committed to committing a theft. We have to always be on guard.
The definition of
coveting varies somewhat according to several dictionaries. Here are 3 different definitions:
- Covet
transitive
verb
1 : to wish for
earnestly <covet an award>
2: to desire (what
belongs to another) inordinately or culpably
intransitive
verb
: to feel inordinate
desire for what belongs to another
- Covet
v.tr.
1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See
Synonyms at envy.
2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire.
v.intr.
To
feel immoderate desire for that which is another's.
- Covet
To covet is defined as to strongly
want something that someone else has.
(verb)
An example of to covet is to dream of
owning the car that your neighbor drives.
Perhaps a good question is, why should the definitions be
different if the meaning is the same? A
good question, but it is also important to understand motivation. What inspires us, or what moves us to do the things that we do? If we were follow the 10th Commandment's logic, longing for our brother's car that only serves a family of five by another brother would be wrong. Correct me if I am wrong. If the logic of long for something can be measured, what is the standard of longing, and do so as to be "blameworthy"?
I contend that coveting is a type of motive, or desire to achieve, acquire, or to have something that is not within our grasp. I contend that aspiring to break a current world record is coveting, but that overcome it with a goals and objectives, does not make coveting that world record, held for some 5 years prior, wrong. We must be allowed to covet. We must be allowed to be motivated by the achievements of others, where in so doing, we do attempt to rob, kill or harm our brother or neighbors, but instead, we seek to make our lives better, or improved.
The Coveted Commandment and Stealing-A Comparison?
Let’s review:
The 8th
Commandment? Thou shalt not steal.
The Coveted
Commandment? Thou shalt build wealth
Contrast: One
commandment suggests that we “not” do something, while the other commandment
suggests that we “do” do something;
Compare: Both suggest that we are capable of making a
choice to do something, even if one directs us not to “do” something;
Compare: Both commandments speak to wealth. While only one commandment speaks
specifically to wealth, the other implies wealth (Stealing). What do we ordinarily steal? I think, unless I am wrong, we steal
something of value. I believe that when we
steal something that if it can be used to obtain something else of equal or
greater value. It has value that can be
used to build wealth, or a position of power.
The Coveted
Commandment does not suggest stealing. But it does look at the 8th commandment, as it relates to the 10th
Commandment (Thou shalt not covet), which prohibits coveting. If one covets, one is breaking the 10th
commandment, but one is not stealing.
But, if one steals, one has to have coveted, theoretically. Coveting was, and perhaps, still is, an
important issue as it relates to scripture.
It basically forbids desiring strongly what someone else has. I don’t understand this commandment, although
I have called myself having followed as many of the commandments as I could as
I grew up.
But as I look
back, I was breaking at least one of the 10 commandments. I was coveting my neighbor’s lifestyle, my
neighbor’s car, as well as my neighbor’s home.
It was without hesitation. We
spoke of coveting like it was nothing, even though we did not use the term
“coveting”, we knew that whenever we saw someone with a brand new, shiny, car,
or something better than we had, we desired it strongly, as well. But coveting was not a prerequisite to
stealing, at least not for me. But, I
watched throughout my life how people lost their cars by being carjacked, or
how people’s homes were broken into after they bought a new television, only to
have it stolen. I lived through people
loosing their weekly income by someone who would knock them in the head and
take their monies. All of this suggests
that coveting was a prerequisite to stealing. But we have to go back and see if
coveting is wrong in itself, if it doesn’t lead to stealing.
The Upside of Coveting
We are not going
to solve the issue of stealing by this discussion. As a matter of a fact, as I previously
indicated, thefts are constant. They
will forever and a day, continue to happen throughout our communities, if not
throughout the world. If coveting is a
prerequisite to stealing, is it fair to say that coveting and stealing are
interconnected? I do not believe
so. I believe that coveting is as much a
prerequisite to building wealth as it it to stealing. Unfortunately, wealth build through stealing
is the negative outcome. But wealth building
through collaborations, partnerships and investing can be a positive
outcome. I believe that more often than
not, coveting should be encouraged as a good thing, where the outcome is
wealth. Obviously, when coveting leads
to theft, coveting is given a bad thing.
But coveting, in and of itself, has to be a good thing. It has to serve as an inspiration point in
people’s lives.
The Coveted
Commandment, Thou Shalt Build Wealth,
cannot be shared or endorsed for the masses, because, the other side of
coveting is perceived to be selfishness.
Those who have power selfishly use coveting to build wealth, while using
that same power to project coveting as sinful and wrong on those who otherwise
are made into criminals as thieves, burglars, robbers, and other acts where
theft is the outcome.
The Coveted
Commandment, if it were real, if it were codified, would not have the
reputation of being a negative aspect of our lives, but a positive one, Coveting,
a strong desire to have something, or to achieve something of value, even if
someone else’s, would not be wrong on its face. Coveting, when it results in the
unauthorized removal or taking of others’ valuables or material things, is
wrong. Coveting, when it leads to
setting goals and objectives to achieve that which others have, would be good. And, it is good, when it results in a
positive outcome.
RELEVANCE?
Stealing, or
theft, preceded by coveting, has led to a tremendous number of kinds of
thefts. Long ago, people may have just
stolen cattle, oxen, or maybe even land.
Today, people steal identities, bank accounts, credit cards, social
security checks, commit kickbacks, ponzie schemes, and many other types of
acts, which are alleged to be criminal, wrong, or sinful. The motivation to commit these acts,
theoretically, can be said to be preceded by an overwhelming desire to have
someone’s identity, for wrongful means.
The taking of someone else’s land, without governmental oversite, or by
illegal means by, and to otherwise build on or sell it for personal gain, maybe
preceded by covetous behavior. The
relevance here is that coveting, by definition, preceding theft or any other
criminal act, for the most part, gets a bad reputation. But I don’t think coveting is wrong, if it
can be proven that a desire to have something someone has, motivates us to
achieve independently and with the intent of doing something constructively in
order to acquire that which we see that someone else has. I honestly believe that there can be an
upside to coveting and I will cover that shortly, right after we identify the
various types of thefts that maybe preceded by coveting.
Below are types of
thefts. I believe that these types of
thefts are preceded by covetous behavior and thought. I have not substantiated that coveting is
good or bad, but I do contend that coveting, that if is a precipitating behavior,
can lead to committing thefts, the same way coveting can lead to building
wealth. I further contend that building
wealth can be done constructively, where those who are willing, will set goals
and objectives to invest in themselves, and work together to achieve financial
and economic well-being.
Theft is defined as
taking, using, or keeping someone else's property without the person's consent.
There are various types of theft that all relate to what was taken or used
without permission. Theft can also be defined based on the intent of the item
that was misused or taken. If you were to mistakenly keep something that
belongs to someone else, this wouldn't be considered theft because you were
unaware that you had the item that belonged to someone else.
·
Mugging is one type of theft that is quite common. Mugging is defined as a
street robbery. You can see a lot of mugging's in larger towns with tourists
because these people seem to be easier targets for those wanting to mug
someone.
·
Robbery is another type of theft that also happens to encompass many other
different types of theft. Robbery is defined as seizing property of someone
else using violence or intimidation. Robbery can happen to many different
people in any type of environment. This basically means that you take someone's
property by being violent and forcing the person to do what you would like.
·
Larceny is another type of theft that exists in the US. Larceny
theft is defined as taking or keeping someone's property without their consent
as well as using no force or fraud to acquire the items.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1269895
Misappropriation Act -Misappropriation is the intentional and
illegal use of funds for another use or other unauthorized purpose than its
intended purpose. The Misappropriation Act (31 USC, Section 1301) requires that funds
appropriated by Congress be used only of the programs and purposes for which
the appropriation was made.
The 8 Types of Identity Theft
There are several
types of identity theft. Knowing
what to do if you are a victim of identity theft starts by knowing what type of
identity theft you are dealing with.
- Financial
Identity Theft
- Insurance
Identity Theft
- Medical
Identity Theft
- Criminal
Identity Theft
- Driver’s
License Identity Theft
- Social
Security Identity Theft
- Child
Identity Theft
Types of White Collar Crime
- Bank Fraud
- Blackmail
- Bribery
- Cellular Phone Fraud
- Counterfeiting
- Credit Card Fraud
- Currency Schemes
- Embezz1ement
- Environmental Schemes
- Extortion
- Forgery-Insider Trading
- Kickback
- Money Laundering
- Securities Fraud
- Tax Evasion
- Welfare Fraud
Coveting Gone Wrong?
If we could exchange the 10th
commandment
for the Coveted Commandment, or perhaps make the Coveted Commandment one in
which coveting has a more positive outcome, crimes like the ones outlined
above, may have less likely an opportunity to occur. We have to believe that coveting is the
impetus for anyone of, if not all of the commandments that prohibit violation
of one’s neighbor and/or his possessions, or what codify as crimes today.
If we are willing to accept the fact
that coveting is not in itself a bad thing, as much as it is a sense of
motivation, and yes, it is a strong desire to have something, where that desire
is energized to put together a business plan, or a set of goals that result in
the growth of a business, or perhaps the true acquisition of wealth, then
coveting can be a positive tool in personal development.
If, and that’s a big IF, we can
open the door to the possibility that coveting is good and a source of
inspiration, that if properly channeled, we can see fewer crimes as we have
come to know, and hopefully, more people achieving greater things in their
lives. Will that result in the
elimination of the 10th Commandment?
No. But it should result in the 10th commandment clearly
indicating that coveting, with the intent of committing a wrong against one’s
neighbor is strictly forbidden. In
addition, coveting, for the purpose of building one’s self in a positive
manner, needs to be strategically incorporated for the benefit of all.
The Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth.
(*) No part of this post should be considered as legal, religious or financial advice. All information deeemed to be from reliable sources but not guaranteed. You are advised to seek professional assistance as it relates to your personal situation.
