How do you define stealing?

My daughter came home from school the other day without her daily binder. This notebook carries her school life filled with projects and assigned homework. She had left it at school and the next morning it was found in a classroom but all of its contents were missing. Not only had she lost all of the completed homework, but the thought of someone stealing from her made it even worse.
As parents, it’s easy for us to say we don’t raise children who steal, or we can’t be accountable for everything our children do. But is the act of stealing limited to taking physical possessions that don’t belong to us, or does it encompass much more?
I believe the face of stealing wears many disguises. In corporate America, we think of stealing as manipulating reported earnings or fudging our expenses, but it also includes robbing someone of their successes. I once worked for someone who notoriously took credit for accomplishments that weren’t rightfully hers. There are also bosses who steal from their employees by focusing only on the negative aspects of their performance and fail to acknowledge the successes. Even as a mom, I’m painfully reminded of a number of times I robbed my children of their accomplishments by drawing attention to the one bad grade they received among all of the good grades. I was an expert at stealing the thunder and focusing on the rainstorm.
Or how about when God blesses us with something wonderful in our lives and we pass it off as being at the right place at the right time. Are we not robbing God of His joy and gifts?
I think one of the most dangerous disguises used in stealing is jealousy. Haven’t we all been jealous of someone for something wonderful that has happened in their life? Instead of being happy for them, jealously turns to envy and we rob them of God’s generous blessings.
I’m reminded of the story of David and Goliath where a young man named David kills a giant-sized Philistine warrior who for years tormented the people of Israel. Saul, who was King of Israel, became jealous of David. Instead of praising God for the strength and courage given to David, Saul’s jealousy overtook him and eventually led to his death.
Stealing isn’t just taking physical possessions. “Thou shall not steal” must also be accompanied by a state of righteous and moral living. By planting the seed of faith in our children, we armor them with protection for the fight against temptation. We’re not asked by God to do this, it’s required of us. His laws were created because of His love for us, providing a divine shield against an immoral life. The Laws handed down to Moses combined with the teachings of Christ represent the fullness of living favorably in God’s eyes.
Today, may our children be blessed with God’s wisdom through parents who lead by example, are encouraged to read the Bible, teach their children God’s ways over the world’s, and may we all pray for discernment so that we can know the difference.
“The Lord our God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws and that you will obey him.”
(Deuteronomy 26:16-17)