How can we apply Deuteronomy 23:25 in modern-day workplace ethics? Verse in Focus “If you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.” (Deuteronomy 23:25) Ancient Setting, Timeless Truth • Travelers could satisfy immediate hunger by handpicking kernels. • Harvesting tools—like a sickle—crossed the line into theft. • God balanced generosity toward the needy with protection of private property. Key Principle: Limited Use, Not Exploitation • Meeting legitimate, moment-by-moment need is permissible. • Turning a privilege into personal gain violates the owner’s rights. • The verse upholds both charity and stewardship. Modern-Day Workplace Applications • Respect company resources – Office supplies are for work tasks, not stocking home closets. – Personal use of equipment (printers, vehicles, software) should stay minimal and employer-approved. • Honor time stewardship – Occasional personal call or email mirrors “plucking by hand.” – Habitually scrolling social media or running side businesses on the clock equals “putting the sickle” to the employer’s grain. • Guard confidential information – Using insider data for personal profit breaches trust and biblical ethics. • Expense reports & reimbursements – Claim only actual, necessary costs; padding reports is harvest theft. • Digital integrity – Downloading unlicensed software or media through company networks misuses another’s property. Supporting Scriptures • “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15) affirms the command’s foundation. • “The worker is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7) reminds employees and employers to deal justly. • “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23) places workplace conduct under God’s gaze. Heart Posture to Cultivate • Gratitude—seeing employer resources as provision, not entitlement. • Integrity—doing right when no supervisor watches. • Generosity—sharing personal resources rather than siphoning others’. Living It Out This Week • Audit your use of company assets; return or replace what isn’t yours. • Ask permission before occasional personal printing or errands on work time. • Keep expense documentation clear and honest. • Limit personal web or phone time; set a timer if needed. • Encourage co-workers toward the same standard by quiet example. |
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