May 10, 2023

Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism Ten Commandments: The Seventh Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:23-44; Luke 12:35-38

We do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income. (Seventh Commandment)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Alleluia! Christ is risen!  The age of information provides so many new opportunities. Never in history have so many people had access to vast amounts of information. If you want to know it, it’s probably available at your fingertips—without pay, instantly, privately.

The 2017 Catechism explanation wisely adds the question, “What else is considered to be our neighbor’s possessions or property today?” It points out things like ideas and writings, music, software, movies, and personal information. Our sin needs a curb when it comes to that much power.

When I was a young man, it was just being realized how easy it was to access intellectual property. At this time, before I knew the Lord, I had thousands of MP3’s and several pieces of software that I had not paid for. (After all, how could a college student afford such things?) To avoid getting in trouble, people became increasingly clever about how they shared the data. Peer-to-peer networks and servers in Sweden were among the most popular.

The question for a Christian to ask is not, “Can I do this?” but rather, “How does this impact my neighbor?” even if that neighbor seems distant on the other side of the screen. They put long, hard hours into this work. Content creators make a career out of the videos they post to support their families. Game developers are worked to the bone to meet their deadlines. Everyone listed in the movie credits needs to be compensated. Even website ad revenue, as obnoxious as it can be, is important because it pays for hosting costs.

Our very life is a testimony of the value God placed on us: “You were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body,” St. Paul writes (1 Corinthians 6:20). He did not consider it too costly to spend the precious blood of His Son to redeem us, even though we are filled with greedy desires. Baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

Rather than looking out for our advantage, we desire to help our neighbor support his or her family, give a boost to those who are just getting started, and witness an honesty not found in vast swaths of the Internet. Where God gives us opportunity, we may even stand up for the good of our neighbor and encourage our friends not to pirate, or plagiarize, or obtain someone’s private information—all because we see the things of this life as gifts from God’s hand.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;  Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! (Great is Thy Faithfulness, LSB 809: refrain)

- Pastor Michael A. Miller is Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.