Is It Ok To Keep A Toy That Belongs To Someone Else If They Don’t Ask For It Back?
Answer: No. Stealing is taking something that doesn’t belong to you. One type of stealing happens when a person borrows something from someone else but doesn’t give it back.
We know that stealing is wrong, all kinds of stealing, because God has told us not to steal. And if God has said it’s wrong, then doing it will end up hurting us and others.
Stealing is wrong and ends up hurting us even if no one finds out about it. Remember, God knows.
If a friend gives you something to keep, then that gift is yours. It would not be stealing to keep it – you don’t have to give it back.
But if someone loans you something or gives you something to use for a while, then you need to give it back when the time is up or when you are finished – even if the person doesn’t ask for it or has forgotten about it.
The same is true if you find something that belongs to someone else. You should give it to the person – that would be the honest thing to do.
God gives us the command not to steal. He does this to help us and to protect us from the penalties of stealing and the reputation of being a thief.
Besides, isn’t that the way you would want to be treated? Wouldn’t you want your toy or book or ball returned, even if you had forgotten about it?
Key verse: Treat others as you want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31)
Related verses: Exodus 20: 15; Ephesians 4:28
Related questions: What if someone lends you something and you both forget about it? Is it stealing if you don’t remember?
Would It Be Wrong If Your Friends Told You Something Was For Free, So You Took It, And Then You Found Out Later It Wasn’t Really Free?
Answer: Wrongdoing is always wrong, even if we don’t know it when we do it! Have you ever gone someplace you weren’t supposed to go, said something you weren’t supposed to say, or taken something you weren’t supposed to take – without knowing you weren’t supposed to? Everyone has at one time or another.
Sometimes we don’t find out until later that what we did was wrong. But when we find out, then what should we do? That’s what really matters.
We might have to ask for forgiveness or take something back. We certainly shouldn’t do it again, now that we know better.
For example, if friends said that something was free so you took it and then later you found out it wasn’t free, you should take it back or pay for it.
That would be the honest thing to do. Keeping it would be wrong.
Sometimes we just need to use common sense. For example, things in a store are hardly ever free.
So if someone says they are, we should make sure by asking someone who works at the store.
We shouldn’t go along with everything our friends say. But we should go along with everything God says.
Key verse: You believe whatever anyone tells you. You believe even if he is preaching another Jesus than the one we preach.
You welcome a different spirit than the Holy Spirit you received. If he shows you a different way to be saved, you swallow it all. (2 Corinthians 11:4)
Related verses: Luke 16:10; 1 Peter 1:13-16
Related question: What about when another kid tells you it’s OK to do something, but you find out from an adult later on that it was wrong?
If It’s Wrong To Steal, Whydothey Call It “Stealing Bases” In Baseball?
Answer: It’s not really stealing; that’s just the word they use to describe that kind of play. “Stealing bases” is part of the game of baseball.
Baseball has other words that can be confusing, too: Batters are “walked” by the pitcher, some batters “sacrifice,” the game is played on a “diamond,” and the fourth base is called “home plate.”
Every game has its own special words and rules. To play any game the right way, it is important to know the rules and to understand what the special words mean.
So “stealing” in baseball isn’t the same as stealing in life. If someone really did steal second base, that person would pick the base up off the field and take it home. And that would be wrong!
Key verse: Young man, it’s good to be young! Enjoy every minute of it! Do all you want to.
Take in all you can. But know that you must account to God for all you do. (Ecclesiastes 11:9)
Note to parents: Be aware that kids sometimes don’t understand the different meanings that a term can have.
Encourage them to use words carefully because what we say has great power.