Holiness Applied with Mercy

(Proverbs 6:30 KJV)  Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

This is a strange verse.  We are not to “despise” (936) a thief if he is desperate?   This seems to open doors that should stay closed.  Is morality relative?  Is it okay to steal if you are really needy?  This is one of the things I love about the being a Christian, it makes me engage my mind instead of falling into legalism.

First of all, this does not say that stealing is acceptable.  Read the next verse.  It does not let him go unpunished.  Sympathy does not rule out justice.

It says men don’t despise.  We cannot assume that God looks on it the same way.

What we have is an unchanging, eternal ethical standard that is interpreted with mercy and applied with grace.  God is not standing on the balcony of heaven with a thunderbolt in His hand just waiting to catch us in a sin.  He is slow to anger and mighty to save.

Just don’t expect Him to play games.

So?  Rejoice in God’s mercy and grace.  Tremble in His holiness.  Appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit to be the servant He wants you to be.