Greetings!
One particular code of living that I've adhered to, even though it has gradually faded away in today's world, is the code of not stealing. The "not stealing" here does not only apply to taking someone's money in secret or robbing someone with a gun; it involves the entire act of taking what does not rightfully belong to me. This principle has almost become extinct in our world today because stealing, taking someone's belongings, and cheating are often seen as being smart. Those of us on this table of 'No to stealing ' are often labeled as foolish.
A typical example is the political sector, where politicians who steal more are applauded and considered very smart. Similarly, the current trend of fraudulent activities has led people involved in them to be seen as the wisest in the community, while those of us who abstain from such acts are called names like 'saints.'
This commitment to not stealing is something I have held onto and will continue to uphold because it has greatly benefited me in my little years on this earth. I have served many people in different offices where I handled large sums of money. My bosses trusted me with those funds and records and never felt the need to check the records themselves. I never failed them, and that trust has led to job recommendations from them to work in various offices where money handling is required. However, I have been turning these offers down because the pay does not always meet my target. I can only agree to work in such positions when the pay is $900 or more per month. Yes, this is me, and it's not out of greed.🧐
Sometimes, I get along with groups of people who preach against "a good name is better than riches," but I know how my good name, especially regarding financial integrity, has helped me and paved the way for me.
I remember a particular time I went to the bank to make a payment when I was working in the church as accountant. That day, I was in a hurry to get to school, so I rushed the cashier to process my e-payment and hurriedly left without taking the time to double-check if everything was done correctly. I didn't notice that one payment was missing until two weeks later when I received a call from my boss inquiring about the missing payment. Under normal circumstances, I should have been queried, shouted at, or possibly arrested because it was church money, and the ministry is highly against any form of theft. However, my boss knew me very well and asked me to go back to the bank to cross-check the payment I made.
There were other staff in the church at the time, and I know that even though they heard about it, my boss must have assured them that it was a mistake and not theft. I went to the bank, which was very far from my school community, cross-checked with the cashier, and found the missing slip. The bank manager apologized to me that day with a soft drink and snack.
Why I dislike stealing
To be very sincere, the reason I don't like it is not because of the religious sermons against it, where they say thieves will go to hell. No, it's just my personal decision, and nothing can change that for me, even if God in heaven declares stealing as no longer a sin. Hold on, how are we not sure that this hasn't been declared already and we don't know because most religious leaders that hear from God are involved in all sorts of stealing?
Thanks for reading.