For those of us in the United States, or other countries where we still have a lot of freedom and protection for some basic rights, we do well to remember that much of our civilized society is based on the laws of Jehovah. I certainly appreciate having protection for my right to have personal property. Let’s explore an example of how God laid out the foundation in scripture for the rights we enjoy today.
Property Rights
1“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
2“If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. 3“But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4“If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
5“If a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
6“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution.
7“If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double. 8“If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9“For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
10“If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking, 11an oath before the LORD shall be made by the two of them that he has not laid hands on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. 12“But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13“If it is all torn to pieces, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.
14“If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15“If its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution; if it is hired, it came for its hire.
Property rights are foundational for a thriving society where people strive to take good care of things and work hard to invest and grow what they have and what they can provide to others. In societies where there are low or no personal property rights, people are far less motivated to take care of things in their possession. They did not work to earn it and they can not keep it even if they take great care of it. Take time to consider the significance of personal property rights and how it affects your life. Another great example of how God’s law is not obsolete or irrelevant, but rather foundational to the best parts of our society today. Give thanks to God today for establishing this foundation.
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