Being true and just

The Catechism explains the Eighth Commandment by saying we should avoid stealing and should be “true and just” in all our dealing. (1) True and just means honest and fair.  We should always be absolutely trustworthy, not only where money is concerned, but in everything else.  If we make a promise we should always keep it, however great a nuisance it may be – unless, of course, we are actually prevented by illness, which is another matter.  We should never let other people down, but be reliable and straightforward – nothing tricky or shifty (Psalm 15:4,2).

And we should also be fair in all things. We like to be treated fairly and we should treat others fairly, taking only what is right for ourselves and giving what is right to others.  In other words, we should treat everyone as we want them to treat us.

SUMMARY

1. Stealing means taking for one’s own what belongs to another.  All stealing is a sin.

2. The Eighth Commandment teaches us to be absolutely straightforward and fair and trustworthy in all we do and say, and to treat all others with the same strict honesty as we expect them to treat us.

Reference

Church of England (1662) The Book of Common Prayer.  A Catechism.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/texts/catechism.html  (Accessed 20 August 2010) (Internet).