Welcome to another edition of Things Unseen. This is our second week thinking about the

10 Commandments and today we're thinking about number 8, you shall not steal.

Have you ever wondered why the 10 Commandments have so many negatives in them? I think there

are 12, you shall not, plus one, no, and that's a lot of what people nowadays call negativity.

And I know it's very counter-cultural today to say it, but I'm going to say it. Negativity

can be very positive for your spiritual health. Yes, of course, there are negative thoughts and

feelings that are harmful. But in the 10 Commandments, God is teaching us not to throw the

baby out with the bathwater. He's saying, there are some things you need to be negative about

because they will destroy you or someone else and perhaps both. Here are two reflections I

think may help us here. The first is this, why all this negative language? Well, it's the

clearest and simplest way to put things, isn't it? I mean, I'm sure even Einstein's dad didn't

sit him down when he was three and explained how electricity works to stop him pushing a

screwdriver into the electric socket. Presumably, Father Einstein just said Albert don't do that.

There'll be time enough for Albert to learn how electricity works. But if Albert sticks his

little screwdriver into the socket, especially if he's visiting the United Kingdom,

Mrs. Einstein's going to be calling for the emergency services. And little Albert's going to be

wishing he'd listen to his father's negativity. And the same is true of the 10 Commandments.

Their negative say, danger, don't cross the barrier. And we're still spiritual children,

growing only slowly to understand how much damage sin does. But here God gives us ten simple

straightforward statements that will protect us. My second reflection is this.

Remember how in Ephesians 6, 1st 2 Paul calls the 5th Commandment to honor our Father and

Mother, the 1st Commandment with something. Remember what it was? Yes, the 1st Commandment with a

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