Q 112: How do they who have been redeemed fulfill the eighth commandment?

A 112: The redeemed of the Lord fulfill the eighth commandment by honoring all men’s persons and property as their stewardship from the Lord, providing generously for those in need, and waging just war against enemies. (Ex. 22.5, 6; Deut. 221-4; Num. 27.8-11; Ex. 21.18, 19; Deut. 24.14, 15; Ex. 21.6; Deut. 15.11; Deut. 20.1-9)

Property is not ours merely to consume on ourselves. We are stewards of the property God entrusts to us, and we must therefore use it as He would. Property is to be employed for good purposes in advancing love for God and neighbor, and this includes using at least some of our property to provide for those who are unable, if only temporarily, to meet their material needs. It might surprise us to see the mention of “just war” in the context of the eighth commandment, but in a very real sense, war is often about property rights. In a just war a nation fights to preserve the right to life and property of its citizens against those who seek to take these away.

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