Stealing whats rightfully mine!

College prepaid meal plans are sometimes a drag for students. You pay a flat fee at the beginning of the semester whether you eat all the meals or not. My schools dining service is set up buffet style so students can have all they can eat. Along with that, the dining commons has a rule stating, “No food or drink may be taken out of the dinning hall.” Here comes the ethical dilemma.

This rule is broken quite often. Students fill up water bottles to take to class and hide apples and oranges in pockets for an afternoon snack. I also heard stories of someone hiding an entire pie to take back to their dorm. When asked to justify these acts, the response is always, “I paid for it, why not get my full money’s worth.” I must admit, paying $7.50 for a bowl of cereal and orange juice for breakfast is pricey, but should that lead us to steal?

As Christians, we need to display honesty to be trusted. Perhaps if we are more honest in our actions, others will be more willing to trust us. I admit – in the past I have been one of those students pleading not guilty to the charges of stealing on the basis that it is rightfully mine. The question remains, how far are you willing to sacrifice peoples trust in you to satisfy your temporary wants?

Maybe it's not cafeteria food but movies or music that you are tempted to “take what is rightfully yours.” Have you ever found yourself bending the rules to fit your idea of what’s fair? How would Jesus view your actions?