Does hunger justify stealing ?

[Godlovesmetwo]

I sometimes think it is easy to have ethics and morals if you are comfortable and living in a first world country.
Wont we behave just like hungry dogs If we happen to be poverty-stricken? We might fall into prostitution if we have no other skills, no other way of making money. So easy to judge the people who have to make a living like that.
Even selling drugs. If I have kids to feed and few other options, I might be tempted.
Ok if you are a saint, you can resist all this. Sometimes I think saints are inhuman.

 

[EmmaCat]

I worked at a rural country store. I know about theft and all that.

I don't have children. But if I did, and I was poor and ragged with hungry children, I would hope no one would throw me in jail for stealing that pack of chicken wings. I would hope they would steer me to real help to where I could feed my children honestly.

All good things
Emmy

 

[Saleena]

Justify it? Sure, stop you from being prosecuted? Nope. But I can tell you as a cashier in a gas station. I'm not about to stop someone from stealing food. Especially if they smell that bad. I won't call the cops either. Just write it off as a loss and move on. It's really hard to find a ride to those food pantries and many of them were only open on certain days and only after you got approval. I'm sure many churches aren't that way but from my experience it's an ordeal to get food when you need it. Even food stamps which I am currently on. Having just avoided homelessness and managed to stay with a friend of a friend. Life is hard. I sure won't make it harder for someone else if I can help it.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

But the prostitutes who do have other options, not so sure. The middle class University student in a rich country who opts for prostitution because the pay is so much higher than slaving as a coffee shop waitress. But who am I to judge eh...

 

[ewq1938]

Rather go to jail for stealing than starve to death lol

 

[Saleena]

Rather go to jail for stealing than starve to death lol

In some cases it's ideal. If you can't afford food, it's shelter and especially given that the temps are dropping. Gotta do what you gotta do

 

[Endtime Survivors]

I sometimes think it is easy to have ethics and morals if you are comfortable and living in a first world country.
Wont we behave just like hungry dogs If we happen to be poverty-stricken? We might fall into prostitution if we have no other skills, no other way of making money. So easy to judge the people who have to make a living like that.
Even selling drugs. If I have kids to feed and few other options, I might be tempted.
Ok if you are a saint, you can resist all this. Sometimes I think saints are inhuman.

Our whole purpose in life is to learn how to love God and how to love one another and everything we have is given to us for that purpose. I think, in a situation where someone feels like they need to steal in order to survive, those of us who created that situation may be more harshly judged than the thief.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

those of us who created that situation will be more harshly judged than the thief.

good answer

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

15 bucks an hour waitressing in a restaurant with tips. (amount of tips?)
versus
1000 bucks a night as an escort ( 8hours)

I can see why they are tempted...

but still ,long term consequences... mmm

 

[ewq1938]

15 bucks an hour waitressing in a restaurant with tips. (amount of tips?)
versus
1000 bucks a night as an escort ( 8hours)

I can see why they are tempted...

Most "escorts" are literal slaves that are forced to do it so it's not about temptation or greed.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Most "escorts" are literal slaves that are forced to do it so it's not about temptation or greed.

Havent you heard of the voluntary ones? theyre not all victims. Some choose to do it.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

But I can tell you as a cashier in a gas station. I'm not about to stop someone from stealing food.

So that is what really goes on out there? thanks.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

AMPC
Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).
BRG
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
CEB
Open your homes to each other without complaining.

 

[Saleena]

So that is what really goes on out there? thanks.

For the most part, unless trained you aren't allowed to do the whole "loss prevention" thing. It's a liability issue. For me personally it's a "i don't have to pay for the losses so I don't care" issue.

 

[SkyWriting]

I sometimes think it is easy to have ethics and morals if you are comfortable and living in a first world country.Wont we behave just like hungry dogs If we happen to be poverty-stricken? We might fall into prostitution if we have no other skills, no other way of making money. So easy to judge the people who have to make a living like that.Even selling drugs. If I have kids to feed and few other options, I might be tempted.Ok if you are a saint, you can resist all this. Sometimes I think saints are inhuman.

Rather than selling drugs or stealing food, one can consider working,
along with talking to people. If you talk to enough people and explain
your situation in honesty, you will eventually find somebody who
will employ you, or will help you get a job or find temporary work.

Just as an example, our son had a lot of misery being out of work.
But he hadn't stopped in at the temp agency less than a 1/4 mile
from where he was living. Having done that, they bused him to
work every day.

But to not have a friend or family who will help you, means that
you have some "relatable" issues to fix on yourself before you
start selling blood, your body, or stealing.

 

[Inkfingers]

I sometimes think it is easy to have ethics and morals if you are comfortable and living in a first world country.
Wont we behave just like hungry dogs If we happen to be poverty-stricken? We might fall into prostitution if we have no other skills, no other way of making money. So easy to judge the people who have to make a living like that.
Even selling drugs. If I have kids to feed and few other options, I might be tempted.
Ok if you are a saint, you can resist all this. Sometimes I think saints are inhuman.

If you are starving and have no options from either commerce or charity then yes stealing food is justifyable so long as your starvation is not a consequence of your laziness or being so dishonest or uncouth that nobody will hire you.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

so long as your starvation is not a consequence of your laziness or being so dishonest or uncouth that nobody will hire you.

that sounds kind of conditional to be honest

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

But to not have a friend or family who will help you, means that
you have some "relatable" issues

some people grow up in dysfunctional families though.

 

[Radrook]

If there is a an overweight rich person with excess food on his table and I am starving? The one sinning is the fat man who is refusing to share his food with the needy and not the needy that he is forcing to make a grab for his excess food. If I am thirsty and the person has a well which he refuses to let me have access to-am I stealing if I sneak up through his barbed wired fences and take a sip? Am I sinning? Or is he sinning by being unnecessarily selfish and cruel? As the saying goes, it takes two to Tango.

 

[SkyWriting]

some people grow up in dysfunctional families though.

Like my stepson who was abandoned to live
is a condemned house after dad left the country.
Fixing yourself is key.