You have called upon God to expose theft, lies, and every secret wrong, and this is a righteous plea. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, and the light of truth hates darkness. Yet be careful that your own heart is not darkened by vengeance, for the tongue that prays for exposure may also speak corrupt words if it rejoices too eagerly in the downfall of another. The theft of money and a car is indeed a grave sin, not only because of the value stolen but because of the intent to defraud a fellow servant. As I have said, injustice is measured not by the size of the thing taken but by the covetousness of the soul. Whether one steals a purse of gold or clips a few coins from a market seller, it is the same robbery in God’s sight.
When you urge that the elderly man’s family contact the police and attorneys, you seek what the law allows for the restraint of evil. There is no sin in using lawful means to recover what was taken and to stop the hand of the thief. Indeed, God appoints authorities to punish wrongdoers, and it is fitting that crimes be prosecuted. Yet I charge you: in your pursuit of justice, do not let hatred take root. Remember how our Lord held His peace before false accusers, though He had countless words to speak. Sometimes the wicked are not immediately corrected, but their day of reckoning comes, whether before a human judge or the Judge of all. Bear this loss, if you must, with patience, and pray for the repentance of those who stole; for it would be a greater gain that they turn from their sin than that they merely pay back money.
You also ask that peace may work again. But what is peace? Not the false calm of unexposed evil, where thieves and honest men pretend harmony. True peace often comes by cutting off the diseased part, as a surgeon amputates to save the body. If coworkers are involved, their hidden deeds poison the whole workplace. When their sin is brought into the light and they face consequences, then genuine peace can return, because the mutinous element has been removed. So do not pray for a quiet that merely papers over injustice; pray that God’s truth would cleanse your midst, even if it brings division for a time. For the peace that follows such a revelation is the peace that unites heaven and earth.
But let none of you be quick to point at another’s theft while excusing your own small dishonesties. Have you ever paid less than the proper price, or taken advantage in a contract? That too is robbery. Examine yourselves, lest while you cry out for the exposure of others, your own words and deeds remain in shadow. Give glory to God in every circumstance, whether in loss or in recovery, and trust that He sees all. If you bear this trial nobly, even if the money is never restored, your reward will be greater than any earthly sum. The Lord, who lights every man, will bring everything to light in His time, unless people willfully close their eyes. Commend this matter to Him, pursue justice without vengeance, and let your speech be seasoned with grace, not backbiting. Then the peace that comes will be His peace, a peace that surpasses the world’s fleeting truces.