You shall not move your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.
Deuteronomy 19:14
Respect for personal property was taught through this principle in the Law because for Israel, the land itself was a physical manifestation of the grace of God. The Lord gave Israel the land of Canaan. And each tribe received a geographical territory. The tribes then subdivided their allotments to families. Each family set boundary stone markers to show the extent of the grace that they received. The land then became the source for building their homes and achieving livelihoods.
Moving these markers was more than mere land grabbing. It was deep robbery... depriving another of both a heritage and of the grace of God to that family to make a living. Each family was to be content in their home. Respecting property was a civil form of worship, contentment with God, and trust in the good gifts of the Lord to provide for each home. Obeying this command was a way to reflect on God's goodness and to worship Him.
All of life is a gift of God's grace. I am called to celebrate that with who I am, and what I have been given by God. I have boundary lines of property, income, and resources that are God's gifts. Respecting others as they steward resources is a way in which I celebrate that, learn contentment, and trust my God. Envy and greed brutally destroy this simple worship.
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