September 20
The Price of
Stolen Wealth
"Wealth that is gained by sinning isn’t worth anything. But doing what is right saves you from death."
Proverbs 10:2 (NIrV)
The subway was crowded, the air thick with the scent of damp coats and metal. Archie scanned the platform, his sharp eyes flickering over the passengers as they funneled onto the train. Rafa nudged him. “That one,” he whispered, nodding toward a businessman engrossed in his phone, his briefcase swinging carelessly by his side.
Archie moved like a shadow, slipping through the crowd, his fingers quick and precise. In one smooth motion, the wallet was in his hand, tucked into his jacket before the doors even closed. No one noticed. No one ever did.
It had started years ago—small stuff at first. A candy bar from the corner store. A few bills from an open cash register. Then, bigger scores. It was easy money, and Archie told himself it wasn’t really hurting anyone.
But lately, something felt… off. He hadn’t been sleeping well. The thrill that used to come with a good lift was gone, replaced by something heavier. Guilt.
That night, as he emptied his pockets, Archie found a photo tucked inside the wallet—a little girl, maybe six or seven, grinning up at the camera with missing front teeth. On the back, in careful handwriting: For Daddy. Come home soon!
Archie’s chest tightened. The man he had stolen from wasn’t just another mark. He was a father, someone’s provider. He thought about his own dad—the one who had left when Archie was ten. He had hated him for walking away, for not being the man he was supposed to be. And now… what was he doing? Taking from people who had families of their own?
For the first time in years, Archie felt the weight of his choices pressing down on him. He turned to Rafa. “I’m done.”
Rafa snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“I mean it,” Archie said. He took a deep breath. “I don’t want this life anymore.”
That night, Archie did something he hadn’t done in years—he prayed. “God, I don’t know if You’re even listening, but if You are… I need help. I don’t want to be this person anymore.”
The next morning, he found a church near his apartment. He stepped inside, his heart pounding. Maybe it wouldn’t change everything overnight. But it was a start. And he was determined.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I know that dishonest gain leads to emptiness, but living righteously brings true peace.
Help me to turn away from temptations that promise easy rewards but cost me my soul.
Give me the courage to walk in honesty, to work with integrity, and to trust that You will provide for me in the right way.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
