OWNERSHIP: PART 1

He doesn't recognize that there’s such a thing as "theft" - if he's looking at it, wants He doesn't recognize that there’s such a thing as "theft" - if he's looking at it, wants it, it’s his (including human beings). He doesn't recognize that other people own it, it’s his (including human beings). He doesn't recognize that other people own things. He justifies to himself taking something from someone by saying they don't things. He justifies to himself taking something from someone by saying they don't need it as much as he does, they don't deserve it, they don't care if he has it…need it as much as he does, they don't deserve it, they don't care if he has it…

CORRECTIVECORRECTIVE: Develop legitimate ownership of possessions – EARN THEM!: Develop legitimate ownership of possessions – EARN THEM!Learn to accept that one cannot have everything one wants. Respect the Learn to accept that one cannot have everything one wants. Respect the boundaries of others.boundaries of others.

Setting and Respecting BoundariesSetting and Respecting BoundariesYou have rights and needs and so does everybody else. We show respect for You have rights and needs and so does everybody else. We show respect for ourselves and others when we set and communicate healthy boourselves and others when we set and communicate healthy boundariesundaries. They . They describe what we are comfortable and uncomfortable with, as well as what is describe what we are comfortable and uncomfortable with, as well as what is acceptable and unacceptable to us. Setting boundaries is a way of protecting acceptable and unacceptable to us. Setting boundaries is a way of protecting ourselves from physical or emotional harm. ourselves from physical or emotional harm.

Being able to communicate boundaries in our relationships is especially Being able to communicate boundaries in our relationships is especially important, so everyone knows what to expect and what is expected from them. important, so everyone knows what to expect and what is expected from them. We also have to be able to respect the boundaries other people set with us. We also have to be able to respect the boundaries other people set with us. RespectRespect refers to words or actions that acknowledge the feelings, choices and  refers to words or actions that acknowledge the feelings, choices and rights of individuals. In healthy relationships it is necessary to have respect for rights of individuals. In healthy relationships it is necessary to have respect for ourselves and respect for others. Many people think of the "Golden Rule" when ourselves and respect for others. Many people think of the "Golden Rule" when defining respect: "Treat others the way you want to be treated."defining respect: "Treat others the way you want to be treated."

SCRIPTURAL APPLICATIONSCRIPTURAL APPLICATION: This thinking error has to do with one's mental : This thinking error has to do with one's mental attitude regarding the work ethic and a healthy respect for the efforts, industry, attitude regarding the work ethic and a healthy respect for the efforts, industry, and accomplishments of other people. The person with this problematic thinking and accomplishments of other people. The person with this problematic thinking error desires to have what someone else has and be where someone else has error desires to have what someone else has and be where someone else has worked to achieve by using sinful shortcut - what's mine is mine and what's worked to achieve by using sinful shortcut - what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine. That is one reason industries want what someone else has yours is mine. That is one reason industries want what someone else has developed through hard work and research. developed through hard work and research.

What we are looking at with this thinking error is a problem with personal integrity. What we are looking at with this thinking error is a problem with personal integrity. Proverbs 20:7Proverbs 20:7 says, "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are says, "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him." The man who is fair knows the value of integrity and sees the blessed after him." The man who is fair knows the value of integrity and sees the fruit of it in his children. Here is another one of those generational benefits of fruit of it in his children. Here is another one of those generational benefits of integrity. Cheating, stealing, dishonesty, fraud, etc. all flow from this thinking error integrity. Cheating, stealing, dishonesty, fraud, etc. all flow from this thinking error that is rooted in absence of integrity.that is rooted in absence of integrity.

Are You a Respectful Are You a Respectful Person? Do you...Person? Do you...

Follow the "Golden Rule," Follow the "Golden Rule," and treat others the way you and treat others the way you want to be treatedwant to be treated

Try to think about how your Try to think about how your actions may influence other actions may influence other people.people.

Believe that violence never Believe that violence never solves problems.solves problems.

Try to always treat other Try to always treat other people and their property people and their property with courtesy.. with courtesy..

Acknowledge and honor Acknowledge and honor others' opinions and others' opinions and beliefs.beliefs.

Show yourself respect by Show yourself respect by setting appropriate setting appropriate boundaries with boundaries with disrespectful people.disrespectful people.

Never deliberately ridicule, Never deliberately ridicule, embarrass, or hurt others..embarrass, or hurt others..

Group Session:Group Session: Make a list of Make a list of ways you could show respect for ways you could show respect for yourself and others. Look at your yourself and others. Look at your lists and ask yourself:lists and ask yourself:

How many of those things do How many of those things do you actually do? How many of you actually do? How many of the things you are not doing now the things you are not doing now would you be willing to try? would you be willing to try? Why?  Why not?Why?  Why not?