Hands up if you have an ipod or a mp3 player of any description!  I’m sure many of you now do, but is all your music legal?

Phones and ipods are expensive enough, but the additional cost of music on top of that can mount up, especially when there are sites that offer free, but illegal, music downloads.  It can be tempting to think to yourself that all those wealthy musicians will not notice one little person downloading one little song illegally!  Will they really miss that couple of pence that they would have earned from you downloading that song or album?

But….have you ever really considered the biblical implications of downloading illegal music?  By buying illegal music, you are essentially stealing the music.  Just because the songs are not physical objects they are still stolen, and while it may only cost the musician a few pence, consider what Jesus is saying in this verse from Luke 16:10-12:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”

In God’s eyes, any theft is still theft, and while it is undoubtedly easier on our pockets to sometimes cut corners and use illegal sites, as Christians we must do things the right way and set a good example for those around us.

Sarah

PS.  You should also consider the dangers to yourself and your computer in downloading illegal files.  Some files may not be what they say that are and you could get a nasty surprise!  You may find they also include viruses which could damage your computer… so be careful what you download!