SERVING WHO/WHAT WE LOVE
When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath… Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” —Joshua 7:21,25
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” —Luke 16:13
Our choices don’t only affect ourselves, but others as well. Achan, and all the Israelites were told—
“But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.” —Joshua 6:18
Unfortunately, Achan disobeyed, coveted and took of the plunder “a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels.” He was a slave to money and material things and was not obediently serving our Lord, not loving our Lord. Look how his disobedience impacted—
“The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.” —Joshua 7:1
Achan’s sin impacted the whole Israelite community. So much so that they could not win a battle. Instead—
“So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.” —Joshua 7:4-5
Joshua tore his clothes, fell facedown before the ark of the Lord and then question our Lord. He said, “O, Lord GOD, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? (Joshua 7:7). The Lord answered him and said—
“Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions. This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.” Joshua 7:10-12
And that is what they did. It was found out that Achan had taken those things that were forbidden to take. Not only did he impact himself and the Israelite community but his family suffered the consequences that he himself faced—
“Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.” —Joshua 7:24
Outright disobedience to our Lord is a serious matter. Let us consider that and then ask ourselves— “Who or what am I serving?” You answer will determine greatly your destiny. Dear Father, may we be serving You first most by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. Yes, so may this be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9I1f7lx6kQ&list=RDW9I1f7lx6kQ&start_radio=1