the shame of selfishness

Joshua 7:16-21 (JDV)

Joshua 7:16 Joshua got up early the next morning. He had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
Joshua 7:17 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the Zerahite clan was selected. He had the Zerahite clan come forward by heads of families, and Zabdi was selected.
Joshua 7:18 He then had Zabdi’s family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.
Joshua 7:19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to Yahveh, the God of Israel, and make a confession to him. I urge you, tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.”
Joshua 7:20 Achan replied to Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against Yahveh, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter, I craved them and took them. You can see for yourself. They are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the silver under the cloak.”

the shame of selfishness

The damage had been done. People had lost their lives in battle through no fault of their own, because Achan had disobeyed orders and took things for himself that belonged to God. Oh, when I think of all the times I have done that, I bow my head in shame. I know God has forgiven me for my greed and lack of concern. I stand forgiven for all my sins of the past. But it humbles me to think of the seriousness of showing disrespect for God. Achan put himself before God. He had hidden the evidence of his shame, but it was not hidden from God.

Lord, change our selfish hearts.