7 Deadly Sins: Greed

Joshua 6:15-19 & 7:1-26

The fall of Jericho and the greed of Achan. ??

This passage can feel very alien, yet also familiar. The temptation Achan felt is very real to us, yet the reaction to his sin was very shocking!

Why? What are we being taught here? ?‍♂️

Why is this account so detailed and shocking? What can we understand here?

This is history repeating itself. ?

The parallel exists here between this account and the story in the Garden of Eden. Eve's reaction to the forbidden fruit is very similar to Achan's to the treasure - Eve desired the fruit; Achan desired the treasure. Eve hides herself away amongst the trees; Achan hides the treasure in his tent.

We are supposed to notice something here: this is the same as any sin. While the immediate consequences are vastly different, the motivations and actions are the same as many sins across scripture, and beyond.

The root cause here is a desire for something that is wrong for us. We ought to have the wisdom to acknowledge temptation and choose to move past it, towards what God desires for us.

Matthew 6:24

"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."

There are 2 ways we can go. We serve God first, or we serve the material things we desire. To serve here is to make the sole purpose of our lives. The believe that owning that thing will fulfill us.

The difference is that while the material is false and will not fulfill us, living for God is ultimate fulfillment.

Greed affects our relationships ?

A love for the material brings all sorts of problems to our personal relationships. We look down on those who have less that us. We despise those who have more than us. We also use our wealth to manipulate others. We do all sorts of despicable things to others in pursuit of wealth.

It affects our relationship with God too. ?

We rely on things for sustenance, not God. If we do not rely on God, we do not understand or appreciate how important He is to our lives. God can provide for us.

When the rich young ruler comes seeking eternal life, Jesus loved him. It was out of this love that He asked him to give everything up. Here Jesus was trying to save him from his love of money and things. To make right the relationship to God that had been thrown aside.

Jesus came to intervene ✝️

It is impossible for us to put aside this desire for things. Yet the purpose for Jesus coming and giving himself in death is so that we can have the Holy Spirit to guide us to the tree of life. God in us will lead us with His voice of wisdom to a life that relies solely on Him.