Taking of the Accursed

Joshua 7:11

Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

God was very specific about not taking anything from Jericho. God said they were to destroy everything, and burn the city with fire. However, Achan saw an opportunity to enrich himself and took some gold, silver, and a Babylonish garment and hid it in his tent; he thought it would never be discovered. However, the moment he took it, he was cursed, and that curse not only affected him, but it affected his family and his country.

It does not matter how he tried to spiritualize taking these things; the moment God said not to take a thing meant those things belonged to God. Notice some of the words God used to describe Achan’s action. He took of the accursed thing. The Scriptures say that they have also stolen. In other words, these things were not his because they belonged to someone else. The Scriptures also says he dissembled. To dissemble means to hide one’s true motives. You will notice that God said Achan put these things among their own stuff. Achan tried to use something that was cursed for himself, but it only brought a curse on he, his family, and his country.

When you look at this story, you can't help but see the importance of tithing. Malachi 3:8-9 says, Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. When a person takes the tithe and uses it for themselves, they bring a curse on themselves and everyone around them. It does not matter how you spiritualize not tithing; you are robbing God when you don't tithe. I want you to think about the statement that you are robbing God. To rob someone is to threaten their life if they don't give you what you want. Nobody ever threatens God and walks away unharmed. You can rob God of that which is His, the tithe, but you will always walk away cursed.

Now, one of the arguments people use not to tithe is that they can't afford to tithe. In other words, they are no different from Achan by taking God’s money and putting it among their own stuff. The brazenness of taking God’s money and saying it is yours is foolish. Do you think that God does not know what is His? Do you really think you can hide God’s money from yours? God knows what is His, and to hide it with your money to use for your personal possessions only brings a curse on you.

Furthermore, many have hidden their true motives for why they don't tithe by saying they don't believe tithing is for our day. Now, this may sound spiritual, but tithing is not only an Old Testament command, but it is also commanded in the New Testament. Jesus said we ought to tithe when He taught us to do all that the Pharisees do except to rely on our own righteousness to get into Heaven. You can conceal your reason for not tithing, but God still knows it is His money you are using.

The danger of not tithing is it not only curses you, but it curses your family and church. I wonder how many families and churches are being hurt by non-tithing members. If you love your family and your church, it would be wise not to take of the accursed thing, the tithe, and to use it for yourself.