Theme: GREED
Text: “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live” – Prov. 15:27.
Comment: In the text for today, King Solomon gives the understanding that sometimes, the consequences of greed may not be suffered by the greedy person alone but by his family members also. The case of Achan is a ready example. The fact was that confident of an easy victory, especially following the advice of the spies who went to see the land, the Israelites had sent about three thousand men: to confront the men of Ai. But the Jews were surprised and embarrassed to find themselves fleeing before the men of Ai and even losing 36 men. Joshua was thrown into mourning. He feared that the other inhabitants in the promised land would hear of the loss and wage war with them with confidence instead of fear. God told him, that some of the Israelites had sinned by disobeying the command not to take any thing from the spoils of Jericho for themselves. When the lot was cast it eventually fell on Achan, who then confessed to have taken some clothes, gold and silver and hidden them in his tent. Achan and his entire family were stoned to death together with the items. .- Joshua 7:1-26.
“Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.” – Habakkuk 2:9,10.