¹⁷ The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. ¹⁸ But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. ¹⁹ All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury."

Introduction: The city of Jericho and all that was in it was devoted to God. So if anyone took anything, they were likely to experience destruction. Achan took a robe from Babylonia and silver and gold, and he hid them in the ground inside his tent. As a result, the Israelites failed to destroy the small city of Ai, which was near Jericho. Finally, God´s wrath stopped after Joshua and all the Israelites discovered the criminal, Achan, and stoned him and his family.


1. Sunday is the day devoted to God.
    1) The fourth commandment (in the Ten Commandments) says to remember the
        Sabbath Day by keeping it holy (Ex 20:8-10).
        - If anyone disobeyed the Law, they were put to death (Nu 15:32-36).
    2) During New Testament days, God gave us new commandments. These are
        commandments of faith and love (Mk 12:30-31).
        - We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and by loving Him, not by observing the Law
           (Eph 2:8-9). However, according to the tradition of the apostles, we observe
           Sunday as the Lord´s Day, when Christ rose again and the Holy Spirit descended.
        - As for New Testament Christians, Sunday is the Sabbath (Isa 58:13-14).

2. Tithe is the offering devoted to God.
    1) God rebuked the Israelites (Mal 3:7-12).
    2) Abraham and tithing (Ge 14:18-20).
        Isaac´s big blessing (Ge 26:12-13).
        Jacob´s pledge concerning tithe (Ge 28:20-22).
    3) Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Mt 6:20-21).
        - Tithing is a touchstone to prove our faith and love (2Co 9:7).

3. Our bodies are devoted to God.
    1) An offering which God is pleased with (Ro 12:1-2).
    2) Things that were bought with a price (1Co 6:19-20).
    3) One who sins against one´s own body (1Co 6:15-18).


Conclusion : If we take something that is devoted to God, we will be an arrogant and unholy thief. We will have God´s wrath on us, and we will fail to receive His blessing.