Sin Is Never Private

But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. (Joshua 7:1)

• One person’s actions can affect an entire group.
   
• What happens to one happens to everyone.
   
• We learn from the story of Achan that sin is never private.
   
• After the great victory at Jericho, God gave Joshua specific instructions on how to deal with the city and its loot (Josh. 6:18).
   
• The people were to abstain from the accursed things.
   
• They were to put all the silver and gold into the treasury of the Lord.
   
• But they disobeyed His command to them.
   
• The interesting thing is, not all of Israel sinned.
   
• Only one person did — Achan.
   
• But because of his actions, everyone was affected and God was dishonored.
   
• As followers of Jesus, we belong to one another.
   
• Our individual actions can impact the entire body and God’s name.
   
• Let us be careful so that we may individually and together give God the honor He deserves.
   
• Our sin is never private, though we may try to hide it.
   
• We belong to God and to one another.
   
• What we do individually may grieve God and impact fellow Christians.
   
• Private sins will inevitably have public impact.