What lessons on stewardship can we learn from Joshua 6:19's "holy to the LORD"? The Moment at Jericho “ ‘But all the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.’ ” (Joshua 6:19) Israel’s very first victory in Canaan brings an unexpected command: every valuable object in Jericho belongs exclusively to God. Nothing was to be pocketed or repurposed—everything went directly into the Lord’s treasury. God’s Claim of Ownership • Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell in it.” • Haggai 2:8 — “ ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of Hosts.” Jericho’s wealth never truly belonged to Israel; it already belonged to God. Stewardship begins by recognizing that everything in our hands is on loan from its rightful Owner. Set Apart: What “Holy to the LORD” Really Means • “Holy” (Hebrew qodesh) = set apart, consecrated, reserved for divine purposes. • Leviticus 27:28 shows the same idea: dedicated items “become most holy to the LORD.” When something is labeled holy, ordinary use is off-limits. Our resources, relationships, and time likewise bear a sacred tag when surrendered to God. Firstfruits and the Principle of Priority Jericho was the first city conquered; its spoils functioned as a firstfruits offering. • Exodus 23:19 — “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.” • Proverbs 3:9 — “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest.” By dedicating Jericho’s treasure, Israel declared, “God gets the first and the best, not the leftovers.” Our tithe, our Sunday, our prime energy in ministry—these flow from the same principle. Accountability Illustrated: Achan’s Tragic Lesson The very next chapter (Joshua 7) shows Achan violating the command. Personal gain cost Israel a battle and cost Achan his life. • Acts 5:1-11 echoes this with Ananias and Sapphira. • 1 Corinthians 4:2 — “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” God takes stewardship seriously; mishandling what is His invites discipline. Stewardship Beyond Money 1. Time: Ephesians 5:16 urges us to “redeem the time.” 2. Talents: 1 Peter 4:10 tells each believer to “use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” 3. Truth: 1 Thessalonians 2:4 states we are “entrusted with the gospel.” Every sphere of life can carry the Jericho label—holy to the LORD. Blessing Linked to Obedience After Jericho’s treasure was rightly placed in God’s treasury, the pathway opened for further victories. Malachi 3:10 connects faithful giving with opening “the floodgates of heaven.” Practical Takeaways • Start every financial decision by remembering God’s ownership. • Give God the first portion of income, not the remainder. • Treat ministry responsibilities as sacred trust deeds, not hobbies. • Conduct regular “Achan checks”: inventory time, money, and motives to ensure nothing is secretly withheld. • Rejoice that God allows us to handle His possessions—stewardship is a privilege, not a burden. Jericho’s gold and silver may be long gone, but the label “holy to the LORD” still rests on everything God places in our hands today. |
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