The sin of Achan found in Joshua 6:17-19 is a powerful example of how one person committing evil in private can negatively affect their family, church congregation or place of employment.
A reaction to that may be: “Now brother, what people do is their own business, and it has nothing to do with me. If people want to cheat others, or lie, curse and steal, or watch porn, what’s that to me?”
I can tell you what God’s Word says about it. Being dedicated to others through the bond of our word, and especially if we are a spiritual family bound together in a sacred covenant with God, our association with them means we represent them and we are accountable for our attitudes and actions. Listen to this story found in Joshua chapter 6 and how what this one man did in secret became devastating to those he loved and everyone he was committed with.
Israel had just conquered the city of Jericho in an amazing display of God’s power and favor. The Lord had instructed Israel to not take any of the spoils of war for themselves but to devote “everything” to God. Very specific — and when God makes a command, he is not just kidding around. Remember Lot’s wife was told to not turn around and look at the city as they were fleeing. She did and turned into a pillar of salt.
Anyway, during the heat of battle, Achan saw an opportunity to make a few bucks, so he took a fancy garment, 200 shekels of silver (about $300 in today’s value) and a wedge of gold (worth about $25,000 today) and buried it in his tent. No one saw what he did, and he did not even tell his family. How many parents and church members have secret sins hidden in their closets that no one knows about, all the while acting like everything is fine?