Whose Your Boss? Joshua 9

The greatest commandment is "Love your Lord your God with all you heart, mind, and strength." What does that mean in our daily life. It means exactly what Jesus said it meant--the number one thing in your life is God. In all aspects if your life, God should be the greatest influence and it should be obvious to others that God is so important.

Joshua made a grave mistake in Joshua 9. Rather than consulting the Lord, he took matters in his own hands. What seemed to be an easy affair to complete turned out to be more of a burden than the Israelites ever thought. Rather than following through with God's commands, he took care of an insignificant agreement with a "faraway land." Problem--this people were his neighbors that God had told him to destroy. When this group came to him to gain a covenant, Joshua quickly wanted to show his political suave and complete it on his own--sorry God, I can do this one myself. Instead of gaining fame and glory with the first treaty his people signed, he was embarrassed by the lies the people told them.

I don't blame the people. As in verses 24-25, this people was fearful so they did what every they could to survive. Joshua, on the other hand, completed a major piece of diplomacy without demonstrating that God was the center of his life.

Right now, ask yourself, Are you more like Joshua? Do you date people without consulting God? Do you make decisions without prayer? Do you decide things on your emotion rather than the Word of God? Most of us say yes to these questions. Guess what--that means that God is not number one in our lives--we are.

As you consider this truth, pray that God will deliver you from this self-centered mentality--I know I am right now!

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