Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"Go in peace," Elisha said.
After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked.
"Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.' "
"By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.
"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked.
"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.
But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever."
Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.
2 Kings 5:19-27
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
At the start of Chapter 5 in 2 Kings, we read about the mighty Aramean soldier Naaman who was healed from his leprosy after he carried out the Lord’s instruction to wash in the Jordan seven times. You’ll recall that Naaman was so grateful to Elisha that he wanted to reward him with a gift but Elisha declined and sent Naaman off to his homeland with the words, “Go in peace”.
You’ll remember that Naaman wasn’t traveling empty handed. For scripture told us he had “ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing”. Elisha could have had any or all of it but refused. His reward was in Naaman showing the requisite faith in the Lord to be healed. His servant Gehazi on the other hand wasn’t feeling the same way. For his thoughts began to center on his own material gain instead of the Lord…and disaster was soon to follow.
We know this because God’s word told us that Gehazi said to himself after Naaman departed, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
Did you catch the difference between Elisha and Gehazi?
Elisha said that he wouldn’t accept anything as surely as the Lord lives (2 Kings 5:16) while Gehazi said he would go and get something for himself from Naaman as surely as the Lord lives.
Both kept their word.
In Gehazi’s case, we read where he “hurried after Naaman” causing the Aramean to get down from his chariot and inquire whether everything was all right. Gehazi tells him it is…but it really isn’t because Elisha’s servant is about to tell a lie that will lead to serious consequences from the Lord.
For Gehazi tells Naaman, “My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.' " Now we know that Gehazi was just trying to get things for himself but Naaman didn’t. He took Gehazi’s request at full value and gave him what he had asked for along with two of his servants to help carry the items to Gehazi’s home after which Gehazi sent the men back to Naaman and went to see Elisha.
As Gehazi came to Elisha, the prophet asked his servant, “Where have you been, Gehazi?"
Again, we find Gehazi tell a lie as he replies, “Your servant didn't go anywhere."
You see, Gehazi thought he could get away with lying to Elisha. After all, Elisha wasn’t around when he received the gifts from Naaman and so he wouldn’t know any better. But there was one thing that Gehazi forgot. He forgot that you may be able to hide the truth from man but you’ll never hide the truth from God and we need to remember the same.
For right after Gehazi told his lie, scripture tells us that Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever."
In other words, Gehazi was exposed and discovered right away that there can be severe punishment for violating the Lord. For as Gehazi left Elisha, we read where “he was leprous, as white as snow”. In other words, Naaman’s affliction had now become his. And where Naaman had been healed though his obedience, Gehazi was afflicted through his disobedience.
Friends, the Lord is sending us a serious message here regarding greed. Gehazi thought that some reward was warranted for the work that Elisha had done. And in thinking that way, he showed that he really didn’t get what had happened. For Naaman wasn’t healed by Elisha’s power…not even close. If it had been Elisha trying to heal Naaman on his own, he would have failed miserably. But with the power of the Holy Spirit inside him and working through him, Elisha could do miracles…not because of what he did alone but because of what the Lord did through him.
In other words, Elisha was an instrument of the Lord…and any praise, glory or honor from any miracle performed belonged to the Lord, not him. This is why Elisha refused reward for what happened…and why we need to as well when the Lord does powerful things through us. When I write a great message that touches the lives of so many, I don’t take credit for my words. For the Lord speaks those words through me to whoever He leads to read them. When I perform Christian songs in the concerts I get to sing, I don’t take credit for the power of the music sang. For the power of the music from my mouth only comes via the power of the Holy Spirit within me.
From this lesson today, we learn that taking credit or reward where it’s not due when it comes to the Lord’s work thwarts His efforts in build stronger relationships with His people…and woe be it to anyone who intentionally gets in the way of that.
Just ask Gehazi.
For he would tell you after the fact that when it comes to the Lord, we should always give credit where credit is due.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
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