But he (Elisha) said, as the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing. And he (Naaman) urged him to take it, but he refused. So Naaman said, then if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth, for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord – 2 Kings 5 : 16 – 17.
Elisha refused to collect anything from Naaman because he received the anointing from God as a free gift. We cannot pay for what God has given to us. We should try to do things without expecting anything in return. People’s altitude or behavior should not deprive us from serving our God because no matter how careful we might be, temptation is bound to come but we have to take our stand as children of God.
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought, but as the Lord lives, i will run after him and take something from him. Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said is all well? – 2 Kings 5 : 20 – 21.
And he said all is well. My master has sent me, saying indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garment – 2 Kings 5 : 22. When greed set in, there must be existence of lie. A servant of the man of God telling lie which he knows that is against the commandment of God. He did not only lie against himself, he also lied against the man of God. He isolated himself from the man of God because greed brings isolation. ” He who isolates himself seeks his own desire, he rages against all wise judgment” – Proverbs 18 : 1.
Naaman gave him two talents of silver in two bags and two changes of garments and Gehazi hide those things somewhere outside the house and entered the house as an innocent man. But he forgot that nothing is hidden from God. ( 2 Kings 5 :23 – 24.)
Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, where did you go Gehazi? And he said, your servant did not go anywhere. Then he said to him, did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? – 2 Kings 5 : 25 – 26.
To enable him cover his greed, he has to keep on lying. His master asked him if this is the time to receive gifts because the word of God says that everything has its own time. The words of God as written in the bible is to guide us in the way of the Lord. Gehazi’s eyes was not after the healing or the great miracle that was performed by God through his master but rather in material things that will not last forever. The bible says, ”A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him” – Proverbs 28 : 22.
Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever. And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow – 2 Kings 5 :27.
Because of greed, Gehazi missed his anointing or gift which his master would have release on him when the due time comes. Elisha received double portion of the anointing of Elijah which means Gehazi would have receive two times the anointing of Elisha but because of greed, he couldn’t receive that which would have been for ever. Some people suffer for the offense they have not committed as Gehazi subjected himself, his children and even the ones yet unborn to everlasting sickness. Anything we do in life whether positive or negative, will always have effect in the life of our children and even generations yet unborn. Therefore, i think that care should be taken in anything we do including our way of speaking because whatever we say, we are decreeing to our future.
He who is greedy for gain troubles his house, but he who hates bribes will live – Proverbs 15 : 27.
Father Lord, we thank You for creating us in Your own image. Help us to be careful in life so that we cannot bring suffering or sickness to our children through our actions, behavior, way of speaking, greed, disobedience, altitude. We appreciate the sacrifice Jesus Christ has paid for us Let Your grace continue to lead us so that we cannot go astray in Jesus name.
osarobohenry 