Lessons From Elisha, Part 17
The Power of Greed
There are MANY lessons to be learned from the prophet Elisha. This is the
17th in a series focusing on the life and works of this great prophet.
"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 Ki 5:25-27)
Gahazi just couldn't stand it. A wealthy man, Naaman, from a wealthy nation,
Syria, had just been healed of Leporsy by Elisha. But when Naaman offered
Elisha gold, silver, and Syrian garmets in payment for his healing, Elisha
had the gall to refuse! It was more than Gahazi could comprehend, and he
said so: "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting
from him what he brought!"
Now some of us, when we don't agree with something a superior has done, will
just stew about it. But the more we contemplate it, the more likely we are
apt to act on our disagreement. And Gahazi must have disagreed VERY strongly
indeed, for he made a fatal decision: "As surely as the Lord lives, I will
run after him and get something from him!"
True to his word, Gahazi ran after Naaman, lied to him, and went away with
two talents of silver and two sets of clothing. Which he then had to hide,
to keep Elisha from finding out! And when Elisha asked him where he has
been, he lied about that, too.
Criticalness. Disobedience. Dishonesty. Deceit. More lies
Why? How could a man who is the personal servant to the great prophet Elisha,
stoop so low?
The answer is simple: Greed!
Greed drove Gahazi to being critical. Then disobedience. And to cover his
disobedience and still get when he came for, Gahazi was driven to
dishonesty. Then to keep Elisha from finding out, he resorted to
deceitfulness. The root of it all was greed. Greed bred one sin after
another.
But God does not deal lightly with greed.
When Gahazi returned to his home, he was met by his master: "Was not my
spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? . . . Naaman's leprosy
will cling to you and to your descendants forever." (vs.
26a, 27a)
Friend, beware of the power of greed. It may seem innocent enough in its
early stages, but it can quickly grow into a deadly enemy, for it will
quickly breed a host of other sins, and all will eventually be punished. Ask
God today to help you identify the seeds of greed and "nip" them in the bud
before it "nips" you!
See next Saturday's edition of The Nugget, for Elisha, Part 18.
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets (www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org ,