Be Free of Greed

When we read the word of God, how it can strike at our heart!  Our conscience can be smitten of a thing done long ago, a regrettable mistake which we wish we could have taken back.  It is in those times, having sorrow for sin in repentance, we can remind our conscience how Jesus has washed us clean of all sin and purified us past, present and forever by His atoning sacrifice.  Oh, how sweet is the freedom God gives from guilt and shame!  Praise the LORD He allows us to make mistakes so we will learn from them and walk uprightly in the future by His grace.

After Naaman the Syrian was cleansed from his leprosy in the Jordan according to the word of the LORD through Elisha, Namaan paid a return visit to thank him.  He offered him a reward for the healing he received.  2 Kings 5:15-16 reads, "And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant." ¹⁶ But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing." And he urged him to take it, but he refused."  Elisha was a man who walked with God and would not be swayed by a powerful, rich man to take a gift.  He offered healing from God without price, and was free of the greed which has plagued many souls and pierced countless through with many sorrows.  Exodus 23:8 says in judgment gifts blind the wise and pervert the words of the righteous, and Elisha gave no opportunity to suggest his motivation was for glory or riches:  it was so Naaman would know there was a prophet in Israel, and the LORD is God over all.

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, was a different sort of man.  Proximity to a man of God in no way purged the greed for wealth which corrupted his heart.  He chased after Namaan and lied, for he said he had been sent on an errand by his master.  A couple of prophets had come from Samaria and he requested one talent of silver and two changes of clothes.  Now a talent of silver is about 26 kilos, a LOT of silver.  2 Kings 5:23 says, "So Namaan said, "Please, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him."  Lying Gehazi agreed to take a second talent of silver, while Elisha would not receive a single shekel of gold or silver from his hand.  He did allow Namaan to haul away 2 mule's worth of dirt so he could build an altar for burnt offerings unto the LORD in his own land.

2 Kings 5:25-27 tells us what happened later:  "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." ²⁶ 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? ²⁷ Therefore the leprosy of Namaan shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow."  The greed of Gehazi made him more rich than he ever dreamed, yet it cost him his health, future and life.  Proverbs 1:19 puts it perfectly:  "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners."

I wonder:  was Gehazi willing to trade his health and the privilege of ministry with Elisha for silver and clothes?  It seems that way.  It is a terrible thing the leprosy of Namaan would cling to Gehazi and his house, for God that day had already proven Himself powerful to cleanse Namaan of it.  How things could have been different if Gehazi had confessed, "I have spoken lies and sinned:  pray that God would heal me of the leprosy and I will return all."  God healed the withered hand of idolatrous Jeroboam and the leprosy of the Syrian Namaan so I have no doubt there was healing for Gehazi if he wanted it.  Gehazi went out from the presence of Elisha white as snow.  This is one of those moments which should give us pause due to the gravity of what happened due to greed, lack of repentance and faith in God.

1 John 1:9-10 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."  We have sinned, and praise God there is healing and wholeness in Jesus Christ.  No sin or stigma attached to it need remain upon us because we are new creations through the Gospel by grace through faith.  May we, like Namaan, be moved to thank God and offer ourselves as living sacrifices to Him, for that is our reasonable service.