This week we are reading 2 Kings 5 - that intriqueing story about Commander Naaman's miraculous healing from leprosy.
Today, read again verses 19 - 27.
Elisha's servant, Gehazi, just couldn't stand it! Money was offered and Elisha refused to take it. For the prophet of God, there were more important things at stake than money. I suspect Elisha NEVER wanted Naaman to doubt the healing he had received from God. It was pure grace. Naaman did not earn it ... deserve it ... or buy it. Isn't it difficult to just accept grace. We are so programmed by our culture that "nothing is free" - "you get what you pay for" - "there's no free ride"! Therefore when we bump up against the grace of God, we don't know how to react. And so we struggle with the concept. We have a hard time believing that we REALLY CANNOT EARN OR DESERVE GOD'S GRACE! So we work hard at religion to deserve it - can't be done. We try and try to be "good" to earn it - can't be done. These are fine things to focus attention and energy upon ... but if the motivation is to deserve God's gift ... then the motivation is wrong. God's grace is pure gift. As a believer in our Lord, you are a recipient of this priceless treasure - wholeness as a gift of God. Response? Say with Naaman, "Now I know that there is no God except You." And offer yourself ... again ... in gratitude and wonder.
As I have mentioned to you earlier, I have become quite a Naaman fan as I have reflected on this chapter this week. But we also see an example in these verses that we need to learn from in a negative aspect. Gehazi.
I see some greed in that man's heart. Couldn't stand to let some money pass him by when it was there for the taking. I see a good rationalizer. I can say that because I am a bit of an expert in that arena! Did you notice how Gehazi rationalized what he wanted to do? Forget that Elisha had said, No" to the offer. Forget that Gehazi was Elisha's servant and, therefore, not the one to overturn the decision. Forget that Naaman was already "some distance" away ... Gehazi wanted it. So he goes - deliberately, intentionally, after Naaman. Then we see the third strike against Gehazi. He is dishonest. He devises a tale that it totally untrue to get what he wants. I have a theory ... I think Naaman would have given him some money if Gehazi had just asked for it for himself. But he did not have that much courage. He did not have the strength of character or the courage to speak the truth. And he continued the lie when he returned to Elisha. But wait, we know about that ... how a lie grows.
Truth matters. Being a person whose word is dependable matters. In Proverbs 6: 16 - 19 there is an interesting list of things that God hates. It is surprising to me what is there ... and what is NOT there. But for our discussion today, most interesting is that "a lying tongue" is number 2! On down the list, in position 6 is "a false witness who pours out lies."
Truth matters. To God. And Paul tells us how to deliver truth. In Ephesians 4:15 Paul tells believers to "speak the truth in love." You see, both aspects are vital. If one speaks the truth, and there is no love present, it can come out harsh, even mean, and will sound judgmental. If one only speaks with love - no truth - it can be mushy and sentimental and weak. So both components are necessary. Truth ... Love. They go together.
The challenge I see for us as we close this week ... more like Naaman: generous, willing to listen, eyes to see God ... and less like Gehazi: greedy, deceptive.
And before you leave this site today ... say with me (out loud!)
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
He is faithful in all He does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His unfailing love. (Psalm 33: 4 - 5)
And so we worship ...
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