TOPIC: The Cost of Greed
TEXT: 2 Kings 5:20-27
20. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought; but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets; give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed.
But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
KEY VERSE:
“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.” – (2 Kings 5:20)
MESSAGE:
In a juvenile magazine, a story was once told to illustrate how covetousness and greed can ruin someone’s life and how it is impossible to continue to hide and cover up one’s sin for long. The story was about a snake named “Sally”, which always sneaked into a farmer’s farm to steal eggs from his pen every night.
When the farmer came to his farm each morning, he always noticed that some of his eggs were missing but his pen showed no sign of someone breaking into it. Guessing that the culprit must be a snake which always sneaked in through a tiny hole in the pen, he decided to leave some boiled eggs in the pen.
As usual, the snake sneaked in and helped itself. But while trying to sneak away through the tiny hole, it got stuck because of the boiled eggs in its stomach which would not break. It remained there till the farmer came and killed it. No matter how long one tries to hide his sins, he would be found out one day!
Gehazi must have considered his master, Elisha, foolish for refusing the gifts that Naaman brought for healing him of his leprosy. Determinedly, he ran after Naaman, lied to him that Elisha had a second thought about the gifts and had requested to be given some to give as a present to some young men who had come to visit him. Elisha exposed him and revealed how he planned to invest the booties. He was then cursed with leprosy.
Covetousness has ruined so many lives. Many have had their chances of greatness dashed due to eagerness to make fast gains. They falsify accounts and change prices of goods.
But as believers, we should understand that godly contentment remains the antidote to covetousness and greed.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Be content with what you have to avoid the regrets of covetousness.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 3-5
DCLM Daily Manna 22 May 2021 Deeper Life Devotional Message was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
