CONSEQUENCES OF GREED: Devotion for Friday June 3, 2016
Text: 2 Kings 5:20 – 27 Memory verse: v 27
Naaman
didn’t make the mistake of going back to Syria after his miraculous healing. He
went back to Elisha as a mark of gratitude for what God of Israel had done for
him. He came to offer Elisha his gifts instead of offering them to God. Elisha
refused because it will amount to taking the glory of God. Most pastors would
gladly hijack such offers and corner them for their personal use. They will
easily quote 1 Tim 5:18. While Elisha was rejecting those offers from Naaman, Gehazi,
his servant, out of greed, was lusting after those gifts. Thus he went after
Naaman to ask for some of those gifts his master rejected. He even went ahead
to tell lies in the name of his master. This made it double offence (5:22).
Naaman gave him more than he requested for (5:23).
Gehazi
never knew that his sins will find him out. Most times when we commit sin and
tell lies about them, we easily forget that the Holy Spirit is here with us and
can reveal anything we do because He sees us and all we do. Elisha opened his mouth;
spoke the word of God and Gehazi became leprous as was Naaman. Compare this to
Acts 5:1–5. Greed has grievous consequences. This story is a warning for those
who are greedy, priests and their servants. Don’t have an eye on what God has
rejected. Be contented with what God has given to you to avoid had I known at
the end. What do you think would have been the reaction of Naaman if he hears
this story? Your guess is as good as mine. Have a great day.
Food for Thought: Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an
endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction” – Erich
Fromm.
Prayer: God, deliver me from any form of greed in my life in Jesus
name.
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