Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I KNOW that there is no God in ALL THE WORLD except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant."
But the prophet answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, Elisha refused.
Elisha blatantly served God. No taint of personal gain clung to his obedience. Naaman couldn't pay for his healing. The God of Israel really was different than the other gods, & so were his followers.
Enter Elisha's servant, the ever-practical Gehazi. He's Elisha's servant. Doubtless, he went hungry along with Elisha. He knew what welcome relief Naaman's gift of silver would bring to their state of near-poverty.
Taking the "What he doesn't know won't hurt" approach, Gehazi sprints after Naaman's chariot, and asks for the silver. Embarrassed to ask it directly for himself or his master, Gehazi invents two needy young men, convincing Naaman that his silver will help out the friends of the prophet who just healed him.
Gehazi does all this in secret, and thinks he can lie to Elisah. Talk about compartmentalizing the power of God! Gehazi just SAW a man with leprosy healed by muddy river water. Yet instead of processing the miracle as an example of God's omnipotent & immanent involvement in human life, Gehazi is focused on how it will serve his personal needs. He lies to 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? 27 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.
There is something reprehensible about churches that make a profit off of their members, pastors who bleed their sheep, and Christians who see God not as Jehovah Provider, but as a the means to a well-fed life.
In Luke 12:21, Jesus minces no words. Those who store up treasure for themselves on earth will die & turn to dust. "This is what will happen to anyone who is NOT RICH TOWARD GOD."
Elisha rejoiced that Naaman found the one true God.
Gehazi rejoiced that Naaman was free-thinking with his silver.
Pesonal Application:
"Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants?"
The days are short, and Christians MUST love with actions, not just words. I don't EVER want to place my needs above the work of God. Especially because he already knows my needs and will provide. I don't want to run after chariots & make up sob stories to get a free lunch. It is NOT the time to take money, or accept payment for sharing the Gospel. It is time for the workers of the harvest to WORK!
