OCTOBER 27: GEHAZI’S GREED AMIDST GODLINESS

It is a known fact that after living with someone for a long time, you know the person’s behaviour, his mannerisms, his speech and reaction to things. Siblings have been known to have the same voice, similar expressions which they must have imbibed from their parents. Regardless of these similarities, people are still different and they make decisions that may be complete departure from what they have been taught all the time.

Gehazi was a servant to Elisha the prophet. He had been with his master for a long time and was regarded as a faithful servant until he became greedy and lied about his master to make personal gains. God used Gehazi to help a certain Shunammite woman who was barren become a mother. When Naaman the Syrian leader came to be cured of Leprosy, he displayed some characteristics that Elisha needed to check. His pride made him demand special treatment, but Elisha did not accord him any respect, it was therefore understandable that he was not going to accept any gift from such a man.

Gehazi however had a different perspective and allowed his greed to get in the way. Although he was a student of Elisha, being close to a man of God did not make him a child of God; the Godliness of Elisha did not affect the greed in the heart of Gehazi. He thought in his heart “why would my master not accept this gift?” He ran after Naaman, lied to him by saying Elisha had sent him to get a talent of silver. Naaman, grateful for his healing and believing the lie, gave Gehazi two talents of silver.

The lesson from the study today is that the fact that you work with the most holy people does not make you holy, you need to respond and make a choice to live a holy life. Opportunity and privilege are no guarantee of success or godly living. We must take advantage of the opportunities God gives us or we lose the blessings and impact of those opportunities. Just being a churchgoer and listening to godly examples never guarantee the communication of biblical truth, spiritual growth, and personal godliness. We need to seek God with our hearts. Of yourself, you can do nothing but with God, we can become like him.

Gehazi lost everything he lied to get and more so became a leper. May we not lose our place in his presence. Today commit to a life of holiness.

Prayer: Father my life is in your hands, I choose to know you more every day, please take self away that I may be more like you. Remove every desire born of self and greed to satisfy my personal needs. Make me your child and let contentment in your provision be sufficient for me, Amen.