Gehazi: Greed Gone To Seed

2 Kings 5:20-27

Donald Trump once said “you can’t be too greedy.” There are many men and women in the Bible that could take issue with president-elect Trump. Adam and Eve coveted the forbidden fruit. Their greed cost them the Garden of Eden which was a nicer piece of real estate than anything Trump has ever owned or sold. Achan’s greed for the forbidden spoils of Jericho cost him and his family their lives. David coveted Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, and as a result brought the sword into his household. Judas was motivated by a covetous heart and betrayed the very Son of God. His greed will go down in history along with his infamous thirty pieces of silver. Then there was the side kick of the prophet Elisha, Gehazi. His greed made him the Achan or Judas of the Old Testament.

The story of Gehazi’s greed is a continuation of the tale of Naaman, the officer whose leprosy was cleansed. The proud general of the Syrian army thought he needed money to purchase his healing. Elisha refused the reward or bribe, sending him on his way to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. When Naaman “returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, ‘Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant’” (2 Ki. 5:15). He wanted to give the prophet a gift – not a bribe, like before, but a gift of thanksgiving. Again, Elisha refused saying, “’As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.’ And he urged him to take it, but he refused” (2 Ki. 5:16). The prophet of God certainly knew he was turning down a large reward of 750 pounds of silver and 150 pounds of gold which comes to about 1.1 million dollars. Imagine the ministry potential of a sum like that in the hands of an honest prophet of God.

“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, ‘Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him’” (2 Ki. 5:20).

The beginning of greed is DESIRE. True, it is not wrong to want money or things. We need these to live and function on earth. However, Gehazi’s desire was selfishly and foolishly motivated. He rationalized that “as the Lord lives” he will get something. God will help him. God understands his desires. Yet, Elisha used that very phrase when he denied the gift. The Hebrew word for “spared” is better translated “denied” or “restrained.” Gehazi further has rationalized that his master had rejected Naaman’s sincere gratitude and now he must correct the situation. However, these are not the motives for his actions. He is motivated by his greed. After all, he deliberately chose to conceal his plan from his superior.

Gehazi’s greed led him to make a DECISION. “So Gehazi pursued Naaman” (2 Ki. 21a). Gehazi pursued the goods without discussing it with Elisha or a single word of prayer. Greed is not just part of someone’s personality. Greed is the result of choice or making bad decisions.

Greed in Gehazi’s heart led him to utilize DECEPTION. “So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, ‘Is all well?’ And he said, ‘All is well. My master has sent me, saying, “indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments”’…When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. Now he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, ‘Where did you go, Gehazi?’ And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere’” (2 Ki. 5:21b-22). See how he jumps through hoops and uses moral gymnastics to find a loophole to rationalize his behavior. Greed will do that to a man. Gehazi lied on several accounts: 1) Elisha had not sent him; 2) he took the things for himself which is stealing; 3) he concealed them in his house; and 4) he lied to Elisha about his whereabouts. Furthermore, it could be argued that if anyone had a right to these things to have or use for others it was Elisha to whom Naaman had desired to give them in the first place.

Sooner or later greed, like Gehazi’s, will be DISCOVERED. Elisha the prophet told his deceptive servant, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?” (2 Ki. 5:26). Gehazi tried to conceal his actions from Elisha. He lied without hesitation. Imagine how foolish; Elisha was a powerful seer, that is, he could see what was going on with Gehazi and Naaman. How ashamed Gehazi should have felt when discovered. He could not even hide from Elisha what his future intentions were for his stolen goods. He wanted to buy olive groves and vineyards and livestock. These would of been a wise investment in their economy, but a waste of time according to Elisha.

The greediness of Gehazi did not bring him what he wanted, instead it led to his DISFIGUREMENT. Naaman condemned him, “Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow” (2 Ki. 5:27). His leprosy may have been the best thing that ever happened to him. It may have taken an incurable disease to cure him of his greed.

Elisha also warned Gehazi that the consequences of his greed would be upon his “descendants forever.” Gehazi’s greed brought a blight upon his family. Instead of leaving a great inheritance for his posterity, greed had the power to DISINHERIT.

The tragic story of Gehazi continues to repeat itself in the lives of greedy men and women today. When we are carried away by our inordinate DESIRES we will often make bad DECISIONS to DECEIVE others and ourselves in order to gain more and more. Yet, sooner or later our greed will be DISCOVERED. It will leave our lives DISFIGURED and your future, family and friends DISINHERITED.

As Christians we have duty to learn from Gehazi’s mistakes. First, we should protect our ministry from the dangers of greed. Christians are to serve others, while greed comes from a desire to serve self. Greed’s love of things causes us to use people; while love motivates us to serve people. Greed and serving others is not compatible. Second, to defeat greed we must guard our imagination. Rationalization makes all sin less objectionable, especially greed. Next, find a Christian friend to discuss our desires. If Gehazi had made himself accountable to Elisha perhaps all the dangers of greed could have been avoided. Also, check your plans to gain with our priorities of living righteously in the Kingdom of God (Mt. 6:33). Finally, examine your motives to see if they are motivated by greediness or goodness. Perhaps, your motive is the good life here and now instead of focusing on the here after. “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

– by Daniel R. Vess

News & Notes

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