2 Kings 5:15-27
We began this journey with the story of a little girl taken as a slave to another country, Syria. Her humility and integrity led her to suggest a cure for her master, Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, who was suffering from leprosy. As we know, leprosy (or Hansen's disease) had no cure at the time. She advised her master to seek the prophet in Israel, Elisha, who could heal him. Naaman trusted her word, and that trust set the story in motion.
This little girl, who had been taken captive after a war, despite her circumstances, displayed incredible humility and faith. Her master, a great military leader, trusted her advice, which brought him to Israel to seek healing. Naaman, full of hope, brought significant gifts—gold, silver, and fine clothes—to offer the prophet.
Last week, we talked about Naaman's journey to receive healing from Elisha. When Naaman arrived, he expected grandeur, given his high status. Instead, Elisha did not come out to meet him. Instead, he sent a messenger who told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was furious. He had expected a grand miracle, with the prophet calling on the name of God, perhaps waving his hand over the afflicted area and curing him in a dramatic display.
Moreover, Naaman was outraged that he was told to wash in the Jordan, a dirty river. He mentioned how the rivers of Damascus—Abana and Pharpar—were far better than all the waters of Israel. He thought to himself, "Why have I come all this way only to be told to bathe in this muddy river?" Initially, he refused.
However, Naaman’s servants convinced him: "If the prophet had asked you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he simply says, ‘Wash and be cleansed?’" So, listening to their counsel, Naaman humbled himself, went to the Jordan, and dipped seven times as instructed. To his astonishment, his skin was restored, and he was healed.
Naaman returned to Elisha full of gratitude and joy. He acknowledged the God of Israel as the true, living God and wanted to worship Him. In his gratitude, he offered gifts to Elisha—gifts of gold, silver, and fine clothes—but Elisha refused, saying, "I will not accept any gifts." Elisha made it clear that the healing came from God, not him.
This is an important lesson: healing comes from God, not man. Whether in ancient times or today, it is always God who heals, for He created our bodies and knows every intricate detail of our being. As I often say, when we face issues beyond the scope of human doctors, we must return to the "Manufacturer," the One who made us.
After Naaman’s healing, Elisha’s servant Gehazi witnessed everything. But Gehazi was not pleased. He thought, "My master was too easy on Naaman by letting him off without accepting his gifts." Gehazi saw an opportunity to benefit from the situation. He allowed greed to corrupt his heart.
Greed, unfortunately, blinds us to what is right. Gehazi thought Elisha had made a mistake by not accepting the wealth offered by Naaman. So, Gehazi secretly ran after Naaman and concocted a lie. He told Naaman that two guests had arrived unexpectedly, and they needed some money and clothes. Naaman, in his gratitude, immediately gave him two talents of silver and two sets of clothes. Gehazi accepted these gifts and hid them.
When Gehazi returned, Elisha asked, "Where have you been?" Gehazi lied, saying, "Your servant didn’t go anywhere." But Elisha, in his spiritual wisdom, knew exactly what had happened. He said, "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 clothes?" As a result, Gehazi was struck with the very leprosy that Naaman had been healed from. His greed brought about his downfall, and he paid a high price for his dishonesty.
The Dangers of Greed of greed and many. Greed corrupts the soul. It can make us lose sight of integrity, humility, and the work of God in our lives. Gehazi had a good position, serving alongside the prophet Elisha, but instead of focusing on his ministry, he allowed greed to take over. He thought about what he could gain from the situation rather than focusing on the miracle of God’s healing.
Greed is a sin that many fail to acknowledge. Often, we feel self-satisfied when we give a little, but deep down, there may be a desire to hold back and not give fully. This attitude is dangerous because it hinders our spiritual growth and corrupts our integrity.
An extended nature of greed is not only wanting more for yourself but also desiring what belongs to someone else. This covetousness is a part of greed. The Bible has numerous stories where people were consumed by greed, and ultimately paid the price for it. Take the example of David. He coveted his neighbor’s wife, Bathsheba, and committed adultery. To cover up his sin, he arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle. You can read this tragic story in 2 Samuel 11. Greed, in the form of lust and desire, drove David to commit both adultery and murder. Then there is King Ahab, who coveted his neighbor Naboth’s vineyard. When Naboth refused to sell it, Ahab's greed led to an elaborate scheme, orchestrated by his wife Jezebel, that resulted in Naboth’s wrongful death. This story is found in 1 Kings 21. Another infamous example is Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Judas’s greed overtook his loyalty, leading him to betray the Son of God. His story is a stark reminder of how greed can blind us to the value of relationships and our faith. In the Book of Acts, we read about Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), a couple who sold a piece of property but lied about the proceeds. They kept back part of the money for themselves, while pretending to give all of it to the apostles. Their greed and deceit cost them their lives, as God’s judgment fell upon them swiftly.
Similarly, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, had a good position serving alongside the prophet. However, his focus shifted away from his ministry and became centered on personal gain. Instead of upholding his calling, Gehazi asked, “What can I get out of this? How much money can I make?” He became greedy, disregarding the sacredness of the ministry and the grace of God.
The story of Gehazi serves as a powerful lesson: Greed can corrupt even those in positions of service and leadership. When we lose sight of our calling and focus on what we can gain for ourselves, we risk losing everything—including our integrity, faith, and ultimately, our relationship with God
The dangers of greed are not just confined to Biblical times. History is full of examples where greed led to tragic consequences. One such example comes from the 1930s. In 1937, an 81-year-old widow in Philadelphia died, leaving behind an estate worth millions but no will. After her death, more than 26,000 people from 47 states and 29 foreign countries came forward to claim her fortune. Among them were many who falsified documents, altered family records, and even lied in court. Over 15 people were arrested for perjury. In some cases, the greed went so far that two individuals committed suicide, and three others were murdered as a result of disputes over the inheritance.
Greed has far-reaching consequences. It can destroy relationships, compromise integrity, and even lead to violence. In our world today, we see corporate greed that leads to the exploitation of workers, environmental destruction, and social inequalities. Look at the example of Bernie Madoff, whose greed led to one of the largest financial frauds in history. He was the chairman of NASDAQ, a trusted figure in the financial world. Yet his Ponzi scheme wiped out the life savings of thousands of people. Greed consumed him, and in the end, he was imprisoned for his crimes.
Even in smaller, everyday situations, greed can lead us astray. Have you ever gone to a store and noticed how products are marketed? Sometimes the same item—like a loaf of bread or gasoline—is sold under different labels at different prices, even though it comes from the same source. Companies exploit this, knowing that people will pay more for the perception of quality. It’s all driven by greed.
The same applies to us spiritually. We may seek shortcuts or want things on our own terms, just like Gehazi or Naaman. Naaman initially resisted dipping in the Jordan because it didn’t meet his expectations. He thought the rivers of Damascus were better. He wanted a grand gesture, but God’s way was humble. Humility unlocks God’s blessings. Naaman’s healing didn’t come because of the Jordan River—it came because he humbled himself and followed God’s instructions. Similarly, our blessings often come when we surrender our pride and obey God’s will.
Greed leads to lying and stealing. There’s a story about four boys who skipped school one day. I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, but it serves as a good example of how we can’t cover up our actions with lies. These four boys decided to skip class and have a good time. The next morning, when they returned to school, they came up with a story to tell the teacher. They explained that they had missed class because their car had a flat tire. The teacher, without reacting, said, "Alright, but you missed a quiz while you were out, so you’ll need to take it now." She seated the boys in different places and handed them each a piece of paper. There was only one question on the paper: “Which tire was flat?”
The boys were caught off guard. They hadn’t coordinated their story enough to cover up which tire was supposed to be flat! This story highlights an important truth: no matter how clever we think we are, we can’t always cover up our actions with lies.
This is what happened with Gehazi in the Bible. When Elisha asked him, “Where have you been?” Gehazi lied and said, "Nowhere." Gehazi’s greed led him to chase after Naaman and ask for a reward, even though Elisha had refused any gifts. Instead of repenting and admitting his actions, Gehazi lied to cover up his greed. But Elisha, through divine insight, already knew what had happened. As a result, Gehazi was struck with Naaman’s leprosy.
Similarly, think about Judas. He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Though Judas was remorseful for what he had done, he never truly repented. His regret led him to take his own life instead of seeking forgiveness. Gehazi, like Judas, let greed and deceit overtake him, and the consequences were severe.
Greed often bargains for more than we intend to ask for, and it rarely ends well. Even today, people play the same games, trying to manipulate tax systems, and it's not just those at the top—politicians and big businessmen—but also the average worker who tries to game the IRS. Many people, without even realizing it, try to “game” God too. I had someone call me once and ask, “Do I give 10% of my gross income or my net income?” I didn’t know their financial details—gross or net—but I reminded them that God knows. These kinds of questions reveal how easy it is to focus on the mechanics of giving rather than the heart of it.
The truth is, God gives us everything we have. When we are filled with gratitude, there’s no room for greed. But when we allow greed to take root, it leads us astray from God. Contentment is the key. As we sing, "All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided," we must remember that God provides for all our needs. It is better to give than to receive, as scripture teaches us. So, as people of God, let’s live with the humility, integrity, and faith of the little servant girl who pointed Naaman to healing. Let us be thankful for what we have, not greedy for what we don’t.
Gehazi’s story is a cautionary tale. Greed led him to lie and betray his master, and it ultimately resulted in his downfall. As Christians, we must guard our hearts against greed. Instead, we should focus on humility, integrity, and serving God with a pure heart.
Let us learn from Gehazi’s mistake and strive to be more like the humble, faithful servant of God we are called to be. When we focus on God's kingdom and His righteousness, all else will be added to us in His perfect time.
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