BEWARE OF THE ORNAMENTS OF DEFILEMENT VI

Study 2 Kg. 5:20-27. Verse 24 says, “But when they arrived at the citadel, Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house”. When Namaan came to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy, Elisha sent a message to him through his servant Gehazi that Naaman should go and wash in the river Jordan seven times and he would be made whole. Naaman was very reluctant to take that instruction because he already had his preconceptions. He felt it was very condescending; after all, he was a great man and valiant soldier.

Eventually, he was convinced and he went ahead, carried out the instruction of Elisha and was completely cured. Anyone who insists that you must do the will of God is your best friend. Whoever pushes you to obey the instructions of wisdom that will make God happy with you is your best friend. Whoever keeps you in check in order to ensure that you do not go to hell is qualified to be your pastor, but the one who applauds you even when you miss it is not qualified to pastor you.

If you find it difficult to take the bride’s message, you will not be able to fly when the trumpet sounds. If you go to places where they make you an eagle or a lion, you will end up where lions and eagles end up, where ornaments of defilements are the measure of success. Naaman offered gifts which Elisha refused. Gehazi ran after Naaman, collected the gifts and hid them in the house. Today the citadel has been converted into a place of accumulation of ornaments of defilement. Cathedrals have become custodians, museums for the display of ornaments of defilement.

Naaman was a very wealthy man, the only ‘but’ in his life was the leprosy. In order to express his gratitude, he gave gifts to Elisha but he turned them down. The purpose of the anointing is that God may be glorified. However his servant Gehazi had a different agenda, different spirit, different orientation, and different motive. He felt, this was an opportunity to be rich but his boss was throwing it away. He saw an opportunity – “if my boss does not need it, I want it”. So, he ran after Naaman and collected the gifts and hid them. He failed to realize that man of God is not a title.

What qualifies you as a man of God? A lot of people do not realize what it takes to be a man of God. Verse 25-27, “When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, Where have you been Gehazi? I haven’t been anywhere, he replied. But Elisha asked him, Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever. When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy, his skin was a white and snow”.

TO BE CONTINUED.