Is it a time

2024-10-05

Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? (2 Kings 5:26)

Elisha took no money from Naaman for showing him how to be healed of his leprosy. The prophet’s servant Gehazi had greed in his heart, receiving the gift of the Syrian captain and lying about it. Maybe Gehazi was tired of living a sacrificial life and wanted to capitalize on the miracle. Whatever it was, this episode cost Gehazi his health and his ministry opportunity. The last we see of him he is in the king’s court; perhaps he landed a lucrative job there that gave him the paycheck he required.

Could Elisha have received the lavish gifts from Naaman for his service? Of course, he could have. But Elisha saw it was not a time to get rich. This would show the genuineness of Elisha’s heart to help him. However, in those times of instability, how long would anyone prosper? Elisha had a larger view of serving the Lord and not minding earthly things. Not long after his death, the Assyrians would come and take everything away.

Neither is today a time to receive the riches of the world beyond what we need, for we live in days like the prophet did.