A Greedy Heart

“...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? 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 Kings 5 26-27

I can't seem to let go of this story of Elisha and Gehazi. As you have read, I’ve been writing about him for a month now. This morning, I woke up thinking about him. I went back to read it again. I was struck by the last two verses. I’m going to share with you.

Look at what Elisha says, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned back to meet you?” I would not have liked to have been Gehazi at that moment. In the story, Elisha asked him, “Where did you go?” Gehazi said, “I did not go anywhere!” He lied. What was Gehazi thinking? Did he not know he was lying to a holy man, a prophet of God? You see, this is called a seared conscience. He was already gone.

Are you hearing what I’m talking about today? Greed and the love of money, power, and position corrupts the soul. It seared his heart. There’s nothing wrong to have money, be powerful, and hold high positions. In fact, God wants you to have it. The problem with Gehazi was how he obtained it. He lied, and he was greedy. God healed the Syrian man out of love and compassion. It wasn’t to receive money. You can’t buy God nor His blessings.

Catch what Elisha says, “Did not my heart go with you?” You see, the Spirit of the Living God was on Elisha. God reveled the real truth in the HEART of Gehazi. I asked a few weeks ago the same question, “How can it be Gehazi could be in the presence of witnessing miracles and yet be so greedy, and evil?” His heart was never for God and living godly. His heart was to get rich and live a corrupt life. He didn’t care about doing it in an honest way. What a fool!

Second statement Elisha makes, “When the man turned back with his chariot to meet you,” Elisha was saying, “I saw in the Spirit not just you and what you were doing, but I saw the man turning back to meet you." You would think Gehazi would have fallen on his knees with apologies and begged for forgiveness from God first and try to make things right. Instead, he had a heart of stone. His heart didn’t have God in it nor did he want it. Never allow yourself to go down so deep into sin.

Thirdly, and this just blows my mind. Elisha goes on to say, “Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?” Please understand this important truth here. God showed Elisha everything. Gehazi had planned HIS way how to become rich. He had no intention of giving to the poor. What Elisha was saying was this, “By the way, Gehazi God didn’t just show me you went after that man. He showed me the whole picture. God showed me you going after him, him turning around with his entire entourage to meet you, that he gave you the clothing and money, and God showed me what you were going to do with the money, too!"

Talk about the revelation of the heart of a person. God does not play games. God protects His own. God will not allow shame and embarrassment to touch His anointed. By his actions, Gehazi put Elisha in the wrong light, and God wasn’t going to stand by and let it happen to Elisha. God reveled what was hiding. Please understand your actions don’t only affect you. It affects those who are associated with you -your associates, your families, and your friends. Everyone gets hurt. Poor judgment is a terrible character trait.

Elisha declared judgment next, and Gehazi became leprous. Listen please, when you go after that which is evil, you will receive that which is evil. Do not deceive yourself. Gehazi ended up with the man’s fancy and expensive clothes, his money, and his leprosy except God had healed the Syrian man because the man had a heart of obedience. What a contrast from the Syrian man versus the servant of the man of God called Gehazi. How could he miss it so badly? Greed and the love of money.

Please follow me, Elisha was the servant of Elijah. However, Elisha desired God and the things of God. Elisha was looking at Elijah, his master, to take over for him when Elijah was done on Earth. He asked for a double portion of the power that was on Elijah, and God granted him a double portion. Gehazi had the same opportunity to take over when Elisha's time came. He settled for second best. He settled for doing things his way and totally missed the will of God, and he died having no honor and no money.

REFLECTION: Listen, there’s a perfect will of God, and a permissive will of God. The permissive will of God is not His perfect will. You have to want, seek, and go after His perfect will. Permissive will is never going to satisfy you. Dreams do not materialize in the permissive will. The best, cream of the crop is the perfect will of God. Don’t settle!

Gehazi was a foolish man and no possible excuse for his ungodly and evil choices and actions. He suffered a terrible fate, and he died in a horrible manner. He sealed his own fate by his greed, which led to lying and deceitful ways. He paid a huge price.

"So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time--before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.," (1 Corinthians 4:5NLT). Beloved Friends, make good and godly choices. Don’t move in greed, and evil desires that breed lying, deception, corruption, and cover ups. God always reveals in His time not only exposing the sin but He reveals the entire intent of the heart. How embarrassing is this place. I sure don’t want this place. Do you? Will you join me today in going after what is good, honest, honorable, and what it will profit the kingdom of God? I promise you God blesses abundantly. You couldn’t even fathom in your wildest imagination the great things store for those who choose to walk in holiness and righteousness. This path is walked by few, but I don’t care. It’s where I choose to walk. Go after God, and He will give you all the desires of your heart. Choose God’s perfect will. You will never regret it.

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the All-Knowing God. Everything is laid out and exposed before Your eyes. You see the motives of each person's heart. Father, more than anything I desire to be found acceptable in Your eyes. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You, and let my heart always bow to Your will and to Your ways that my heart would not become calloused, that I would not resist the promptings of the Holy Spirit. May my spirit always yield and walk along the Ancient Path You have marked out, the Old Narrow Way. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles