April 23

Written by Bill Grandi on April 23rd, 2021

Sunday morning Jo and I drove to Maryland Community Church in Terre Haute. While Scot, Maryland’s Senior Pastor did not preach, the Discipleship Pastor, Nick Strobel, did an admirable job speaking about Greed.  Using the story of Elisha, Naaman and Gehazi found in 2 Kings 5, he brought some good thoughts to the table. {Please take a moment and read the Scripture}.  After Naaman went on his way with Elisha’s blessing, Gehazi chased him down and lied about Elisha wanting his money. Here are the three points Nick brought out: (Main thoughts his; commentary mine)

  1. Greed starts small. It warps our purpose. God’s ultimate purpose was that Naamen know and acknowledge God as the only God. But Gehazi’s greed warped that. Man will always pursue what we think will save us. We will not pursue things because we think it’s dumb.
  2. Greed warps our reality. Sin multiplies. Gehazi had to lie to Naaman to get what he wanted. God will never ask us to do something which is against His Word. N.E.V.E.R. When someone says or does something sinful or evil with the caveat of “God told me” you can pretty well guess He didn’t.
  3. Greed warps our understanding of salvation. God gave Gehazi what he wanted. The sin he chased became his death warrant. Greed can’t save. If you read the story, Naaman was healed of leprosy. Gehazi spent the rest of his life as a leper. Sad ending to what had been a promising future as the understudy/servant to Elisha.

“Father, help me not to be greedy toward what others may have. I don’t want my life to be warped because of my preoccupation with things I don’t have.”

 

4 Comments so far ↓

  1. Ryan S says:

    Greed definitely has a way of warping one’s purpose. The desire for what someone else possesses… Working long hours away from family for monetary gain… goes along with Proverbs 23:5 this morning.

    To what end? Eventually it will be nothing, hours spent for a temporary gain.

    Let our focus be on God and His provision. Working is important as well, but keeping it in balance and with the right purpose in mind.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Thanks for the 23:5 reference Ryan. I read that chapter this morning and missed it. My focus was on verses 17-18.

  2. Greed may start small, but it never ends that way. Let us put God first in all that we do, think or say, and it will be well for us.
    Blessings, Bill!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      That is the problem Martha. It does smart small and grows without us recognizing it.