2 Kings 5:19-27

19 "Go in peace," Elisha said.
After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked.
22 "Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'"
23 "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. 25 Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.
"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked.
"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.
26 But Elisha said to him, "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 to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. NIV

Introduction:    Naaman was a commander of the king of Aram’s army. He had captured a young Israeli girl and she became Naaman’s wife’s maiden. Although Naaman was the commander of the king of Aram’s army, he had leprosy. The young Israeli maiden of his wife told her that if Naaman would go down to the Prophet Elisha he could be healed of his leprosy. Naaman told his master the king of Aram what his wife’s maiden had said, and the king told him to go and wrote a letter to the king of Israel. Naaman took with him much gold, silver, and clothing, and also the letter to the king of Israel. When the king of Israel read the letter, he was upset thinking that the king of Aram was trying to make a quarrel with him, and he couldn’t heal Naaman of his leprosy.
    When Elisha heard of the actions of the king of Israel he went to the king and told him to send Naaman to him so that he could be healed, and then know that there was a Prophet of God in Israel. So Naaman went to Elisha’s house, but instead of seeing Naaman, Elisha sent his messenger Gehazi to him telling him to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan and his leprosy would be healed. But, Naaman went away in anger because Elisha would not see him. Naaman’s servants went to him and convinced him to do as Elisha had instructed him to do. So, he went and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan and his skin became as clean as a young boys skin would be. He then returned to Elisha’s house, proclaimed that the only God in all of the world was the God of Israel, and offered Elisha gifts, but Elisha would not (even though Naaman urged him) accept any gifts for healing Naaman.

    Now we pick up the story in verse 19 of 2 Kings 5: 19 "Go in peace," Elisha said.
After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked.
22 "Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'"  Gehazi’s greed got the better of him and he wanted some of Naaman’s offering, even though he had no part in Naaman’s healing. So Naaman gladly gave the gifts Gehazi asked for, and returned satisfied to Aram.

    Many times our greed and lusts get the better of us and we want to take the credit for something that only God can do. Elisha only gave instructions that God gave to him to tell Naaman, he never even touched him or saw him until after Naaman had followed God’s instructions and was healed. In 1975 I was a young minister of God and just out of Bible College when a small church near Daleville, Alabama call and asked me to come and lead theit music and worked with their youth. Only thing was the first Sunday I was there, there were only 18 people total in attendance, and that included the new pastor, his wife and 3 children, me and 2 of my friends, but a year later we were averaging over 100 in Sunday School, and more than that in the Worship services and we had a youth group more than 20 strong, and I also had 25 in my choir. To say the least I got the big head. I was being called weekly to do revivals and other thing in the area. I my mind I was the best thing since Jesus to hit this old world. I told God (Not Asked Him) that I needed a New Customized Van to travel in, so in May of 1975 I got a new van. Early one morning, before day, while in route to a destination of service, I remember that I had just passed a car and when I pulled back into my lane, there were 3 Black cows in the middle of the road. I swerved to miss them and did miss 2 of them, but the 3rd and biggest one, I planted in the side door of that van, and flipped it once sideways, and then end over end. Somewhere in the midst I was thrown from the van, but lucky for me it was around the first year that they made pop out windshields and I slid across the paved road on top of the windshield (saving me from the torment of being nearly skinned alive by the pavement). When I came too there was a lady standing over me praying for me. She was in the car that I had just passed and was an Assembly of God Preacher, she said. I spent the next 8 months recovering from an accident that should have and could have killed me if God had not been there even in the accident.

    During those 8 months I had time to look back on things and God showed me CLEARLY that it wasn’t any of my talents that was the reason the church had grown so, but it was God that had use me to help the church to grow. It was during this time that I met the love of my life that would become the mother of my children. I had to learn to walk again, and when we were married in December of 1977, I walked up on the church stage on my own two feet and we were married. Then began a long and great time of service with and for my Lord.

    Gehazi made a similar mistake letting his greed take control of him, but notice that when he returned, Elisha already knew of his betrayal: 2 Kings 5: 25 Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.
"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked.
"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.
26 But Elisha said to him, "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 to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. NIV

    Sometimes we get get in the way of God’s work and let our greed and pride take control of us. As we approach the Thanksgiving Holidays, remember to be thankful and honest with God about the things He has given us and allowed us to do. I can attest to the fact that it isn’t a good thing to take credit for God’s work, but best to be His humble servant.

I pray that everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and give thanks to God for everything He has given you this past year. As with all of the holidays given to honor and thank God, we have made it a meaningless “Turkey Day.” Please, I beg you, give God the honor, glory, and thanks He deserves for His Blessings to you.

In Christ’s Name,
Rev. Zack Martin Sr.