Covetous people are always anxious people.
The news of the arrival of Naaman, the Syrian General, had reached the ears of Gehazi. He quickly calculated that should the miracle of healing of leprosy for Naaman take place, a man of such repute, would only be too willing to part with a ‘fat’ offering. Elisha, the man of God, sent Gehazi to give the instructions to Naaman which led to his healing. This, Gehazi did, but with his eyes on the gifts Naaman brought.
Anxiously, he waited for the man of God to collect the gifts and pass some on to him. Alas, Elisha would not. Gehazi thought fast. “What shall I do now? I could do with a change of wardrobe and I need to pay my children’s school fees. When will this type of opportunity arise again? How could Elisha have been so foolish? Let me move quickly.”
Read 2 kings 5:20 from your Bible
From the things Gehazi asked for, a talent of silver and two changes of garments, we can conclude that he was broke and in dire need of some new clothing. He yielded to anxiety by his lack of contentment with what he had. So, running after Naaman, he collected his gifts and also his leprosy.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:6 from your Bible
So, take heed! It is only the blessings of the Lord that are sorrow-free. Anxiety over temporal things, what to eat, drink and wear, procured leprosy for Gehazi. His priority was meat and drink, but as Romans 14:17 says:
“The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Though we are confronted everyday with issues that tend to cause anxiety, being anxious over any issue ultimately stripes one of glory.
shalom!
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