𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 (𝐈𝐈)

𝔽𝕀ℝ𝔼 𝕊ℂℝ𝕀ℙ𝕋𝕌ℝ𝔼: 2 Kings 5:20-27
[20] But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” [21] So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?” [22] And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ” [23] So Naaman said, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him. [24] When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. [25] Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” [26] Then he said to him, “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? [27] 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.

𝕄𝔼𝕄𝕆ℝ𝕐 𝕍𝔼ℝ𝕊𝔼:
1 Timothy 6:6 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

𝕄𝕆𝕋𝕀𝕍𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝔸𝕃 ℚ𝕌𝕆𝕋𝔼𝕊:
Nothing gives peace more than contentment and nothing breeds trouble more than covetousness.

ℙℝ𝔸𝕀𝕊𝔼 & 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕊ℍ𝕀ℙ

ℙℝ𝕆ℙℍ𝔼𝕋𝕀ℂ 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝔻 𝔽𝕆ℝ 𝕋𝕆𝔻𝔸𝕐:
𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗘, 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗦.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝔼𝕊𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔼:
Today, we want to look at another covetous young man -Gehazi. Gehazi was a servant of Elisha, one of the greatest prophets in the Bible. Thus, opportunities abound for him to receive the mantle of Elisha. Elisha served Elijah and received the double portion of his power. If Gehazi had served Elisha well, he too could have received a quantum dimension of the power of Elijah. However, covetousness got the better part of this young man and he ended a leprous man. Elisha went from the presence of Elijah, a powerful prophet but Gehazi went from the presence of Elisha a leprous fellow. Beware of covetousness!

In 2 Kings 5:15-16, Namaan who had been cleansed of leprosy brought some gifts to Elisha, but the man of God refused it. This did not go well with Gehazi. He ran after Naaman to collect a talent of silver and two changes of garments. We never read where he ran after God to know Him better but he ran after Naaman. He never ran after Elisha to get power, but he ran after Naaman to collect the gifts of leprosy. He threw caution to the wind, left the substance to pursue the shadows. What a purposeless life! He did not understand that there are times to take gifts and there are times to reject gifts. To Gehazi, every gift is a blessing and must be collected. May we not collect trouble wrapped as a gift in the name of Jesus.

No wonder, when Elisha gave him his staff in 2 Kings 4:29 to go and perform miracle with it, the staff of power refused to work in Gehazi's hands because his hands had been bewitched at the altar of covetousness. You cannot be holding onto the devil's property and expect the rod of God to prosper in your hands. Beware of covetousness! It is an expressway to leprosy. Gehazi got the reward of leprosy not just for himself but for his seed forever. He brought generational curse and leprosy on his descendants.

Covetousness is a tragedy. Avoid it like a plague. Be contented with what you have while hoping for a better life from God. Godliness with contentment is a great gain. With contentment comes peace of mind.