FLEE COVETOUSNESS!
READ: 2 Kings 5:20-27
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. :-Hebrews 13:5
Covetousness is when a person desires something wrongfully. It is important not to have wrongful desires. When you are covetous, you wish for things eagerly but wrongly. Gehazi was desirous of money and clothing. He was desirous of prosperity in a wrong way. He longed for silver, gold and other goodies that were not meant for him.
Encountering Naaman at close quarters stirred up his cravings for money and wealth. He could sense the wealth and prosperity of Naaman and he wanted some for himself. Be careful when you encounter wealthy people. Do not let their wealth and success stir up inordinate and inappropriate desires in you. Wealth is attractive. It is easy to fall in love with the trappings of success and wealth. You must not allow encounters with rich people to change your orientation and vision for life.
Gehazi was destroyed by his encounter with Naaman. He imagined getting all the things that Naaman had. He now also wanted to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants! These new desires that grew in Gehazi led him to destroy himself and his ministry.
Gehazi’s ministry was brought to an end by covetousness. Your ministry will come to an end if you give yourself to covetousness! It is so obvious when you listen to certain people preaching that they are after money and wealth. It is obvious when you watch certain people travelling around, that they are being driven by their desire or need for money.
All the ministries that are filled with a strong desire for money and wealth have brought an end to their real effectiveness in the gospel. They have little impact as far as the preaching of the gospel in the world is concerned.