Sunday Growth Group Gehazi the Greedy 2 Kings 5

Hi folks

Here is the bible study for our Growth Group this Sunday.

Every Blessing

Zwingly and Steve

 

 

Greed is a disease that will consume a minister from the inside out if it's not detected early and treated aggressively. And greedy people will do the same to a thriving ministry. That's because greed is everything that ministry is not.

Ministry serves others; greed serves self. Ministry calls a woman or a man to set aside selfish gain in order to assist another. Greed is an excessive or reprehensible desire to acquire something for the benefit of self. A minister must live by the highest ethical standard, especially in regard to wealth and material possessions. A greedy person will sacrifice his or her ethical standard when it blocks the path to an object of desire. Whereas ministry uses things to serve people, greed uses people to obtain things.

Greed is never acceptable. Some work hard to rationalize it, sanctify it, even attempt to build a theology around it. Still, greed is a deadly enemy of genuine service to others.

Early on in my own ministry, I learned that greed often begins as covetousness. Fortunately, a wise mentor pointed out the danger before it could become an issue. When I first began serving in ministry, I enjoyed the privilege of working closely with a very gifted man of God. He was all the things I was not: scholarly, extremely knowledgeable of the Scriptures, seasoned as a preacher, and profound as a teacher. Naturally, his number of speaking engagements grew with his reputation. He attracted both Christians and non-Christians, and, though great crowds gathered to hear him, I never saw him attempt to draw attention to himself. Mine was an enviable position as his assistant, his ministerial helper, on staff at the church where he served as pastor. I had complete access to him, and he shared much of his life with me, especially when we traveled together. I counted it an incredible privilege to be near him and serve him.

I might add that this was a very heady opportunity. For example, when I preached in his absence, I enjoyed the crowds that his reputation had earned. Because I worked with him at the hub of this large ministry, I had influence that his position warranted. Mine was a borrowed popularity that his prolific writing and profound thinking had gained. I enjoyed immense blessings as a result of serving this man as a ministry partner, and, to this very day, I have sustained a deep sense of gratitude.

One day, a good friend who was not in ministry gave me a tough yet tender word of warning. He had seen me work in tandem with this great man and how my senior colleague loved and trusted me. He saw a healthy, wholesome mentor-protégé relationship that easily could have become tainted if I failed to guard it. "Watch out for the enemy," he said. "From my vantage point in the congregation, as an officer in the church, and as a friend of both of you, I see your position as the more precarious of the two. Avoid the temptation to drop his name or use any other means to gain attention because of your association. You enjoy many benefits that you have not earned over the years. He has earned them, and his is the role of significance. Yours is a role of assistance." He was absolutely correct. To this day I vividly remember the man's timely warning.

Another of my early mentors heard that I had taken on the role of personal assistant to this very prominent man. He, too, gave me wise advice: "Your purpose is to help make that man you serve far more successful than he ever would be without you."

Both of these men approached me with a genuine desire to see me become successful in ministry, not to knock me down a peg or two. They gave me strong, necessary, valuable words of counsel. They reminded me that ministry is all about service, and they steered me clear of what could have become covetousness, leading to greed.

THE MANY FACES OF GREED

 

That experience taught me to keep a close check on my motives. It also taught me that greed isn't always associated with money. One can become greedy in at least four very common ways.

Money

 

We're most familiar with this realm of greed. This is a hunger for more money, even at the expense of relationships and personal integrity. The insatiable drive for more leads easily to outright greed.

Possessions

 

This is closely related to money-greed, but it differs slightly. Misers die with money hidden in mattresses and buried coffee cans, but they possess nothing. However, thanks to little plastic cards, we don't need a huge income to become greedy for possessions. We can feed our greed for more possessions on credit. Watch out, though. When the lust for toys surpasses one's ability to afford them, that's greed.

Fame

 

This is an inordinate desire for attention—to be known, to be quoted, to be seen, to be popular, to be recognized in public, to be influential, to be sought after for photographs and autographs.

I knew a young man who couldn't rest until he hit it big on the political stage. At first, he begged the Lord to give him the right opportunities and the best contacts. He saw each political office as a means to the one above it. By and by, relationships became mere stepping stones. His longing for notoriety overshadowed any genuine desire for personal friendship or public service. He was greedy for fame.

Pleasure

 

A natural by-product of an affluent society is hedonism. At its extreme, this is the playboy's lifestyle, an existence that seeks to satisfy one's sensual desires above all else. Those who are greedy for pleasure try to distract themselves from the growing emptiness with even more pleasure. Before long, they find themselves tortured by what should be deeply satisfying.

I need to caution all of us at this point to beware the temptation to feel smug. You might think, Well, that's not me. I don't have a lot of money, or possessions, or fame, and my lifestyle is not only simple, it's barely even comfortable. I'm in no danger. I caution you, don't look for signs of raw greed. If you're greedy, you will have already rationalized them. Instead, be on the lookout for the early stages: envy and covetousness. Greed hides itself behind excessive and inordinate desires for the good things of life, often because of another's achievement.

This book began with a discussion about the behind-the-scenes people we sadly regard as "nobodies"—those people who impact the world by means of their assistance to others. In that chapter, I sang their praise, hopefully encouraging those who serve without recognition and admonishing all of us to appreciate their work and affirm them as significant in God's estimation.

If you are someone whose primary role is to assist another, this chapter is for you. Just like my friend helped me see a danger, I want to do the same for you who work alongside a more visible figure. I write this for the benefit of you who serve as helpers, as vice presidents, as associates in a ministry, as assistant managers in business, as administrative assistants, interns in any specific career, or any other (if I may use the word in a dignified sense) servant role. I write this to remind you and encourage you. Don't underestimate the power of your impact as a servant. Your actions either support or undermine the work of the person you serve. The future implications of your motives and choices can be staggering at times. I'll use the story of Gehazi, the servant who got greedy, to expose both the dangers and the opportunities you have, as well as illustrate the potential impact of your faithfulness.

THE STORY OF THE GREEDY SERVANT

 

This story is a continuation of the tale of Naaman, the officer whose leprosy was cleansed. As you will recall, the proud general of the Syrian army thought he needed money to purchase his healing but found that the Lord's ways are higher than ours. He discovered God's grace, which is free for the asking. The prophet Elisha refused the bribe, sending him on his own to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. When Naaman emerged from the river, he found his skin completely healed of leprosy. But his cleansing was not merely external. His heart, like his skin, was transformed.

When [Naaman] returned to the man of God [Elisha] with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, "Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now."  2 Kings 5:15

 

This and the verses that follow reveal a man whose heart and direction had been changed by the free grace of God, but he was still ignorant. While he accepted the one true God and vowed to sacrifice to the Lord alone, he was still guided by superstition. I love Elisha's response. He didn't rebuke Naaman or make his thinking thoroughly orthodox before he sent him home. The wise prophet dismissed him in peace, trusting that this was merely the beginning of the general's long journey to becoming a devout, mature worshiper of the one true God.

When someone becomes a brand-new believer, the next few days are crucial. The information he or she receives during that brief period may either confirm grace or steal it. "OK, you have received the free gift of salvation in Christ and your place in heaven is secure. Now you must be baptized. Now you must start tithing. Now you must clean up your life. Now you must give up cigarettes, and alcohol, and your foul language, and . . . Now you must . . . now you must . . . now you must . . ." The poor, new Christian is left to wonder, "But you said I was free! What happened?"

When Naaman found he had been cleansed, he wanted to give the prophet a gift—not a bribe, like before, but a gift of thanksgiving. Observe Elisha's noble and unselfish reaction:

But [Elisha] said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing." And [Naaman] urged him to take it, but he refused.  2 Kings 5:16

 

What Elisha refused was no small sum. We don't trade in talents and shekels, so let me convert the gift into today's currency. Naaman offered this humble servant of God 750 pounds of silver and 150 pounds of gold. That comes to roughly $1.1 million dollars. (The clothes were by no means cheap, but they were probably included as a gesture of friendship with the original payback.)

Imagine the ministry potential of a sum like that in the hands of an honest prophet of God. And, let's face it, if you were the one living on a prophet's salary, that would be enough money to make your eyes tear up. You'd be fixed for life. So why did Elisha refuse the gifts? The Bible doesn't tell us, but we can put enough clues together from the story to conclude that it was to reinforce the lesson that Naaman had learned. The Lord cannot be charmed. His salvation is freely given by grace, through faith. Taking Naaman's money would compromise that message.

Perhaps the man on his way back would think, Interesting, that Elisha took a couple of the very best suits and some of the silver and gold. I wonder if he didn't want that all along. A compromised message leads to cloudy thoughts like that. But Elisha kept his ministry clearly in focus and would not allow even the slightest hint of greed to taint it.

"But Gehazi, the servant."

With those few words, the story turns. Standing alongside Elisha through this whole series of events is a servant, the prophet's assistant. Gehazi was a man who had been working alongside Elisha much like Elisha had served Elijah. We know from 2 Kings 4 that he had been with his master for a number of years, working very closely with him, even going on his behalf to perform miracles. He had been serving in the limelight created by Elisha's amazing, awe-inspiring ministry. His was a borrowed popularity. He enjoyed influence because Elisha's anointing was so powerful, so spiritually significant. Gehazi lives in the shadow of greatness.

THE SUBTLE, TRANSFORMING POWER OF RATIONALIZATION

 

Somewhere along the journey at Elisha's side, something twisted Gehazi's thinking. The next verse reveals a remarkable feat in ethical gymnastics—the kind of rationalization that becomes this easy only after lots of practice.

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, "Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him."  2 Kings 5:20

 

A couple of phrases jump out at me. First, "my master has spared this Naaman." The Hebrew word for "spared" is better translated "denied" or "restrained." In other places in Scripture, the word carries the idea of holding something back. Gehazi said, in essence, "My master held this general back from expressing his gratitude. He merely wanted to say thank you. Isn't saying thank you the right thing to do? Besides, refusing his gift could seem discourteous. The grateful general even urged us. Why, Elisha kept him from doing what was right !"

Another phrase: "as the LORD lives." These same words appear several times throughout the books of Samuel and Kings. The phrase forms a solemn vow that invokes the sacred name of Yahweh in a very serious and specific way. This is tantamount to saying, "I guarantee that this deed will be accomplished because it's the Lord's will, and I cannot fail because He's enabling me." Take note of the words Elisha spoke just a few moments earlier:

But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing."  2 Kings 5:16

 

Gehazi's rationalization transformed his greed into God's will for his life! He had just heard his master say, in effect, "In accordance with the Lord's will and by His power, I will not receive your money." Once Naaman's caravan disappeared over the horizon, however, the greedy servant's mind began the very creative process of turning wrong into right. With a little imagination, we can guess what else Gehazi might have been thinking:

The man has millions. Now, if he didn't have plenty, he wouldn't offer such lavish gifts. It's only right that we accept something of what he brought. Elisha shouldn't have held him back from doing what his heart led him to do. The Lord has led this general to make us this offer!

It's amazing how God leads. Who would have thought that such an abundant and much-needed provision would come through the hands of a converted Syrian? Praise the Lord for His miraculous gift to us!

It got even worse . . .

My master has plenty, but I have virtually nothing. And Elisha hasn't given me a raise for years. I've served him faithfully and diligently. Maybe he doesn't have a need for these God-given provisions, but I have a family to provide for.

See how rationalization accompanies greed? Understand, these thoughts are not always evil. In some circumstances, they might be absolutely correct. But that's the power of a rationalization. It takes truth out of context and forces it into perfectly valid conclusions at the wrong time, the wrong place, with the wrong motive, and in the wrong situation. A good rationalization scrubs away the guilt in order to provide the necessary permission to act inappropriately. In the end, the greedy person gets to pocket his or her cash with no sin to acknowledge.

Amazingly, greedy people become such masters of self-deceit, so blinded to their own evil that they are genuinely surprised, often offended, when someone dares to call them dishonest.

So what's wrong with Gehazi's rationalization? First, his role as Elisha's assistant was to make the prophet more successful in his ministry. He was to follow Elisha's lead and model the choices (as it related to the ministry) after those of his master. Elisha had said essentially, "The Lord's will is that I not receive any money for your cleansing." If Gehazi could no longer support the ministry of his mentor, his responsibility was to say so, separate himself, establish his own ministry, or attach himself to one whom he could support.

Another flaw in Gehazi's thinking: he, personally, was never offered anything. Naaman offered the gifts to Elisha. The provisions were not Gehazi's to receive.

Furthermore, Gehazi obviously knew that his actions were dishonest because he deliberately chose to conceal his plan from his superior. It's clear that he didn't pull Elisha aside to say, "Master, I have a different opinion than you regarding this offer. I understand that you are convinced the Lord would not have you receive anything, but I feel the Lord is leading me otherwise. Would it be permissible for me to receive a small portion of his offer? What is your response to that? May I do so with your blessing?"

GREED IN FULL BLOOM

 

Gehazi's greed had grown imperceptibly and been kept a secret. It started with covetousness until, like a disease of the soul, it rotted his loyalty and twisted his perspective. I repeat, greed is the enemy of ministry. Unlike his mentor, the protégé had self-interest in first place, not the best interest of his master, or even the good of Naaman. The fruit of his secret greed can be seen in no fewer than five self-serving acts in the rest of the story:

So Gehazi pursued Naaman [he pursued]. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?" He said, "All is well. My master has sent me [he lied], saying, 'Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.'" Naaman said, "Be pleased to take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him [he stole]. When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house [he concealed], and he sent the men away, and they departed. But he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere [he lied]."

2 Kings 5:21–25; comments added

 

First, Gehazi pursued the goods without a single word of prayer, with no thought given to how it might harm the Syrian's spiritual growth, and with no concern for how it would compromise the ministry or reputation of his master. Start to finish, it was selfishness in action.

Second, he crafted an elaborate lie to swindle Naaman out of his money and even leave him feeling more spiritual for it. (Sounds like the work of today's religious hucksters.) In fact, all was not well. His master had not sent him. There were no needy sons of prophets. The gifts were not intended for anyone other than Gehazi. He used his office, his spiritual role, his association with a great, godly man to manipulate this secular mind to do a very unspiritual thing: pay for the Lord's free healing.

Third, he received from Naaman what did not belong to him. Any gift received would have rightfully belonged to Elisha, to whom it was offered. Furthermore, Naaman intended the gifts for two starving seminary students. That would be like someone asking you to support oversees orphanages that didn't exist, only to pocket the money you gave in good faith. Any way you look at it, Gehazi shamelessly stole.

Fourth, he concealed his actions from Elisha. He had Naaman's servants carry the loot as far as the ridge in front of the village where Gehazi and Elisha lived. In case his master happened to look out his window, the greedy servant said to the delivery crew, "I'll take it from here. Go in peace." He took the cash out of their hands, pronounced a pious-sounding blessing, sent the men off, and deposited the stolen property in his house where no one would be the wiser. His sins were deliberately hidden from his master.

Fifth, when asked by his mentor where he had been, he lied without hesitation. Don't miss the spiritual gloss he added to the outright fabrication in verse 25: "Your servant went nowhere." How sickening.

Serving another man or woman as an assistant, especially someone whose influence is widespread, demands absolute loyalty. Yes, the word is absolute. Even when he or she is absent, there should be no reason to suspect you of deception or taking unfair advantage of your position. Because trust is essential, your integrity must remain steadfast. If you discover reasons you cannot be loyal, leave. Otherwise, stay on the team giving full support! Maintain a high level of accountability—more than expected. Nurture your relationship with the one you serve so that you not only know his or her desires, but you care about them and can defend them. Constantly examine your motives to be sure your actions carry out the interests of the one you serve and not your own.

THE DISFIGURING EFFECTS OF GREED AND
THE HOPE OF REPENTANCE

 

Not surprisingly, Elisha was not fooled, and the consequences were tragic:

Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants? Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.  2 Kings 5:26–27

 

Try to imagine how Gehazi must have felt. Imagine how foolish; Elisha was a powerful seer. Imagine how exposed and embarrassed; the sin he had worked so hard to conceal was like an open book to the man he admired most. Imagine how disappointed; he was to Elisha what Elisha had been to his master, Elijah. Gehazi forfeited his future ministry. Imagine how frightened; he now had the very disease that another man was willing to pay millions to have cleansed. Imagine how shamed; Elisha's rebuke reflected an innocent quality that Gehazi had lost a long time ago. The greedy servant had forgotten that ministry serves others, never self.

FOUR COMPELLING CHALLENGES

 

After studying this passage and pondering the humanity of this tragic story, I find at least four compelling challenges that apply to everyone . . . but especially those who serve in an assisting role. My hope is that you who serve in a ministry capacity will take special heed.

First, guard your imagination. An active imagination is fertile ground for covetousness to sprout into greed and for greed to produce its poisonous fruit. Webster's defines imagination this way: "The act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality."  More intriguing is the last definition: "A creation of the mind; especially: an idealized or poetic creation . . . fanciful or empty assumption."

Creative people have remarkable imaginations. But that fact has a dark side. The same creativity that helps us dream wonderful dreams can also fantasize destructive fantasies. That's what Gehazi did. On the surface, he served Elisha and even referred to himself as his servant. But in the secret world of his lurid imagination, he forgot his role. He allowed greed to displace ministry.

Second, rationalization makes all sin less objectionable, especially greed. Rationalization is providing plausible, right-sounding motives for poor conduct, which encourages us to act upon our fantasies. Like most things, practice makes perfect. In my years in ministry, I've heard the most inventive rationalizations for living a licentious lifestyle, even rationalizations that appeal to the Bible for support in walking away from one's longstanding marital commitment to pursue an illicit affair. These people had become experts in the art of self-delusion as a result of constant practice so that outright sin could be seen as something good, even beneficial. Money is a morally neutral issue, which gives rationalization an even greater opportunity.

The antidote to this poisonous thinking is the discipline of accountability. I call it a discipline because your emotions will work against you. It takes mental toughness to do what is right when you much prefer to do wrong. Develop the habit of running your ideas past a trusted, mature, Christian friend. Trust me on this: it will make a major difference. Whereas rationalization will blur the lines between right and wrong, accountability has a remarkable way of keeping them sharp. Chances are good, the more you don't want to discuss your plans with this friend, the more you need to.

Third, determine to keep all of your business dealings out in the open. Leave no room for deception by remaining completely transparent in all of your transactions. This will discourage self-deception and the resulting temptation to deceive others. Those things only stimulate greed to keep our motives secret.

A practical example of this is how Insight for Living conducts its business. Our radio ministry voluntarily participates as a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. This independent organization has established specific standards of conduct considered to be ethical, and it conducts routine audits of our accounting and business practices to be certain that we remain in complete compliance. Knowing that we are being watched helps keep everyone who occupies a decision-making, leadership position from self-delusion and even a hint of dishonesty.

Fourth, examine your motives, call it greed when you see it, and confess it. Confession usually brings sin to a necessary and abrupt end. Never doubt, it can also be the most difficult thing you do. Realizing that you are guilty of something as ugly as avarice, sometimes having to acknowledge that you covered it with a spiritual veneer, takes remarkable self-awareness and gut-wrenching strength. Nevertheless, I can think of no other way to deal with the sin of greed than to name it, openly confess it, find forgiveness based on the free grace of Jesus Christ, and then claim God's power to choose a different path.

Apparently Gehazi repented, though he was never cleansed of the consequence, his leprosy. According to Hebrew law, he was able to continue serving as Elisha's assistant because his skin had turned completely white (Leviticus 13:12–13). Later, he would stand before King Jehoram as the servant of Elisha. He had been restored to ministry, but his white, flaking skin would forever remind him of three mental images: the face of the Syrian, whose faith he compromised; the disappointed look of his master, whom he had undermined; and the awful day when he gave in to greed.

A final word is to all my colleagues serving in ministry. Let's forever remember what Gehazi forgot: greed is the enemy of ministry.

 

 

Growth Group Questions.

1. Please read the message above by Chuck Swindoll. As each of his messages touches our hearts, I (Steve) too find this message personally challenging. Greed is not limited to $'s, money.  Fame Fortune power and pleasure can be as attractive and heart turning as avarice.  What is the sin that you are most susceptible to?

 

 

2. How did Gehazi operate his scam?  Could Christians be involved in scams? Consider the sad story found in Acts 5:1-11  But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,² and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.³ But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.⁶ The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. ⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.⁸ And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."⁹ But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."¹⁰ Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

 

 

3. "Amazingly greedy persons become such masters of self-deceit, so blinded to their own evil that they are genuinely surprised, often offended, when someone dares to call them dishonest."     Please comment on Chuck Swindoll's conclusion.

 

4. "Be sure your sin will find you out."  What practical means can you put into place to protect yourself from the subtle temptations of covetousness?