Commander Naaman who had leprosy went to see Elisha the man of God. When Naaman washed himself seven times in the Jordan according to the word of God, his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. So he wanted to give a gift to Elisha.
“As surely as the LORD lives, I will not accept a thing.”
As Elisha refused to the end, Naaman was forced to give up. Soon after Naaman left Elisha, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, ran after Naaman. Naaman got down from the chariot to welcome Gehazi running toward him.
“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.’ ”
At Gehazi’s lie, Naaman tied up two talents of silver and two sets of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants and let them carry them ahead of Gehazi. Gehazi put them away in his house and stood before Elisha.
“Where have you been, Gehazi?” Elisha asked.
“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.
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? 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.
Gehazi was so covetous of the gift Naaman had brought that he satisfied his greed with crafty lies. He alone did it secretly, of course. However, no mind, no deed, even if it was conceived and done secretly, can be hidden before God. At the moment when Gehazi committed the sin, God let the spirit of Elisha be with Gehazi and let him know everything.
The fruit of Gehazi who called in a selfish desire was terrible. Greed certainly brings forth sin. As the sin grows big, he cannot help but be cut off from the blessing of salvation. Keeping ourselves away from greed is the first step toward blessings.