Sunday, October 14, 2018

How We View Money

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?”

2 Kings 5:20–21

After Namaan was cleansed of his leprosy by following Elisha’s instruction to dip in the Jordan River seven times, he wanted to reward the prophet. But Elisha refused to take any gifts from the Syrian general. Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, did not share the prophet’s attitude toward money. Instead, he lied to Namaan to get financial gain and tried to hide it. As a result, the leprosy of which Namaan had been cured rested on Gehazi instead. His greed cost him greatly.

The story goes that many years ago a prominent doctor performed a difficult and lengthy operation to save the life of a sick child. A few days later, the grateful mother was in his office. She told the doctor that while she recognized the gift of her child’s life was beyond repayment, she wanted him to take a small purse which she had embroidered as her expression of thanks. The doctor was quite offended, and insisted on being paid in cash—$200 was his fee. Without a word, the woman opened the purse, took out just two of the hundred dollar bills inside, and put the rest back.

There is nothing wrong with money and possessions, unless we allow them to control us. But when gain becomes our goal, we are headed for defeat and disaster. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Those who are living for financial gain will inevitably find their hearts drawn away from God.