So Close And Yet So Far

When he [Gehazi] went in to his master [after receiving gifts from Naaman that Elisha had refused], Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

“I haven’t been anywhere,” he replied.

But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow. [2 Kings 5.25-27]

Imagine how close Gehazi was to the power and anointing found in Elisha and yet was so far from walking in it himself. He was so close and yet so far.

The culprit was greed and Gehazi was evidently quite taken with it. While Elisha could see the futility of material gain, Gehazi could not. While being a servant of arguably one of the most powerful prophets of God on record, Gehazi was operating by quite the different spirit.

The lesson for us is plain: be cautious of greed for material things. It is possible to be close to the move and power of God without being part of it!

Father, help me to understand the dangers of living for You versus living for myself. Help me to constantly be mindful of Jesus' words to "seek first Your Kingdom," and purposefully believe that You will tend to my material needs if I only tend to Your Kingdom!