2Ki 5:20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha …said to himself, “My master was TOO EASY on Naaman,…by not accepting from him what he brought. …I will run after him and GET something from him. (NIV)
Gehazi saw a lost opportunity for gifts with his help to Naaman’s recovery. Unlike Elisha who was content to let go of the gifts, not with Gehazi, he ran after Naaman to get something for himself. According to him, his master the prophet was too easy on Naaman. He felt that he was wiser than his master.
His greed brought Elisha’s curse of Naaman’s leprosy upon him and his descendants (vs 27). Rather than keep the gifts he craved, he inherited the leprosy Naaman once had. The love of money was Gehazi’s sin and downfall. One act of untamed passion destroyed his health, family, reputation, character, ministry, destiny. Let us beware of hypocrisy and covetousness, and dread the curse of spiritual leprosy remaining on our souls. The enemy preys on untamed passions. Contentment is the antidote for this dilemma.