Overcoming Greed Series

Someday, God will judge us in relation to what we have done on this earth.

This is the lessons we must learn: If our thoughts are pure, our actions are pure.

If our thoughts are corrupt, our actions are corrupt.

These two are correlated.

That is why we must always be careful when we do things for other people.

We must always check the intentions of all our actions.

3. GREED PERVERTS OUR WORDS. 2 Kings 5:22 "22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “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[d] of silver and two sets of clothing.’”

Here we find Gehazi's words were affected by his thoughts and his actions.

He began to lie to Naaman.

He said that his master sent him.

Elisha did not send him to Naaman to ask for some stuff.

He said that there were two young men from the company of the prophets who just came in from Ephraim.

There were no such thing.

All these are lies.

And then, he asked for some talents of silver and two sets of clothing.

And then, Gehazi lied again.

This time to his own master, Elisha.

2 Kings 5:25 "25 When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered."

Do you know that our words can be perverted because of sin?

Do you know that people lie because they are trying to hide their sins?

Do you know that God wants us to be honest always?

The more pure your heart is, the more honest you are before God and before people.

So, let's review:

Greed can pervert.

Not only our thoughts but also our actions and our words.

We are supposed to use our words to heal and to bless people.

We are supposed to use our words to encourage and to tell the truth.

We are supposed to use our words to speak wisdom and life to people.

But when we allow sin to enter, we are overcome by greed.

Instead of life, death would come out from our mouths.

Instead of spiritual power, defeat.

Brothers and sisters, this is not supposed to be the case.

We must commit our words to God.

We must commit our lips to God.

We must commit our thoughts to God.

We must commit our actions to God.

4. GREED DESTROYS RELATIONSHIPS. 2 Kings 5:27 "27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

We find in here God's judgment to the sin of Gehazi.

The leprosy from Naaman was transferred to him and to his descendants.

That means his actions affected the future destiny of his generations.

All of them would suffer the consequences of Gehazi's sin.

Then, it was the last time that he saw Elisha face to face.

Sin destroyed his future and his relationships with people.

That is the extent of the damage it can do.

You might think it is too severe.

But it is not.

That is the justice of God.

He is a holy God and he could not tolerate sin.