It Was Borrowed

It Was Borrowed !

II Kings 6:4-5 NKJV

[4] So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. [5] But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”

Today's vignette raises the old question of being in debt. The sons of the prophet borrowed an axe, now, they have lost it. Let's draw a parallel in our contemporary times. It confronts us with the questions: Should a Christian borrow? What happens if you loose on what you borrowed? There are no direct answers. Jeffrey W. Hamilton asks the question: Is it a sin to be in debt? He touches on why some people say you should not borrow. "For some Christians, it's a sin to be in debt." As I continued to read, the author admitted that only a few "hardliners" say owing money is morally wrong. The verses they used to justify their belief were Romans 13:8, which says to owe no man anything but love, and Proverbs 22:7, which says debts put other people in control of your life. While I agree that being in debt is not the best circumstance within to find yourself, can we say that being in debt is a sin?". Here is Hamilton's attempt to answer this question. " God clearly warns us not to go into debt or cosign a loan unless we are certain we can repay our obligation (Proverbs 22:26-27). You must conclude then that some debt is allowed. You can owe money to other people and not be in sin. However, debt carries a responsibility - you must repay your debts. Think about it, borrowing money is a promise to the lender to return the borrowed money". All promises must be kept. Those sons of the Prophet had promised they will return axe. Now, they cried: It was borrowed.

   Have you ever been confronted like this in life? Its called double jeopardy. You borrowed, and you lost. You have to find what you borrowed to return while you're experiencing the pain of the lost. They cried that it was borrowed. If it was their axe, they could have left it, but it was borrowed. Are you feeling their pain?

   Someone says that " Repaying debts is seen as a matter of integrity and righteousness. Being responsible with what we borrow reflects our character and commitment to doing what is right". I agree. Psalm 37:21. 

    If you follow the world financial system, you'll get caught up in borrowing, but you can cry to God to help you get out of debt. I have experienced it, so can you. Tomorrow we will find out how those sons of the prophet got out of debt. They called on their Master. You too have to call your Master, Jesus. Do it now. Good morning.

Dealing with Difficult Assistants

Dealing With Difficult Assistants 

II Kings 5:24-27 NKJV

[24] When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. [25] Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” [26] Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? [27] Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.

  Elijah produduced Elisha. Elisha was meant to produce Gehazi, but Gehazi was a man of the flesh. He needed quick results. He was more focused on the gains of the ministry than the process of the ministry. Every leader encounters this. Between entry and celebration, there's a period of training. It is the time Assistants are made. 

  So Elisha dismissed Naaman. Naaman returned to Syria with a deeper sense of respect for the God of Israel. As far as Gehazi was concerned, the master had missed an opportunity. He believed that you should use any opportunity to squeeze something out of the flock. This was a commercial Minister in the making. So he took it upon himself to run after Naamam and collect some stuff. He considered himself wiser than the Master. Assistants who do so, do not go very far in the ministry. 

  Managing difficult assistants or employees are a major concern for any employer. Here is someone's lamentations: " One of the most perplexing questions that managers in leadership positions face is how to deal with difficult employees. An employee’s problematic behavior and poor attitude can spread quickly, negatively affecting their productivity and that of other members of your team. This can lead to serious repercussions for your entire business, creating a toxic environment that keeps you from satisfying customers and reaching your goals. Dealing with difficult employees is an enormous challenge, but you must do so immediately to minimize the damage".          That information was made available in 2022, yet it fits Gehazi's case adequately. Gehazi did not behave in a professional manner fitting the life of the next generation Prophet.

   Gehazi posed a deep leadership challenge. His behaviour and attitude vould affect a whole generation of the sons of tge prophet. In that act, Gehazi did not go alone. He was already affecting others. A toxic assistant can ruin years of leadership investments. Unless you understand this, there's a tendency to dismiss Elisha as being harsh and unfeeling. If you're confronted with a lying, powerless, and prayerless assistant who refuses to learn from you, what would you do? Share with us. If you're an assistant, share your expectations with us. Good morning.

Gehazi's Greed

 Gehazi's Greed

II Kings 5:20-22 NKJV

[20] But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” [21] So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?” [22] And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ”

Greed may be described as an excessive and selfish desire for more of something than is needed, especially material gain, social value, or power. It may also be described as an immoderate love for riches and earthly possessions. keep that at the back of your mind as we reread the story of Gehazi. Many, unfortunately have been affected by this virus even in the work of ministry.

   Here are a few Bible verses that warn against greed: 1Timothy 6:9-10, 17-18: "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil". Ephesians 5:5: "Covetousness, or having an excessive or greedy desire for more, is idolatry". Hebrews 13:5: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have"  We are not sure whether Gehazi was familiar with these, but the Master's reaction is an indication that greed was just as sinful then as it is now. 

   Greed is considered a deadly sin, meaning it's believed to lead to other sins and immoral behavior. Here's an AI report: " Greed can lead to a psychological obsession that causes people to become willing to cheat, steal, or exploit others to obtain material gain. It can also cause people to neglect family, donate little to charity, or look down on the poor". These all seem to appear on Gehazi's resume. Luke 12:15 sums it up: " Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions". May Gid deliver us from greed, in Jesus Name. Good morning.

Redirected To The Prophet

Redirected To The Prophet 

II Kings 5:8-10 NKJV

[8] So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” [9] Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. [10] And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” 

That little girl had said if the Master ,Naaman, was with the Prophet . Then Naaman went to the king with a right attitude. Now he is finally directed to the right place and he arrived with a wrong attitude. He became offended because he didn't appear to have received honour as a Syrian King representative. Attitudes are mental positions we carry concerning another person, place or thing. It has the power to make us be positive or negative in our responses to either  God or men. We can let wrong attitudes rob us of divine blessings.

  An Ai scan reveals the impact of attitude on our lives. " Attitudes have a significant impact on how we think, behave, and feel, and they can also affect the people around us: 

 i.Inner world: Attitudes affect our self-talk, thought life, and inner world. 

Behavior: Attitudes shape our behaviors, including the choices we make and the health behaviors we practice. 

 ii. Communication: Attitudes affect how we communicate and collaborate with others. 

  iii. Success and happiness: Attitudes can shape our success and happiness. 

 iv. Mental and physical health: Attitudes can impact our mental and physical health. Research has linked a positive mental state to improved health, including lower blood pressure, a healthier weight, and a reduced risk of heart disease. 

    Our attitudes are so important because they can block  or help us see things from God's perspective. A negative attitude will become an obstacle to God's blessings. Naaman nearly lost it.

   How do you respond when you feel you're not being honoured? That was Naaman's dilemma. It took his servants to beg him to go back and get a healing. Has your attitude robbed you of a blessing? Share with us. Good morning.

Miscommunication

Miscommunication 

II Kings 5:5-7 NKJV

[5] Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. [6] Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy. [7] And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me.”

So Naaman told the story of the Israeli slave girl to his boss, the King of Syria. His reaction was immediate. He wanted Naaman well, but he forgot that he was writing to a King in a different setting and culture. Anytime we forget  people's settings, we tend to be misunderstood in our attempt to convey knowledge or information. That is failure to communicate clearly. 

   Mona Chung in 2011 made an attempt to discuss doing business in China. He described  how this matters of miscommunication can affect international relations.  " Miscommunication refers to the exchange of information that is not effectively understood or interpreted due to differences in perception and cultural background between the sender and the receiver. It often occurs when there is a lack of awareness or understanding of these differences, leading to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns". Think about Syria and Israel. The two nations had periods of open warfare and some periods of peace.

   Imagine a letter from Syria asking the King of Israel to make sure Naaman was well. The King of Israel considered it a provocation for war. The matter would have been intense, but the information got to Elisha. May you be the source to correct  miscommunications. May God cause your requests to be properly understood. May God keep someone with divine answers waiting for your needs in Jesus Name. Later we will explore how God met Naaman in Israel and how he got his healing, because of one slave girl. Good morning.

The Interruption

The Interruption 

II Kings 5:1-3 NKJV

[1] Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. [2] And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. [3] Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 

In life stories, there are intiating elements that turn the stories into what the audience might not have expected. Its usually an interruption on what could have been a balanced life story. That interuption is called an obstacle. Its impact on the lead character is usually so intense that something has to be done about it. In today's read, we are introduced to a smart military commander, Naaman. His story is what everyone would wish for, except for three letters that introduced the obstacle. Those letters are " but ". 

   " But " is a conjunction with  negative implications. Mirriam Webster says it's a conjunction that means "except for the fact that". It changes the story. What should have been a great story of a Captains exploits, became a tragedy. Read that again. He was a mighty man, but... May God deliver us from every negative intrusion into our life story, in Jesus Name! What a way to change a man's glory. That's all the enemy is looking for. Its trying to gain traction to say: " You were a very good christian but....".  We refuse any such interuption in destiny! Ordinary three letters are used to overthrow one's glory. 

   People outside may not have noticed that he was a leper, but a little girl from Israel did. There's someone who knows who you are, even if the entire church doesn't. The uniform may cover you, but the little girl knows your suffering when you return. 

   Naaman didn't need a cosmetic reform. He needed help. He didnt need multiple uniforms, he needed healing. The girl was young, but she didn't forget what she was taught by the prophet about her God. She was a slave, but she had control. Don't tell me that you don't remember those Sunday school stories. The young girl preached her last sermon to offset that interruption. Preach it darling. And the captain fell for it. Preach to all. You don't know which captain will repent. Tell 'em that God still heals. He does. He still saves the soul. Hallelujah. Be the interuption in someone's tragedy. Change their story. Good morning.

Feeding The Multitude: Old Testament Pattern

Feeding The Multitude: Old Testament Pattern 

II Kings 4:42-44 NKJV

[42] Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat.” [43] But his servant said, “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?” He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the Lord: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’ ” [44] So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.

In the Old Testament, this story of Elisha feeding 100 men with 20 loaves of bread foreshadows Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 in the New Testament. Both stories demonstrate that God can do big things through what is given to Him. It doesn't matter wether what is available is a child's lunch or tokens of first fruits. The issue is to be willing to let go first. Let it go for God.

   In both instances, there were leftovers. These leftovers were not wasted. God doesn't like waste. But beyond waste, there's is the fact that what you give to God, He will give you back, a full measure, pressed down shaken together, and running over. God is not in the business of defrauding people. If it is God, then there must be an improvement, with or without your expectations.

   It significant that in both cases, there's a servant who questions the wisdom of the master in presenting what is small to the multitude. There's a difference in how we see. An earhly perception is different from divine perception . It does also appear that the people who served were the very first witnesses of the multiplication. The meal multiplied aa they were served. If our faith is in God, he will multiply what is available to meet what is needed. Our faith must be first in God. Don't look down on what youve been given. God will create profit in all. Good morning.