Humility is something that is rewarded. Genuine humility is something that is greatly rewarded by God. The Bible talks over and over about how God exalts the humble but brings down the proud. God uses the humble in ways that He will not be able to use the proud because the humble are willing to serve in any capacity that God asks. Those who are proud limit, if not remove, themselves from service because they are unwilling to do whatever is asked.
As I've continued my Bible study into 2 Kings I've noticed this principle in the life of Elisha. He was the humble servant who was blessed, but his servant was a proud and greedy man. In 2 Kings 3.11b it says, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah."
I haven't researched this, but I'm using some other information from things I learned while preaching through the Gospel of John. Elijah the prophet had Elisha as a servant. He would go with him and minister to his needs. Part of the task would have been preparing for ceremonial washing. In the New Testament, and probably in the Old as well, a rabbi would have had a servant/disciple who would go with them and be responsible for washing his feet when he entered a house. I'm guessing that was part of Elisha's duties as well.
In 1 Kings 19 God tells Elijah to go and find Elisha, who will become his successor. As Elisha learns from Elijah he also ministers to him. He serves before he can lead. And because he is a humble servant, willing to do even then lowest task, he is greatly blessed and greatly used by God.
Before Elijah is taken up to heaven he to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." and Elisha responds, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." Elisha wants to be used greatly by God. He asked to be Elijah's successor and God granted his request because his motives were pure. Elisha did not seek position and power for his own gain, we see throughout his ministry that he refuses gain for his services. God uses the humble because they seek His good, not their own.
Elisha was a great man. He had a ministry that lasted five decades and had great influence in four nations. We have more miracles recorded from Elisha's ministry than Elijah's, but he lacks the fame that Elijah had; although I highly doubt he minds.
Enter the servant of Elisha, Gehazi. Unlike Elisha, he is not a humble man concerned with doing the work of God. His motives and actions are portrayed as selfish and, based on the account of the Shunammite woman's son, lacking faith. Because of these things God will not use him.
Gehazi is with Elisha, he sees and observes him, but he never appears to learn humility from him until it is too late. After the healing on Naaman from leprosy, Elisha refuses the payment Naaman offers. Gehazi, who has failed to learn the lesson that this is for God not personal gain, goes secretly after Naaman and takes a small amount of what he offered Elisha by lying. Then he lies to try and cover it up, but nothing is hidden from God, and Gehazi and all of his descendants carry the leprosy of Naaman.
A leader must primarily be a humble servant. This is the model that Elisha sets, and later Jesus Himself. A leader must be humble because first and foremost He is a servant of God. God cannot use anyone to their fullest potential if they are not willing to be humble. All Christians must be humble servants. This is given all through the teachings of Jesus, and it's the example that Jesus Himself sets. But it is one that has been greatly misplaced, especially in the American Church.
Here, many Christians don't seem to have any interest in serving others. For many the Church is about meeting their needs and making them comfortable. If that doesn't happen, they usually move to a Church where they can slip in and out of the crowd. Many simply refuse to serve and make excuses for why they can't. But honestly, I really don't think it's much different than Gehazi, or even the disciples of Jesus. How much potential is untapped, how much good is undone, because Christians aren't humble enough to serve?
I think it starts with leadership. As leaders we must set an example of humble service for the people to follow. Those who we lead must follow us as we follow Christ. We must live for God not for ourselves. Our motives must be pure, as Elisha's were, and when they are God can use us greatly because there is no task that we are unwilling to do for Him. Those who are motivated by greed, by hope of gain, focused on the Prosperity Gospel, where God's will is for Christians to be financially blessed, miss out on all God wants to use them for. They end up with a spiritual leprosy that is usually passed down from generation to generation.
As leprosy made one an outcast in the Bible, spiritual leprosy in a way makes us an outcast from God. Lepers couldn't engage in normal life. They couldn't work, couldn't attend worship in the Temple or Synagogue, they couldn't celebrate the festivals because they were unclean. In the same way spiritual leprosy has us miss out on the life that God has for us. Pride keeps us from serving, greed keeps us from giving and helping others. As we fail to live as Christ we grow farther from God.
Gehazi is only mentioned one more time in the Bible after he receives the curse of leprosy. In 2 Kings 8 we find him telling of the works of Elisha. We don't know if he stayed proud and greedy while growing bitter. We aren't told if he humbled himself and repented. I do know that he had an incredible example to learn from. Elisha was a humble servant whose focus was the work and glory of God. I want that to be said of me. I want to be a leader who serves, who people can safely follow because I fully follow Christ. I don't want spiritual leprosy, but a clean, pure heart.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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