2 Kings 5:20-27

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Downfall of Elisha's Servant, Gehazi

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Defiling the Lord’s work is a serious sin.

  2. Dishonoring the Lord’s servants is a serious sin.

  3. Distorting the Lord’s gospel is a serious sin.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. You can be sure that one lie will lead to another.

  2. You can be sure that you will be tested in the area of money.

QUESTIONS

  1. Naaman wanted to give a gift to Elisha in appreciation for healing him from his leprosy. Responding to this offer, a. Elisha refused. Why? b. Gehazi asked for it. Why?

  2. What does it mean to defile the Lord’s work? How did Gehazi defile the Lord’s work?

  3. What does it mean to dishonor the Lord’s servants? How did Gehazi dishonor Elisha?

  4. What does it mean to distort the Lord’s gospel? How did Gehazi distort the gospel?

  5. How was Gehazi disciplined?

ANSWERS

  1. a. Elisha refused the gift, so as not to dishonor or distort the gospel. Naaman’s healing was a free gift from God, and not to be bought or tainted by the exchange of money or payment of some kind. He honored the Lord by his motives and actions. b. Gehazi, on the other hand, wanted riches for himself, and they were there for the taking. He considered his needs above the Lord’s honor.

  2. It means to corrupt or contaminate it; to do something wrong in the name of the Lord. Gehazi wanted to gain riches for himself at the expense of the work of the Lord. Furthermore, his greed was compounded by lies.

  3. To dishonor the Lord’s servants is to slander them. We must be warned about bad-mouthing the Lord’s servants. Gehazi put words into Elisha’s mouth by saying that Elisha had sent him to Naaman to receive a gift for his service.

  4. Distorting the Lord’s gospel means to detract from the good news freely given. Gehazi distorted the gospel by lying and taking money when the gift was freely given.

  5. The leprosy of Naaman was put upon Gehazi and his descendants forever.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. One lie leads to another. Has this ever happened to you? What were the results?

  2. What should you do when you are aware that someone is defiling the Lord’s work? Or dishonoring the Lord’s servants? Or distorting the gospel? Do you look the other way or confront him?

CHALLENGE

  1. Have you been tested in the area of money? Be specific. Did you pass or fail?

KEY VERSES

  • ”...I will run after him and take something from him.” 2 Kings 5:20

  • “Where did you go, Gehazi? Did not my heart go with you? Is it time to receive money…?” 2 Kings 5:25-26

  • ”...if you have not been faithful in money, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” Luke 16:11

2 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 KINGS 5:20-27