Now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
Naaman’s money
This chapter contains valuable lessons concerning money; how the servants of God ought to use and to regard it. Some of our Lord’s weightiest and most solemn sayings were addressed to those who had much money, or were spoken with reference to them, as in the case of the rich fool, the man clothed in purple and fine linen, and the young ruler. The prominence given to this matter m Scripture need not be wondered at; for,
1. Money represents the good things of this world, which all are prone to love too well (Mar_10:22).
2. As the Lord Jesushas bought us, He claims absolute proprietorship over us (1Co_6:19-20), and therefore His claim extends to our money.
3. The manner in which a man acknowledges or repudiates this claim is, to a great extent, decisive of his spiritual condition (Mat_6:21). In the latter part of this chapter the money test is applied to three characters, Naaman, Elisha, and Gehazi:
I. Naaman longs at once to prove his gratitude, convinced that he was indebted to the God of Israel for the cure of his leprosy (Psa_116:12; Luk_17:15). He was wealthy, and to offer Elisha a present was the most natural way of showing his thankfulness. It is well when thank-offerings are common in families, when special gifts are offered for special mercies received by individual members of the household; thus the young are trained to recognise God’s claim on their possessions. But, more generally, a man who, through the cleansing power of the blood of Christ, has been cured of the leprosy of sin, will (if he has the means) pour his grateful offerings into the Lord’s treasury (2Co_8:1-5).
II. But Elisha firmly declined the gift. He feared lest Naaman should imagine him to be influenced by selfish considerations, and to be exercising the prophet’s craft for filthy lucre’s sake. He must not leave Naaman with false impressions as to the principles of the worshippers of the true God. Bishop Patrick says: “It gives great authority to a teacher of virtue, not to be covetous.” This example shows what an all-pervading principle true piety is; it leads its votary to make the glory of God his supreme end, and to shape his course accordingly (cp. Act_8:20; 1Co_9:15).
III. Tried by the money test, Gehazi is found wanting. He had every religious advantage: the constant attendant of Elisha, the witness of his miracles, the hearer of his words, the observer of his godly life, he ran well for a time. Covetousness, the love of money, is his ruin (1Ti_6:10; see verse 20). It made him a liar, and his lie made him a leper (Pro_21:6). Compare the cases of Judas and Demas. (F. F. Goe,M. A.)
