Topic: Above Covetousness [Open Heavens for Teens 24 October 2020]
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Memorise: “I haven’t longed for anyone’s silver or gold or clothing”. Acts 20:33
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 5:21-27 (NIRV)
21 Gehazi hurried after Naaman. Naaman saw him running toward him. So he got down from the chariot to greet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked.
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. They’ve come from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothes.’”
23 “I wish you would take twice as much silver,” said Naaman. He begged Gehazi to accept it. Then Naaman tied up 150 pounds of silver in two bags. He also gave Gehazi two sets of clothes. He gave all of it to two of his own servants. They carried it ahead of Gehazi.
24 Gehazi came to the hill where Elisha lived. Then the servants handed the things over to Gehazi. He put them away in Elisha’s house. He sent the men away, and they left. 25 Then he went back inside the house. He stood in front of his master Elisha.
“Gehazi, where have you been?” Elisha asked.
“I didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.
26 But Elisha said to him, “Didn’t my spirit go with you? I know that the man got down from his chariot to greet you. Is this the time for you to accept money or clothes? Is it the time to take olive groves, vineyards, flocks or herds? Is it the time to accept male and female servants?
27 You and your children after you will have Naaman’s skin disease forever.”
Then Gehazi left Elisha. And he had Naaman’s skin disease. His skin was as white as snow.
Bible Reading In One Year: Jeremiah 11-13; 1 Timothy 4:1-16
MESSAGE:
Naaman brought a huge amount of money and some gifts to Elisha after his healing but Elisha refused to accept the money. He probably had needs and could also have thought that if he received the gift, he would be able to solve many problems of others around him. Yet he refused to accept it. Gehazi (the servant of Elisha), on the other hand, inherited Naamans leprosy as a result of his covetousness whereas he ought to have inherited the double portion of the anointing of Elisha (like Elisha inherited Elijahs).
A lot of unsuspecting youths today have been initiated into secret cults, witchcraft, evil groups et cetera as a result of this problem. There are a lot of troubles you will save yourself from if only you can be contented with what you have. Several years ago, when Mercedes Benz was newly brought into Nigeria, a minister of God came and promised me one. I thought that God had finally answered my prayers but He instructed me not to accept it. So, I called him to humbly tell him that God said that I shouldn’t accept it. In anger, he asked Was it the devil that told me to buy it for you? Much later, we realised that there was a bad intention behind his gift. Not all those who give you gifts have true intentions. Beware of covetousness.
Action Point:
Consciously discipline yourself to be content with what you have.
Hymn: When We Walk With The Lord
- When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
- Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. - Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey. - But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
For the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey. - Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
