In Second Kings, chapter five, verse twenty, Elisha’s servant Gehazi had a desirous heart and sought to corrupt God’s gracious act for material prosperity. His transgression included betraying Elisha, lying to Naaman and Elisha, and dishonoring the name of God. In verses twenty-one through twenty-seven, Elisha’s only servant, Gehazi, is a base liar. The love of money, the root of all evil, was at the bottom of Gehazi’s sin. He thought to impose upon the prophet but soon found that the Spirit of prophecy is not deceivable and vain to lie to the Holy Ghost.
It is folly to presume upon sin in hopes of secrecy. When thou goest aside into any by-path, does not thy conscience go with thee? Does not the eye of God go with thee? He that covers his sin shall not prosper; especially, a lying tongue is but for a moment.
All the foolish hopes and contrivances of carnal worldlings are open before God. It is not a time to increase our wealth when we can only do it in ways that are dishonorable to God and religion or hurtful to others. Gehazi received punishment. If he will have Naaman’s money, he shall have his disease with it. What was Gehazi profited, though he gained two talents when he lost his health, honor, peace, service, and, if repentance prevented not, his soul forever? Let us beware of hypocrisy and covetousness and dread the curse of spiritual leprosy remaining on our souls.
Likewise, the New Testament refers to people who preach the Word of God for selfish gain, as in Second Corinthians two, verse seventeen.
Unfortunately, some ministers seek to enrich themselves and accumulate great material abundance by proclaiming the shed blood of Christ, offering salvation to the lost, healing the sick, or counseling those in distress. They are using the Word of God and making merchandise of God’s mercy. They turn the “riches in Christ,” as in Ephesians three, verse eight, into the “treasures of Egypt,” as in Hebrews eleven, verse twenty-six.