What is your big dream? It can be anything—a good marriage, a great career, a talent, a warm family. What are you willing to give up to achieve your dream? Are you willing to make sacrifices? And do you EXPECT to make sacrifices? Would it disappoint you if you did not?
Naaman had a big dream. He had a skin condition and wanted to be healed. He came to Elisha, and was prepared to pay dearly. Naaman arrived with 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 changes of clothes.
But when Naaman reached Elisha’s door, the prophet did not answer, but sent a messenger who told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan river seven times. Naaman was insulted and left angry. But his servants convinced him to give it a try:
“My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13
So Naaman did it, and after the seventh time, “his skin was restored and became like the flesh of a small boy.” 2 Kings 5:13-14.
But Elisha refused payment. God did NOT desire sacrifices from Naaman. God’s healing cannot be bought, just as God’s forgiveness and grace cannot be bought. We are like Naaman—we want to pay for heaven and God’s forgiveness. The idea that it is a free gift offends our pride. But if we don’t get over that, we will never receive God’s gift.
Sometimes God asks us to do things not because they are great sacrifices, but because they seem irrational to our “adult” minds. What God did HUMBLED Naaman, showing him that God’s ways are not man’s ways. And Naaman declared that from that day forward he would worship and serve only the God of Israel. “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel” verse 15.
Lord, give us the humility to accept Your free gifts.
ΑΩ
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