PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY - MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT.
Oct. 6th, 2025
LEARN PATIENCE!
There is a time to give and a time to receive. A time to sow and a time to reap (Eccl. 3). No one should put the one before the other; meaning you cannot reap when you have not sown.
When Naaman came to the land of Israel from Syria, he brought with him "taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing." (2 Kings.5.5.NIV) probably as payment to the king of Israel for his healing. But after he was healed of his leprosy, he offered the ten talents of silver, shekels of gold and clothing to Elisha the prophet as gift but Elisha refused. This acts resonates with what Jesus said: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED; FREELY GIVE." (Mat.10.8.NIV) But Gehazi, Elisha's servant thought differently, pursued Naaman and collected a fraction of the payment/gift behind his master's back. When the cat was let out of the bag, Elisha asked him; "is this the time to collect money?" (2 Ki. 5:28)
A few chapters down in 2 Kings 8, we read another story of when "Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, “The man of God has come all the way up here,” he said to Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult the Lord through him; ask him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’ ” .....taking with him as A GIFT FORTY CAMEL-LOADS OF ALL THE FINEST WARES OF DAMASCUS....." (2 Kings.8.7-9.NIV). This time, the Bible was silent on whether or not Elisha accepted the gift but it will be saved to assume that he did and that Gehazi was not with him.
Imagine Elisha returning to Israel with 40 donkeys carrying different wares - gold, silver, spices, clothing - what a spectacular scene and compare this to Naaman's payment turned gift!! and the greed or impatience of Gehazi - an act not pleasing to God. (Ref Luke 6:38)
You may ask; how do I know the best is on its way?
You will know when your obedience doesn't shift to disobedience. Openness doesn't go into secrecy.
The song writer wrote: Lift your eyes and wait His help. It may be long but wait, Though the promise may tarry long, It soon shall come to pass.
THE WORD: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James.1.4.NIV)
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