Every man has his price. This is an old saying that claims that every person can be bribed if you know how much or what to bribe them with. For some people it might be a certain dollar amount and for others it might be power or an object of lust. This concept is seen in movies all the time when someone is bribed to do something that goes against their conscience. The bribe is so great that they cannot turn it down.
Temptation works in this way. For most of us disobeying God to gain a few bucks is not very tempting. But if you increase the amount then the temptation increases. If you found someone’s wallet on the sidewalk and it only contained $30 then you might not think long before returning it to its owner. But if the wallet contained $4000 in cash then you might think a little longer. “Maybe if I just took the cash and left the wallet where I found it. I could pay off my car with that much money or go on a nice vacation. Besides, the person should have been more careful.” I read a story of a Good Samaritan that did return a wallet with that much cash. I wonder how difficult it was to make that decision.
In the Bible we come across a man named Gehazi who was confronted with a sum of money too great to resist. This story is found in 2 Kings 5. A wealthy man by the name of Naaman comes from a foreign land to see the prophet Elisha. Gehazi is the servant of Elisha. Naaman has leprosy and is hoping that Elisha will heal him. Naaman brings with him a large sum of money as a gift or payment. Naaman ends up being healed of his leprosy but Elisha refuses to accept a gift for this miracle. And so Naaman begins his long journey home.
But the temptation of becoming rich is too great for Gehazi. He hurried after Naaman and caught up with his caravan. In 2 Kings 5:21-23 we read, “So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. “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 from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi.”
Gehazi now had two talents of silver. This is a huge amount of money back then. It would be enough to buy a nice home, fields, flocks and to have servants of his own. He had served Elisha loyally for many years but this opportunity was too great to pass up. But this act ends up costing him greatly. Elisha learns what Gehazi has done and pronounces God’s judgment on him. Naaman’s leprosy will now cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever.
From the Bible we learn that Elisha was the servant of Elijah before the latter was taken up to heaven. Elisha served faithfully and was blessed by God with his own ministry. Gehazi was in a similar situation. He had an opportunity to serve one of God’s prophets and surely would have been rewarded for his faithfulness during his earthly life or on the day of judgment. But Gehazi was worldly. The allures of riches and comfort in this life got the best of him. And so he was willing to resort to lies and deception to get what he wanted.
The Bible says much about dishonest gain and greed. Paul writes of the qualities of a Christian leader in 1 Timothy 3:8 , “In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.” Jesus taught in Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” As believers we should not have a price for disobeying God. We have the wisdom to know that greed and dishonesty will ultimately lead to regret. The blessings of obedience and faithfulness are of much great value.
Adam
