JOTS FROM OLD JAKE
Pride vs. No Pride
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 - 10:22 p.m.
There are several places in the scriptures that tell us that pride leads to a great fall. It is also demonstrated scripturally in the Old and New Testaments. We also see it happening in our daily lives in this environment.
The case I studied today is that of the Great Man of Valor, the Captain of the mighty host of the King of Syria. His name was Naaman. The Lord allowed him to win many great battles in his military excursions but along the way he became down with a case of leprosy. He tried to hid it from everyone but his household knew. One of his sweet little Hebrew maids who tended his wife made the remark that he should call upon the prophet of Israel, Elisha and have him call upon the Lord to heal him. The comment got back to Naaman and he decided that he should do just that. He sent a messenger to Israel about his desire and the King of Israel was paranoid that Naaman was setting up a trap for him� but Elisha said send the messenger to see him.
The messenger was given the message for Naaman to go wash him self in the river Jordon seven times and he would be healed. Now you have to understand that the river Jordan was and is a muddy mess� Naaman thought he should be given a better assignment due to his prestigious status in life and blew his top. After he cooled down his servant said well if he gave you some great thing to do you would do it so why not do this thing he directed.
Well Naaman humbled his pride an followed the prescribed treatment. Low and behold when he came out of the muddy water the seventh time he had new skin smooth as a babies skin.
Naaman was so thrilled that he gathered up a nice rich offering to donate to Elisha. Elisha told him that the Lord had healed him that he wouldn�t receive the offering� So Naaman thanked him and split. Well one of Elisha�s religious servants over heard the offer and chased after Naaman to say that they had reconsidered the offering. So the offering was given to this servant, Gehazi. You see Gehazi wasn�t too proud to accept money for the miracles of God. Well here is the outcome of that lack of pride: 2 Kings 5:26-27 (WEB) He said to him, Didn't my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave to you, and to your seed forever. He went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Well the Lord hates Pride� but here it seems that He doesn�t like the lack of pride called Greed as well!
VERSE FOR THIS ENTRY!
Psalms 115:11-12 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
ULTERIOR WORDS OF WISDOM� OR/NOT!
To a proud man, �if you could sell yourself for what you think you are worth and then buy yourself back for your real worth� you would be the richest man on earth!�
~Anonymous~
May you be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit!
