Apologetics

Gifts And Greed

by Olawale Ogunsola
12/05/24
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Most of the time, people are blessed (given) with certain items they never bargained for or expected. Such things, many times, are useful and of reasonable value to the receiver. The giver would have considered many factors before deciding on the right item(s) to offer as a gift to the receiver. Such a present may also be made in obedience to the instructions of God by someone who is spiritually sensitive.

This was the case when the team of ten men from the house of Israel was to visit the land of Egypt to buy food again for their family members.

Jacob told his ten older sons,
"If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man- a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds." Genesis 43:11.

"The man" in the quoted verse was Joseph, unknown to the family members. It is worthy of note that "the man" did not desire the gifts or presents. He did not expect any from them. "Why should they go with gifts?", you may ask. The answer is provided in the book of Proverbs Chapter eighteen in verse sixteen thus,
"A man's gift makes room for him
And brings him before great men."

Gifts have the power to bring a man (a giver) before great men and access their favor and mercy.

Let me not fail to state that not all gifts are good gifts. It is not all gifts that are acceptable to the receiver. Certain presents are like Satan's apples that are full of worms. They are poisonous.

The book of Ecclesiastes does not leave us in the dark. It declares,
"And a bribe debases the heart." 7:7(b).

When a gift is given to debase the heart of the receiver, it becomes a bribe, this is a snare. It should be rejected and avoided. May the Lord grant you the wisdom to discern between a good gift and a bad one that debases the heart in the name of Jesus Christ.

As it is very dangerous to receive a gift that has a negative motive behind it, so it is evil to desire a gift at the wrong time. To desire a gift is equivalent to presenting your heart for sale. It is making a mortgage of your conscience. Buyers will easily make themselves available most of the time because it is an opportunity to dominate the seller's life. His eyes will become blind because of the gift he desires. This is a form of bribe. It leads to perversion of judgment, Deuteronomy 16:19.

It becomes more evil when greed is added to a desire for gifts. A little opening for Satan to come in will create a great room for him to operate. A little desire for a gift can lead to greed for it. This has great consequences. It can lead to generational curses that no prayer can cancel. It is important to prevent it because it does more harm than good.

"Prophet" Gehazi is a very good example of a man of God who was greedy for gifts. He was resolute to receive gifts from a leprous man who had just received his miracle of healing, Naaman, the Syrian Army General. Gehazi encouraged himself,
"As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him." 2 Kings 5:20.

He ran as he purposed and the man gave him gifts that he desired and more. He received two talents of silver and two changes of garments instead of one talent of silver and two changes of garments he desired. Do you know what? He also received other gifts he never bargained for. He received the gift of leprosy.

How did it happen?

The Master and his spiritual Father and Mentor saw him when he was chasing Naaman to receive something from him. The man of God inquired where he had been to but he said he went nowhere. The Prophet of God, Elisha, declared,
"Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you?..."
Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." 2 Kings 5:26(in part) and 27.

That was the result of Gehazi's greed for gifts. He ran after gifts, as the Lord lives, to receive leprosy which he left for unborn children. Was he aware that his untamed taste for gifts would earn him leprosy?

As it was, so it is! What are you greedy for? Plead the blood of Jesus Christ on the spirit of greed in your life before it brings destruction.

Let me point out here that Prophet Elisha was not an enemy of gifts, giving or receiving them. The major difference between him and Gehazi is that he knows the difference between gifts to receive and the timing, that is the right time, to receive them.

The latter part of verse twenty-six reveals this:" Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, Olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?"

The above was the question that Gehazi could not answer his Mentor because he didn't know.

To the experienced Prophet, there is an ideal time to receive each of those listed items but Gehazi was not ready to learn. He preferred to be greedy for gifts.
May the Lord destroy the spirit of greed for gifts in your life in the name of Jesus Christ. Pray the same for me. God bless you as you do.
Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.

NOTE:
All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version of the Holy Bible.