2 Kings 5:15-27
The first thing that Naaman does after his healing is to go and thank the one who has been the instrument of it. It reminds us of one of the ten lepers cleansed by the Lord, who seeing "that he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God" (Luke 17:15). Now, remarkably so, this was also a stranger.
Naaman has to learn that salvation is absolutely free. So many people never get round to accepting this fact. This is the more understandable when they see some clergy receiving personal profit from absolution: that which is called "filthy lucre" (1 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2). Gehazi makes us think of such. His conduct, so influenced by love of money, was prejudicial to Naaman’s understanding of the free gift of God. The heart of the man of God, so concerned for the "new convert" has all the time been following the scene. The dishonest deed is denounced and the greedy wretch receives his punishment (cf. Acts 5:1-11). "Is it a time to receive money . . . garments, etc.?" asks Elisha whose whole fortune was the prophet’s mantle. A serious question for each of us! As disciples of a Master who "became poor", on the eve of His return, it is not the time to enrich ourselves and to seek for ease down here! (see also James 5:3 end, and Haggai 1:6-7).