by Lee Roy Anderson
Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19.
Overcoming pride. Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria was a great man and honorable. The Lord had given deliverance through him unto Syria. He was a mighty man in valor of great courage, but he was a leper. 2 Kings 5:1. He was unclean.
There was a little maid in his household who had been brought captive from Israel, and she waited on Naaman’s wife, and she said unto her mistress, would God my Lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria? For he would recover him of his leprosy, 2 Kings 5:3. This was told to the King of Syria and he readily gave Naaman permission to go to Israel to be healed, and he wrote a letter to the king of Israel. So Naaman departed with a large present of silver, gold, and changes of raiment to give for his healing, 2 Kings 5:2-5.
He brought the letter to the king of Israel, who became greatly distressed for he believed that the Syrian king was seeking a quarrel with him for it was well known that only God could cleanse a leper. When Elisha heard of it he directed the king to send Naaman to him. So Naaman came with his horses and with his Chariot, 2 Kings 5:9. He came in great state and pride. And Elisha sent his servant to tell him to wash in the Jordan seven times and he would be made clean. Naaman was displeased at being received with such little ceremony and he departed in a rage. However his servant reasoned with him and persuaded him to wash in the Jordan, and so he did seven times and he was made clean, yielded not to riches and pride.
Gehazi, a servant of Elisha, ran after Naaman when he departed and asked for silver, gold and changes of raiment. He pretended to have been sent by Elisha. Naaman gave them to him, and he returned and hid them. Elisha rebuked him for his misdeed and pronounced the plague of leprosy upon him. 2 Kings 5:20-27. He takes his place along with King Saul, Judas, Ananias, and Saphira, Acts 5:1-10. And Demas, 2 Timothy 4:10.
No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God, Luke 9:62. Review Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Peter 1:9 and Matthew 12:43-45. Be careful, yield not to the temptation of worldliness riches, and pride. God resisteth the proud and giveth grace unto the humble, James 4:6. Be careful yield not to the temptation of worldliness riches and pride. You cannot live wrong and die right.