The Neglect Of Naaman
2 Kings 5
INTRO: Sometimes in life, we get busy doing all kinds o things. Often we do them extremely well (like Naaman). But what if we miss the important things of God? What then?
Naaman was such a man. He had a lot of things going his way…except for his sickness. But then a young maid helped change his direction in life.
First I want to look at who he was or what he was about:
Prominent man (great)
Proper man (honorable)
Powerful man (mighty man in valor)
But he was…
Pushed out (leper)
We can be just like this in life
Good person to those around us
Honorable in what we do
Brave in life and our efforts
But, we must see we are cast away like a leper without God's help
This set him up for mistakes, because he…
Believed he was special
People wished him well - vs. 3
People treated him thusly - vs. 4
People told him that - vs. 5
And he continually…
Benefited from his connections
Financial gains - vs. 2
Friends in high places - vs. 4 - 5
Finished first consistently - vs.1
Because of this he never really had needed to…
Believe on anyone/anything but power
Trusted his victories well - he did his thing
Thought everyone made their own way - he expected others to do theirs
Traded in hard work - expected to pay his own way - vs. 5, 15
But at the urging of a "friend" he gave God's way a try - it worked - vs. 13-14
Because of his standing and accomplishments he never really had needed to…
Believe on a higher power (no doubt he had covered the bases- just in case)
Realized God was (I Am) - 15
Reserved his allegiance for Him - 17
Reaped God's blessing because someone cared for him.
God has Spiritual and even physical healing for you this day.
Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
So what can we learn from Naaman's life?
We need God in our lives.
God is able to help our lives.
God wants to be in our lives.
We must want/ask God into our lives.
We as Christians should never underestimate the importance of our caring and showing someone we love them - like the little maid that cared for her master enough to tell him of a Prophet of God that could heal him.
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 041804am