Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study - Greed is Killing You | Historical Books | 2 Kings 5:19b-27

Episode Date: October 6, 2025

Do you see your own greed? What are you coveting? Are you trying to hide from God? In today's episode, Keith shares how 2 Kings 5:19b-27 reminds us to be on guard against all kinds of greed. If you're listening on Spotify, tell us about yourself and where you're listening from! Read the Bible with us in 2025! This year, we’re exploring the Historical Books—Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings. Download your reading plan now. Your support makes TMBT possible. Ten Minute Bible Talks is a crowd-funded project. Join the TMBTeam to reach more people with the Bible. Give now. Like this content? Make sure to leave us a rating and share it so that others can find it, too. Use #asktmbt to connect with us, ask questions, and suggest topics. We'd love to hear from you! To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @TenMinuteBibleTalks. Don't forget to subscribe to the TMBT Newsletter here. Passages: 2 Kings 5:19b-27

Welcome to 10-minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life. In the time it takes to get to work. I'm Keith Simon. In 79 AD, the city of Pompeii, which is just south of Naples, Italy, was buried under volcanic ash when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted. My wife and I had a chance to spend a few hours there about a year ago. I wish we would have had more time because I was blown away by how much of the first century Roman life was preserved by the way the city was destroyed. And that probably explains why Pompeii is one of Italy's most popular attractions. It has almost 3 million annual visitors.

A couple of months before we were in Pompeii, archaeologists had made a incredible discovery. It was of skeletal remains of a man and woman who were trapped in their house. Based on what the archaeologists found, they believed the couple had tried to gather their valuables before the ash from the volcano destroyed them. The archaeologists believe it's possible that gathering those pearls and gold coins cost this couple their life. Greed, or the insatiable desire for more, has long-plagued humanity and led to many deaths, both physical and spiritual. In Genesis, we read about Adam and Eve, who weren't content with paradise, but instead coveted the forbidden fruit on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That greed brought sin and death into the world. or consider Aiken in Joshua chapter 6.

He coveted the silver and gold of Israel's defeated enemies and in the process brought death on himself and his family. Or think about King Ahab. He coveted Naboth's vineyard and murdered the innocent man to get it. Or consider David, who coveted Yari's wife and brought pain into so many families, including his own. Judas betrayed Jesus for money. Ananias and Safira lied to the Holy Spirit to hold on to their money

while pretending to be generous. Greed kills. That's why Jesus tells us in Luke chapter 12 to watch out for greed. It's subtle but deadly. Jesus doesn't have to say watch out for adultery. Not because adultery is not dangerous and damaging. Of course, adultery destroys many lives.

Jesus doesn't say watch out for adultery because you know when you're doing it. Like when you wake up next to someone who isn't your spouse, you know there's a problem, but greed is different. No one thinks they're greedy. Let's pray and then dive in to the second half of Second Kings 5. Father, we open our heart to you and we pray that you would show us anything in our life that you want us to deal with.

It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So 2nd Kings 5 starts by telling the story of a great Syrian general named Naman. And Naman sought out Elisha, the great prophet of Israel, to cure him from his... Naman sought out the great prophet. Elisha of Israel to cure him of his leprosy. It's a fantastic story and I encourage you to listen to the previous episode to hear Jeff unpack it. Today we pick up the story after Naaman has been healed. As a thank you note for all that Elisha has done, Naman offers him a gift. Verse 16, but Elisha replied, as surely as the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts. And though Naman urged him to

take the gift, Elisha refused. So Naman says goodbye and begins this trip back to Syria. And that should have been the end of the story. But Elisha had his servant named Gahazi, and the more Gahazi thought about it, the more he didn't think it was smart to turn down the extravagant gifts that Naman had offered. Verse 19, Go in peace, Elisha said. So Naman started home again. But Gahazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, My master should not have let this Eremyan get away without accepting any of his gifts.

As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him. Now notice how it describes Gahazi's position. He was the servant of Elisha, who's described as the man of God. What an amazing job Gahazi had. He got to spend time with the great prophet. He got to do the Lord's work. And Gahazi had a front row seat on what God was doing in the world. He had witnessed Naiman's healing.

He had seen the son of the Shunamite woman raised a life. He'd seen God part the Jordan River. not only had gahazi seen god's mighty acts he had every opportunity to grow in the grace and love of god but none of these privileges had changed gahazi's heart none of them had led him to obey hebrews 13 five do not love money be satisfied with what you have god's blessings weren't enough for gahazi he wanted more he thought he needed more he thought he deserved more what about you are you content with what god has given you? Are you thankful for the blessings you have? Or do you always have at least one eye focused on the things that you don't have? Father, I pray that we would be content with all the

ways that you have blessed us. Amen. I wonder why Gahazi didn't recall a similar story that took place in the book of Genesis. It's the story about Abraham rescuing his nephew lot, along with other people and all their possessions. The king of Sodom wanted to give Abraham a thank you gift for all that he had done. And so he told Abraham, look, return the people, but keep the possessions that you've recovered. Here's Genesis 14. Abraham replied to the king of Sodom, I solemnly swear to the Lord, God most high, creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise, you might say, I am the one who made Abram rich. See, the point of the story in Genesis is that God has plenty of money. He doesn't depend on unbelievers,

to expand this kingdom. The point of Elisha not taking the money and gifts from Naaman is a little different. In this story, Elisha refused to take money because he didn't want anyone to think that God's blessings could be bought. Every blessing from God is based on grace. Once Gahazi loses his contentment in God, once he gives in to greed, he starts down a really dark path. We pick up the story in verse 21.

So Gahazi set off after Naman. When Naman saw Gahazi running after him, him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. Is everything all right? Naman asked. Yes, Gahazi said, but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give them. Now, first notice that Gahazi is alone. He doesn't want anyone to know what he's doing, which shows that at least some level he knows what he's doing is wrong. And then second, notice the lie he tells. Gahazi told Naman a story about unexpected visitors, and he invokes Elisha to give his story credibility.

He says, my master has sent me to tell you. Again, we pick up in verse 23. Well, by all means, take twice as much silver, Neiman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gahazi. But when they arrived at the citadel, Gahazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. then he went in and hid the gifts inside the house. So Gahazi lies again by sending Naaman's men back before anyone notices them, and then by hiding the gifts.

Sometimes our actions can tell lies as much as our words can. I'm sure Gahazi thinks he's gotten away with his sin, which is why he goes to Elisha, verse 25. When he went to his master, Elisha asked him, Where have you been, Gahazi? Well, that's the question. Every suspicious wife asks her husband. it's the question every suspicious parent asks their teenager it's the question every suspicious teacher asks their student where have you been what have you been doing this is where gahazi could have come clean he could have been honest about his sin he could have repented and turned from his sin and turned back to god instead he doubles down on his sin and keeps on lying i haven't been anywhere he replied the lie slips out so easily

I wasn't where I shouldn't have been. I wasn't doing anything wrong. See, once you get used to lying, it's hard to tell the truth. But you can't hide from God. He sees every action. He hears every word. God perceives every thought and motive of our heart. Verse 26. But Elisha asked him, Don't you realize that I was there in spirit when Naiman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, male and female, servants? Elisha asked Ahazi, is this the time to receive gifts? Like, gifts aren't bad.

And Elisha's question implies there is a time to receive gifts. But this isn't it. Why isn't this the time? Well, because accepting the gifts from Neiman might lead him to think that God's blessings can be purchased. God had healed Neiman, not because he was rich or smart or moral or talented or a great general, even though Neiman may have been all those things. No, God healed Neiman.

as an act of grace, as an act of undeserved favor. By asking for money, Gahazi is corrupting the gospel and misrepresenting God's heart. Here's how the chapter ends. Verse 27. Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naiman's leprosy forever. When Gahazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy. His skin was white as snow. As leprosy destroys the body, so greed destroys your soul. It lets end with Jesus' words back in Luke 1215. be on guard against every kind of greed. Maybe you should ask the Lord to show you if there's any area of your life in which you've lost your contentment in him.

Is there any area of your life in which you are greedy that you think you need more, you deserve more? Let's pray. Father, I pray that we would open our heart to you and you would expose any sin that you want us to deal with. We want to turn from our sin and run to Jesus who loves us, who died for us. who forgives us. We rely not on money, not on who we are, not on our talents and gifts, but instead we rely solely on your grace. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.