Unholy in the Midst of HolinessSample

Gehazi Was A Liar

The covetous heart of Gehazi caused him to lie to Naaman, saying that Elisha had sent him. He tried to rationalize the telling of the lie by having a very spiritual reason to cover his lie. He said that two young men of the sons of the prophets had arrived since he left, and his “gifts” were now needed to sustain them! As you might expect, Naaman was very willing to pay for what he had received. He was so grateful that he gave him more than he requested. 

White and black lies have become common for many people today. The world defines lying as a small sin. White lies are defined by the world as "good" because they do not hurt, but help. 

As long as some good comes out of it, people think that it is okay to lie.

Gehazi lied, first to Naaman. As with most lies, one leads to another and Gehazi found himself lying to Elisha.

Elisha asked where he had been. “I went nowhere”, responded Gehazi.  

Gehazi had thought he was alone, but God revealed to Elisha where Gehazi had been. Gehazi thought his intentions were secret, but Elisha’s reference to olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, menservants, and maidservants showed that he read in the servant’s mind the projects of splendour he intended to pursue with Naaman’s wealth.  

You may think that nobody knows when you tell a lie and are pleased that you have gotten away with telling a lie. But remember that our God is a God who is the all-knowing God. He sees and hears what is done in secret. Gehazi reaped the consequences for his lies when leprosy struck him.

You may think that you can get away with lying. But often, in order to cover up one lie, you have to tell a second, and then a third, and so on, until you are all entangled in the web of lies. Gehazi’s lies only worsened the situation

Gehazi’s lying must have caused Naaman to think that Elisha was also like other people who were more keen on money than faith in the Lord.

A lie is always injurious to people, but a lie concerning our faith in the Lord, whether spoken or merely lived out, has impact far beyond mere inconvenience. Souls are at stake.

The better option is to be a person who tells the truth at all times. Don’t call a lie by any other name. 

The story is told of a woman who came to evangelist Billy Sunday and asked, "Reverend Sunday, how can I stop exaggerating?" He looked at her and said, "Call it lying." It is the same way with the "little white lies." There is no such thing as "a little white lie." Lies are lies.

Quotes: “A lie has no legs. It requires other lies to support it. Tell one lie and you are forced to tell others to back it up. Stretching the truth won't make it last any longer. Those that think it permissible to tell white lies soon grow colorblind. “- Austin O'Malley.

Prayer: Lord, help me to realise the seriousness of lying. Help me to be a person who tells the truth at all times. Amen.