Tag: deals

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Snag a sober deal!

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul packs a lot of practical theology in these punchy thoughts. Starting with an admonition about how to live – not like fools, but like those who are wise. Paul follows it up with an interesting choice of words, communicating the urgency of a moment. He uses a popular business word, even more specific, he uses a SHOPPING word. Where most Bible translations say, “opportunity,” “use of time,” KJV uses the word, “redeem.” The Greek word Paul uses is, “exagorazó.” The word literally means, “buy-up at the marketplace” – properly, take full advantage of, seizing a buying-opportunity.” This word was popular and often used in the open-air, outdoor swap-meet style shopping experiences in most of the big cities. Paul equates the times of seeing evil everywhere as the perfect occasion to snag a moment with a hurting soul – more evil = more opportunities.

Paul then seems to understand that when times get crazy and everything feels chaotic, people tend to turn to ways that attempt to deaden or avoid their pain with alcohol. The common idea is wine solves lots of problems, not just of pain but of giving euphoric feelings as well. He comes out strong with the truth – drunkenness will destroy a life, not make it better.

But wait there’s more! Not only can the Holy Spirit lead us to amazing deals to broker love with a broken soul, He also brings life when we drink Him up, being filled! The amazing play on words, don’t be “methuó,” drunk with wine, but be “pléroó,” soaked in the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit brings life, not pain. The Holy Spirit brings freedom, not addiction!

Prayer

​Dad,
You work your wonders in spectacularly mysterious ways! I love Paul’s observation of opportunities. Among the normal ways we go about life, there are these micro-moments to share and shine the light of Jesus. This constantly challenges me to rethink the way I spend my time and how I look at people as I go about my day. I love deals and discounts, but rarely thought of these same concepts as a way of seeing needs around me. And, Paul’s bonus thought to be soaked in the Spirit verses soaked in booze is genius! Thank you for your Word working in us and through us at any and every moment we give you.

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Gehazi goes side-giggin’

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.” 2 Kings‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why not get a little something-something for my trouble? In Gehazi’s mind, his master, Elisha, was a poor money manager, negotiator and certainly lacked the common knowledge – you never say no to money! Gahazi thinks, Elisha should NOT have let this Aramean (uh, foreigner) get away. Oh, but Gahazi, who was learning about these mysterious ways that God interacted with Elisha, must have drawn the line at the whole “work man worthy of his hire,” or “don’t muzzle the oxen when it’s eating,” concepts that are very common in minister circles today.

And it was hard to figure out the pattern by just observing Elisha. Remember there was famine in the land. One time Elisha asks a widow to give him her last bit of food for herself and her son. Then another Elisha feeds hundreds of people with the gift from from Baal-shalishah. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat.” 2 Kings‬ ‭4:42‬ ‭NLT‬‬. It must have driven Gehazi a little crazy.

No matter the motive, Gehazi’s plans were sketchy from the start. He runs after Naaman’s entourage, and bold-face LIES to Naaman about Elisha changing his mind! “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 to them.” What? Two guys arrived SINCE the time I just left? Naaman doesn’t care about the money or the expensive clothes, he just received a new lease on life! Sure “take double that,” he says being extremely generous.

You feel the moral tension when the text says, “Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.”

The next interaction with Gehazi and Elisha is so predictable. It’s like that conversation every Father has had with their lying, scheming Junior High son! Elisha asks Gehazi, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” Now, I need to insert here that great parents all play the same game of truth or how-dare-you with their kids. Parents ask questions they already have the answer to!!! We’re just trying to let our children have one last chance to come clean and confess to something we already know about. It’s a setup and it works every time.

Gehazi replies with the most ridiculous answer, “I haven’t been anywhere.” Oh really? So this whole time you’ve been GONE, nowhere to be found, you were really here, but just what, invisible? Elisha doesn’t give him a second chance to be truthful. Apparently, Moms are the only ones with “eyes behind their head!” Prophets have that spirit-intuition that something smells nasty!

Gehazi must have turned sheet-white when Elisha dropped this question…“Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you?” I would have been sick to my stomach if I were Gehazi. Then, oddly, Elisha goes on to describe MORE than just Gehazi’s greed, he lays out the young servant’s true plans and intentions for his future. A future filled with lots of wealth and lots of influence! Gehazi didn’t just want money, he wanted MORE of everything. Elisha asked him, “Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?” The answer for prophets in training or young ministers everywhere is NO. This is NOT the time for more. Then maybe to discipline Gehazi, but possibly even to save his life, he blessed him with Naaman’s curse – incurable skin disease.

Prayer

Dad,
These are hard lessons for those who are called to be ministers, servants, evangelists or even prophets. The lesson of how to handle money and power. The lesson of how to “know” things in the Spirit and NOT let that go to one’s head. To have multiple opportunities to get ahead or secretly take or make a deal on the side and think like Gehazi’s, “I deserve this.” Or, “know one will ever know.” It gives me chills to think about how often this happens in ministry and ministers today. Help us oh God to trust and completely depend on your supply, your care for us and our families. Help us to do the right thing always!