ANOINTING (8)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*ANOINTING (8).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

2 Kings 5:26 *And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money and to receive garments, oliveyards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, menservants, and maidservants?*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Anointing is more than money can offer.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Many Christian generations after the prophet Elisha are still praying for the same anointing of Elisha while someone so close to him and who had tasted the raw power of the anointing was more interested in money than the anointing.

Gehazi was near yet so far!

The Kingdom or better still the children of the Kingdom at that time lost the opportunity of a successor to Elisha, who would perpetuate this great anointing.

Though there were prophets after Elisha, one could rightly say there were no other prophets recorded after him and Elijah that were as powerful with great exploits as these two.

In continuation of the look at anointing, we will look at two things today.

First, Elisha's last-minute encounter with Elijah tells us that those who love and wish to serve God must first seek the anointing to do it.

Elisha's request teaches that anointing should be sought after over any Kingdom privileges ref Matt 6:33.

It is the foundation on which the supernatural miracles rest upon.

Anointing can not be compared with money, position, personalities, offices of authority, or powers.

Elisha must have been very disappointed about Gehazi.

He asked Gehazi something very touching, which was that *'......Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes,...."*

In other words. Elisha was asking and sensitizing Gehazi of the essence of time in his long carrier and that it was time for Gehazi to ask for something better than money just as he asked Elijah.

Second is that money is a master, Matt 6: 24-26.

Jesus refers to it as a master because He knows it is a master to some people.

Jesus was not acknowledging it as a master over God.

We must know that money or riches can not be a master to God from whom it comes, Prov 23:5, Prov 10:12, Deut 8:18.

Here, money is referred to as a master to us when we value it more than Jesus. This is the comparison Jesus is making.

In other words, money makes itself a master when someone is a servant of it or when someone becomes a servant of it.

A person becomes a servant of it

when he loves it more than God.

So Jesus refers to it as a master because He knows people make it their master.

This was exactly what Gehazi did.

Paul butressed Jesus' word about money.

His word in 1 Tim 6:10 implies that money becomes a master to those who love it more than God.

Paul was also saying that if you do not value money more than God, it can not control you and if it does not control you, there is no way you can love it or make you value it more than God.

Those who love money will do anything to have it because it can control their minds to pursue evil in order to have it, 1 Tim 6:9-11.

There is no problem liking money. If we do not like money, there is no point working or investing to earn it.

However, we will be able to know or determine our love for money, asking ourselves whether we love money with reverent love for God (selfless), 1 Chron 21:24-25, or we love money with hatred for God (selfish), Luke 12:15-21.

Gehazi loved money and hated God, ref Matt 6:24-26.

*Remorse corner.*

You can not have the anointing if you do not love the One who gives it.

*Call to Word action.*

Rom 6:16 *Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;....'*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Col 3: 2 *Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.*

*Prayer.*

Lord, do not allow money to be my master. Let Christ be my Master, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.

God bless you.