Don't be too proud to receive

"Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage."   2 Kings 5:12   NLT

Pride can rob a person of receiving a blessing. It is a sense of one's own proper dignity, value and self-respect. When we feel proud of ourselves we feel a deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities or possessions. To a degree these feeling can lift our spirits, especially when we have spent years at Uni and finally earned a degree or other qualification. It is a wonderful feeling of achievement. However, there is a downside to feeling proud and this is seen in a person who openly brags about their possessions and status and looks down their nose at people who don't fit into their class.

Let us look at Naaman. He was a captain in the Syrian army - a great hero and well thought of by the king of Aram for the success he brought to his rule. All of this made Naaman proud of his abilities. And yet, he had leprosy. Through a young girl who was an Israelite captive, the king learned of Naaman's sickness and sent him to the king of Israel to see Elisha the prophet. 

Now Naaman was a proud man, a man who when he clicked his fingers, servants attended to him. However, expecting to see Elisha face to face didn't happen, and Naaman was outraged when a messenger came out of Elisha's house and told him to go and wash himself in the Jordan river seven times and he will be healed. Naaman expected a great welcoming from this prophet, not a message from a servant. He was livid and went to walk away. 'Why should I wash in a filthy river when I could bathe in the best?  However, officers with him, persuaded him to go and do what the prophet had directed. Much against his will, he did this and on the seventh time, he rose from the water a clean man - not a sign of the leprosy. He was understandably elated and went to seek Elisha out, praising his god and offering him payment. He couldn't understand it when Elisha refused any payment. 

There is a lesson here. Firstly avoid the class distinction, none of us are better than the other. The rain falls on both of us and we are all subject to death. Secondly, lose the pride. If Naaman had walked away that day refusing not to wash in the Jordan, he would have lost his healing. He had been puffed up with pride. He acted in arrogance to the other people, expecting far more than was offered. If we become big and mighty and have a feeling that we are better than others then, we will get nowhere with God. He looks for humility not arrogance. At all times follow Jesus' example.

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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