A woman once connected me with a politician for prayers. The politician was her boss at work. She told him about me so the man decided to reach me on phone for prayers. I prayed for him.
He decided to send me a token but I rejected it. I told the woman who connected me with him I wasn't interested because I knew in my spirit that I shouldn't collect it. It was a test for me, I must confess.
Naaman decided to give Elisha gifts after he got his healing but the man of God rejected it. He knew it was not time for such. More so, I perceive one major reason Elisha rejected the gift was because Naaman came from a pagan nation that did not believe in Yahweh. He was referred to Elisha for healing not because he wanted to serve the God of Israel. The healing was to prove the mightiness of God to a pagan, nothing more.
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha ran after Naaman to collect the very gifts his master rejected. By the gift of word of knowledge, Elisha knew what transpired and pronounced judgement on him.
Gehazi could have become the next national prophet after Elisha. Just as Elisha succeeded Elijah receiving a double portion, Gehazi could have received a triple portion of the anointing but he lost that opportunity. If Gehazi had received the triple portion of the anointing, he could have commercialize the gift of God and place a price tag on it.
Greed for gain and lack of restraint in receiving gifts can make a man lose the anointing.
As ministers of the gospel, you can preserve the anointing through contentment but you can lose it through greed. The moment you put money ahead of ministry, you will plateau at some point and never rise again.
A preacher who trust the power of money than the power of the gospel and can do anything to get it will lose his place in the ministry. It is just a matter of time.
We are called to be gospel messengers not gospel merchants. Don't place a charge on doing ministry. Freely you have received and freely you must give. Trust God to take care of your needs.
Paul the apostle warned Timothy, a budding pastor about the love of money saying, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. [11] But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness" (1 Tim 6:10-11).
