Which One Are You? – Family Devotion – October 20, 2021

Read: 2 Kings 5:14-27

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
2 Kings 5:15-16

Which One Are You?

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The two men couldn’t have been any more different! One was named Naaman. Naaman was from a different country that was an enemy to Israel. Naaman had a big problem—he had leprosy. Leprosy was a very bad and contagious skin disease. A kind young girl from Israel suggested that Naaman go ask one of God’s prophets for help. So Naaman found Elisha, Elisha told him to go and wash in the river, and Naaman was healed by the Lord in a great miracle!

Naaman was so thankful! He expressed it in today’s Bible verses. Now he knew that the Lord was the one true God. He wanted to thank God and his prophet Elisha, so he offered a very kind and very big gift to Elisha. But the prophet Elisha did not take it. He didn’t need any gifts for doing the Lord’s work.

But Gehazi was a very different person. Gehazi was Elisha’s helper. When he saw how big the gift was that Naaman had offered, he was greedy and wanted it. So Gehazi ran to Naaman and lied to him in order to take the big gift for himself. God was not pleased with Gehazi’s sin, and Gehazi ended up getting the leprosy that Naaman had.

These two men were very different. Which one are you like? Are you thankful for God’s grace and blessings like Naaman? Or are you greedy and selfish, wanting lots of things for yourself like Gehazi?

When we see things that we want on TV, in stores, or online, it can be very easy for us to be like Gehazi. Sinful hearts want us to love things of this world. Before we know it, Satan can lead us to be greedy and selfish like Gehazi.

It is important for us to remember that we were just like Naaman. We have a disease, too. Not leprosy. Our disease is called sin, and it’s even more dangerous because it can send us to hell. Thanks be to God that he has healed us of this disease! Jesus is the cure! He washed us clean, not in a river but in his own blood! What a miracle!

Like Naaman, we can now look for opportunities to show our thanks to God and to other people. How we use our time, our talents, and our treasures shows how thankful we are to God for all that he has done. May God give us thankful hearts that are happy to serve him every day!

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for the many blessings you have given to me. But best of all, you have healed me of the disease of sin by forgiving me through your Son, Jesus. Now help me to show my thanks in the way that I live. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Why was Naaman, the man from another country, so thankful to God and to Elisha?
• Why can we be so thankful to God?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why is being greedy a dangerous sin?
• Explain why being greedy and selfish also breaks the First Commandment.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Agree/Disagree. It is sinful to want new or nice things. Explain your answer.
• Describe how Christians can learn to be happier and more content in life.

Hymn: CW 421:1,3-4 – All Depends on Our Possessing

All depends on our possessing God’s abundant grace and blessing,
Though all earthly wealth depart.
They who trust with faith unshaken In their God are not forsaken
And e’er keep a dauntless heart.

Many spend their lives in fretting Over trifles and in getting
Things that have no solid ground.
I shall strive to win a treasure That will bring me lasting pleasure
And that now is seldom found.

Well he knows what best to grant me; All the longing hopes that haunt me,
Joy and sorrow, have their day.
I shall doubt his wisdom never—As God wills, so be it ever—
I to him commit my way.