Naaman – Pride Removed
-Introduction
-1 Timothy 2:3-4
-God wants us to be saved and grow in the knowledge of the truth.
-We are to hear the basics of the Gospel and respond in obedience. We are then to
learn the doctrine of Christ, apply it to our lives and grow stronger as Christians.
-This is a process that is to be continuous. There is always room for improvement –
room for growth – room for increased spiritual maturity.
-One of the biggest obstacles and/or hindrances in this process is self. (Matt. 16:24-25)
-“A man’s self is to him the prime cause of most of his miseries” (Clarke).
-“All the disciples and followers of Jesus Christ must deny themselves. It is the
fundamental law of admission into Christ's school, and the first and great lesson to be
learned in this school, to deny ourselves; it is both the strait gate, and the narrow
way; it is necessary in order to our learning all the other good lessons that are there
taught…we must not lean to our own understanding, nor seek our own things, nor be
our own end. We must deny ourselves comparatively; we must deny ourselves for
Christ, and his will and glory, and the service of his interest in the world; we must
deny ourselves for our brethren, and for their good; and we must deny ourselves for
ourselves, deny the appetites of the body for the benefit of the soul.” (Henry)
-We would be better off if we did a better job of getting self out of the way.
-For an example of this important concept, let’s consider Naaman.
-Naaman – 2 Kings 5 – Context & Overview
-Jehoram – grandson of Ahab – was reigning in Israel. (2 Kings 3:1-3) Ben-hadad was
reigning is Syria.
-Israel and Syria had a history of fighting with one another. When there were times of
peace, it was a rather fragile peace.
-This brings us to 2 Kings 5 and the account of Naaman:
-vs 1-3 - introduced to Naaman along with some of his characteristics, a Israelite
servant girl tells Naaman’s wife about the possibility of Elisha healing
Naaman
-vs 4-6 - The king of Syria is informed of the situation. He sends Naaman to Jehoram
with a letter and generous gift.
-vs 7-8 - Jehoram is troubled by the letter and believes that Benhadad is seeking a
quarrel. Elisha hears of the situation and instructs Jehoram to send Naaman
to him.
-vs 9-12 - Naaman goes to Elisha’s house. Elisha sends his servant out with
instructions for Naaman. Naaman is angered and leaves.
-vs 13-14 - At the bidding of his servants, Naaman obeys and is cleansed.
-vs 15-19 - Naaman returns to Elisha with thanksgiving and expresses his faith in the
true God of heaven.
-Naaman – A Closer Look
-2 Kings 5:9-12
-Naaman approached the house of Elisha in a rather grand fashion – “with his horses and
his chariot.” Of course, a man of such stature, position and authority would be used to this.
-When Elisha’s servant came out and delivered instructions from God’s prophet, Naaman
was angry and left. Why was Naaman angry? Wasn’t it pride?
-Naaman was used to being treated in a certain way. “Naaman had been greatly
strengthened in the pride...by the exalted position which he held in the state, and in
which every one bowed before him, and served him in the most reverential manner, with
the exception of his lord the king…” (Keil & Delitzsch).
-He expected Elisha to receive him in a particular way. He waited to Elisha to come out
and stand before him. He had developed in his mind an idea of what Elisha should do.
Undoubtedly, he was shocked when Elisha simply sent his servant out to speak to
him.
-“But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely
come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand
over the place and cure the leper” (vs 11, emp. ad.).
-When things didn’t happen the way Naaman thought they should, he was not happy.
-His pride was standing in the way. It was preventing him from submitting to God’s will.
-2 Kings 5:13-14
-Thankfully, as Naaman stubbornly retreated toward home, his servants reasoned with him.
-Basically, they said, “Why won’t you simply do what he says?”
-Oh if more people take on that attitude and simply strive to follow God’s word!
-Naaman had expected some grand scheme of pomp and ceremony. Because of those
preconceived ideas, he was rejecting the simplicity of Elisha’s instructions.
-When he humbly submitted to the specifics of Elisha’s instructions, Naaman was healed.
-2 Kings 5:15
-Naaman returned to Elisha a changed individual. Not only was he different physically
because of his healing but he was also changed in mind. He came with a completely
different attitude – one of humility.
-Summary and Invitation
-We, too, need to set our pride aside and humbly submit to the specifics of God’s word.
-We need to deny self, take up our cross and follow our Lord.
-When it comes to how you spend your time, do you think for of self or more of the
Lord? When it comes to the activities that we involve ourselves in, do we push the
Lord aside for self or vice versa? Are we willing to spend less time in play so that
we can spend more time working for the Lord? etc.
-I’m sure we would all like to say, “I don’t have a problem with pride.” Yet, perhaps it
enters into the equation more than we sometimes realize.
-So, will you be like Naaman? Will you realize this and try to change it?
-Have you humbly submitted to God through obedience to the Gospel? Believe in Jesus
(John 3:16, 8:24), Confess that faith (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent of sin (Luke
13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized for forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38), Walk
in newness of life (Rom 6:3-4, Eph 4:22-24).
-If pride has been an obstacle and/or hindrance, won’t you acknowledge it, repent and
seek God’s forgiveness through prayer? (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24)
-Let’s strive to put the Lord and others before self and thereby be better servants.