The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 71

money and clothes, just 11s if be was so :fickle as not to know his own mind, nnd so mean as uow to send and beg that which but a little time before he had sturdily declinPd. Geha.zi's greed for money had blunted all the finer feelings of bis nature, No wonder that our Saviour said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness." No wonder thnt Paul said, " The love of money is a root of all evil." All kinds of sins result from the love of money. ,ve have an illustration of it in Gebazi's case. We have illustrations of it every day. How often men grow rich, but do not grow hetterl Sometimes increasing wealth has the strange effect of decreasing libemlity. Sometimes increasing wealth brings with it increase of pride. Some- times increasing wealth bas made men more worldly. Instead of seeking to serve Christ more with their increased opportunities and increased influence, they serve him less. Thank God if with increasing wealth he has given you increasing grace. Thank God if be has enabled you to give the more, the more you got. Thank God if with increasing v.•ealth you have kept a cool head, a warm heart, a steady band, a clear conscience, and the friends of your youth. To those who are beginning life we would earnestly say, Beware of covetousness. Don't imagine that to be rich is the be-all and end-all of life. There are some things which money cannot buy. There are some tbings which money cannot do. Money can't keep death away from the door. Money cannot purchase the pardon of sin, or obtain for a single soul admission into heaven. "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." But we a.re not therefore to despise money. Get all the money you can, provided yon gEt it honestly, provided you do not sacrifice your soul's interests because of it, and provided that, when you have it, you spend it well. Make a good use of your money in your lifetime. "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon which the unrighteous worship, that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Il. 00h"'r!.AST THE DEOEITFULNESS OF THE ONE WITH THE STBAIGH'l'FORWARD DONESTY OF THE OTHER. There was nothing two-faced about Elisha. He did not say one thing with his lips, and think the very opposite in his heart. When Jeboram, King of Israel, after his idolatry and his sins, got into difficulties at the time that he and the other two kings went forth against the King of Moab, he then sent for Elisha. But Elisha does not meet him in any fawning, flatteriug spirit. He at once rebukes him for his sins. He says, " What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother." In the same way he treats Nasman as one whose pride needs to be humbled. Though be might have offended Naaman by refusing to take his gift, he plainly tells him, "As the Lord li veth, before whom I stand, I will receive none." ·what a contrast to this blunt, straightforward honesty is the two-faced deceitfulness of Gehazi ! Observe how one sin brings another with it. He first of all coveted the money a11d the raiment, when be heard Elisha refuse Naaman's present. Then covetousness kads to deception and lying. He ran after Naaman's chariot, and invented a false story that some young men had come to Elisha, and that he wante<l money and clothing for them. His guilt was doubly great, because he was Elisha'~ trusted servant or steward, and because he probably had other servants under him. And then be lies, not only to Naaman, but to his master, when be says," Thy servant went no whither." Oh, the baseness, the wickedness, of deceit! And yet how much of it is practised in the world! How much of it in the social relationships of life I What sham friendships! What hollow civilities I Whited sepulchres and s~cial shams! How much of it in the commercial world! What barefaced adulterat10n I What cheating of customers! What false statements-known to be false-about the value of ,,.oods ! Sometimes there are revelations-great failures, gross frauds. But what an in,~ense amount of deceit goes on that is never heard of! Many deceive or act dis- h0uestly just up to the limit of detection, just as if God's eye was not on them all the tiu,e. To say, "Every one does it," as an excuse for deceit or dishonesty in a business, is uo reason why a Christian man sbould do it, why any man should do it. God's eye sees. His command is cl, ar, "Thou shalt not steal." 'fhou shalt not put forth thine hand to take what is not thine own. The man who robs his customers, tho man whe plunders or purloins from his employers, even though he may be respectable in_ the eye, of the world, ia as much a thief in the sight of God, and perhaps far more guilty, tban the poor boy who steals a loaf in his hunger and want. Deceit and dishonesty never can bring a blessing. "Be sure your sin will find you out." We have many OIi, V, 1-27.) 'l'HE SECOND BOOK 01<' 'rIIE KINGS. 10()