Accountability with Discernment

Scripture — 2 Kings 5:25-26 (NRSV)

When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”
“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.
But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?”

Devotion

It’s not always easy to have accountability over our lives as leaders, yet it’s vital to have an accountability partner.  In some instances, we may become offended by another person sharing an evaluation that addresses a fault or shortcoming in our lives.

In the text of focus today, Elisha is the accountability partner filled with discernment over his servant Gehazi.  Elisha through the power of God had just demonstrated a miracle of healing over Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Syria.  Naaman was exceptionally grateful and blessed from the healing of his leprous body and offered Elisha a gift in return (for the healing).  However, Elisha refused it, as he humbly said, “I will receive nothing” (5:16).

Somehow his servant Gehazi had an inner deceptive thought; maybe he could take the gift(s) if Elisha did not wish to accept them.

While trying to obtain the gifts he told some lies in order to obtain what he desired. After running behind Naaman’s chariot, Gehazi gave Naaman the impression that his master Elisha had a change of heart and sent him for the silver and garments which Elisha previously declined. Naaman freely gave them over to Gehazi. Then, after Gehazi received the items, he carefully stored the gifts away in the house, after having sent the servants away—being rather deceptive with his movements. Somehow Elisha discerned his servant’s actions/motives and confronted him.

In 5:25 Elisha says, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” and unfortunately, Gehazi then lied to Elisha by saying, “Your servant did not go anywhere.”

Gehazi reveals how deceit is compounded further in the dialogue between himself and his master, as Elisha addressed the true purpose of the gifts while Gehazi paid the consequences of lying and deception.  We see how he suffered the consequences of deceit, as Elisha pronounced Gehazi would be stricken with the same leprosy which previously clung to Naaman.

Today we may not see leprosy break out on our bodies as in years gone by, but this story teaches us as leaders a lesson about being truthful and free from deceit—the lesson of the importance of having accountability when we are tempted to yield to the flesh. Accountability partners can discern in our lives how to identify those areas which we need to fully surrender to Almighty God, which we may overlook.

It also teaches us the importance of being truthful leaders who speak and seek integrity. It teaches us that the surrendering of our heart constantly to the will and power of the Holy Spirit is vital.  Even as we serve within our various church ministries (similar to Gehazi’s task), a spirit of greed and/or covetousness has the potential to attack us if we are not mindful.  As we do the work of the Lord, these are areas we should be careful of, as we build the kingdom of God.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Elisha’s Restoration of a Military Commander’s Health (2 Kings 5:1-14).