Wealth but no health is not a good situation and compounds problems when we don’t have faith that God can save us. This was the situation a wealthy man found himself in during the days of the Kings of Israel. 2 Kings 5:1The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him, the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. [1]
When our health begins to deteriorate, the Lord shows us how brief life is and how fragile we are. Scripture gives us insight into the brevity of life. James 4:14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. [2] Naaman was a wealthy man with a position of prestige, but that would do him little good as he suffered from leprosy and did not know the Lord.
What is Essential in Life?
Often, the Lord uses our circumstances to get our attention. Sometimes, we can be so caught up in the world that we forget to look up to the Lord, our creator and Savior. A man I came to know was an executive for a large company in our community and seemed to have it all. His life turned upside down when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. A man who had been a rugged outdoorsman and former special forces soldier now moved like an older man.
Although he had not been in worship for his entire adult life, the Lord, in His mercy, called him to come to the cross. Although he had made a confirmation promise to follow God as a teenager, it was words with no commitment. He knew about the Lord but did not know Him as his Savior. God did not heal him of cancer on this side of heaven, but God healed him on the inside as he came to faith. He had hope of eternal life when he placed his faith in Jesus as his Savior. The Lord healed him and received him into heaven at the same time.
Naaman Found True Riches
As our story unfolds, the Lord led Naaman to reach out to Elisha, a prophet of Israel. He told him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. Reluctantly, Naaman did as Elisha told him, and God cured him of leprosy. Through this experience, Naaman came to know the true God. Although one day Naaman would pass into eternity, he had gone from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
Naaman had to depend on God to heal him. Only God can heal us from our sinful condition. When we place our faith in Jesus, He washes away our sins and transforms us. When Naaman came out of the water, he was cleansed of leprosy and, more importantly, became a person of faith.
Do you need to look up to the Lord today because your circumstances seem overwhelming? Humble yourself and come to the Lord. He is always there to lead us to the cross, where we can be forgiven and encouraged.
To learn more about wealth but not health, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/naaman
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.