Lessons from Naaman - Part 6

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 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. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:9-14 ESV). Naaman was used to doing great things. He was a mighty warrior for his country. He had brought great victory for his king. He was accustomed to being in the midst of great battle. He wasn’t afraid to fight hard to win. He knew the cost of suffering for an outcome. He was ready to do whatever it took to rid his life of this plague of leprosy! Elisha told him to go jump in the river! He was to dunk himself seven times. “ I can almost hear Naaman protesting. If Elisha had asked him to go get the claw of an eagle, from the nest high upon a mountain, wrestle a lion to its death, or steal the thrown of a great king, then Naaman might have been impressed! He could have bought that kind of cure, something that would require his greatness to prevail. Dipping into the dirty river was humbling, and, as much as Naaman wanted to be healed, he didn’t want to lower himself to that degree. You know, when you and I are asked to serve God in the roles that gain great attention, we are ready to sign up to volunteer. We don’t mind serving if we can’t just be recognized, but when we are asked to serve in the lesser roles, we sometimes resist. Ask people to do the quiet, unrecognized tasks and there aren’t many takers. We are like Naaman sometimes in our Christian life. We have no problem with the “great things” God calls us to do, but the “lesser” things don’t quite gain our enthusiasm. We would much rather be doing something important, than to “be still and know” that He is God. Wouldn’t we? Is Naaman alone in his desire for greatness? Or, do the things, which will show us to be great, often tempt you, like me? Often God’s best is found in the simplest, the humblest, and the most non-conspicuous places, which give Him all the glory. May we look to Him for His greatness, and let our greatness be found only in Him!