An elder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has called on church leaders not to hold onto leadership positions for too long while using God’s ministry for personal gain.
Preaching during the divine service at Sogavare Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in Port Moresby last Saturday, Elder Solomon Silion based his message on the story of the Prophet Elisha’s assistant, Gehazi, who secretly profited from people seeking God’s healing.
Elder Silion said Gehazi monetized God’s ministry for his own interests, deceiving Syrian army commander Naaman after God had miraculously healed him of leprosy.
He warned that when money becomes the motive for ministry, people lose their calling and risk God’s judgment.
Drawing his sermon from 2 Kings 5:1-27, Elder Silion spoke on the theme, “One River: Three Outcomes,” using the lives of Naaman, Gehazi and the Prophet Elisha to illustrate three different responses to God’s grace.
He began with Proverbs 10:9, saying, “Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble.”
Elder Silion described the Jordan River as representing Heaven’s cleansing power, saying the story revealed three types of hearts—the humble heart of Naaman, the faithful heart of Elisha and the greedy heart of Gehazi.
He said God first worked through an unlikely person-a young captive Israelite girl serving Naaman’s wife-who pointed the Syrian army commander to Elisha for healing.
“God uses the unlikely to reveal His power,” Elder Silion said.
“If the powerful always achieved everything by themselves, God would receive no glory.”
He reminded believers not to seek help from the wrong people or places, noting that Naaman first approached the King of Israel instead of going directly to Elisha.
Elder Silion also spoke about the difference between expectation and reality, saying Naaman expected special treatment but instead received simple instructions to wash in the Jordan River seven times.
He said healing came only after Naaman humbled himself and obeyed God’s command.
Speaking on faithfulness, Elder Silion said Elisha faithfully continued the ministry entrusted to him after receiving a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.
He encouraged Christians to continually seek the Holy Spirit.
“Ask for more of God’s presence and power. Without the blessing of the Holy Spirit, we cannot do anything,” he said.
He warned that God’s work should never be treated as a business.
“God’s work and ministry is not a commodity. It is free. Do not monetize it. There is no price tag attached to God’s ministry,” he said.
Using Gehazi as an example, Elder Silion said greed caused him to lose his privileged position as Elisha’s assistant after secretly taking gifts from Naaman.
“He was close to heaven, but his heart was far from God,” he said.
Elder Silion said Elisha’s question, “Where did you go?” gave Gehazi an opportunity to confess, just as God gave Adam and Eve an opportunity to repent in the Garden of Eden.
He challenged worshippers to reflect on their own lives.
“Where were you during the past six days?” he asked.
He warned those using ministry for personal financial gain to repent before their sins were exposed.
“When money becomes a motive, your ministry becomes a business,” he said.
Elder Silion ended by comparing the Red Sea and the Jordan River, saying the Red Sea symbolises reconciliation while the Jordan River represents forgiveness and preparation for eternal life.
He urged believers to remain humble, faithful and truthful so they would receive God’s blessings rather than suffer the consequences of greed.