Happy New Year. We thank the LORD for bringing us through. Our yield to and walk with the LORD Holy Spirit must be a firm decision this new year. That He might make us vessels of honour and power, walking in liberty from carnality and bringing men into same liberty of children of God.
In 2 King chapter 5 verse 3, we read of an exchange between a Jewish maid and her mistress, who is the wife of a Syrian war general. Syria was one of the nations that tormented Israel: “She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
This young maid had every reason to be bitter, to be in offence in her captivity, and to hold back information from her mistress. Her condition did not affect her innocence and benevolent character. She ventured her mistress with information that changed the course of history for the master of the house. This is a lesson for us in this new year. God expects us not to do eye service but to do all our services as unto the LORD (Ephesians6: 5-6).
The master in this passage was Naaman, a general of the Syrian army, and the scripture accounted that through him, God wrought many victories.
“Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded because through him, the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy” (2 King 5: 1). Naaman travelled to Samaria, met the prophet Elisha, and returned back with his skin made new. Naaman’s joy knew no bound, that he was willing to part with great gifts to the prophet, which the prophet refused to accept. This is another lesson for us, freely we have received, freely we are to give (Mathew10: 8). If the Syrian general was willing to give the prophet so much for his miraculous cure, what would become of his wife’s maid that gave him a clue to his cure. The bible remains silent on this, but we can deduce what will become of the maid. Her status will definitely change forever.
The story of Joseph, who ventured the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, which saved the whole nation from the calamity of seven years of famine provides us a platform for deduction (Genesis 41: 25- 32). Joseph was translated from prison to the throne. Incidentally, both Joseph and this maid were in a foreign land and under servitude. Their condition was enough to make them bitter, in offence, commit to eye service, and do all manner of ‘deviously-smart’ survival behaviour as we see men do today. Joseph, when he was confronted with a formidable temptation, reasoned: “How can I do this evil and sin against God?” Similarly, this maid in the house of Naaman would have reasoned in her mind. How can I keep this vital information that would change the condition of my master and sin against God. Our thoughts, words, and actions are ever before the LORD. In these, the LORD expects us to be perfect as He is perfect. The motives of every action is known to Him, and when we do anything as unto the LORD, He surely will reward because as it is written: ” God does not forget our labour of love (Hebrews 6: 10).” Though, the account in the Bible was silent on what became of the maid, but since scripture cannot be broken for it is one strand of truth, what we read of Joseph, Ruth and all who were faithful in the scripture tells us what the conclusion will be for this maid, who brought redemption for her master.
The scripture says: “it is required of every steward to be faithful” (1 Corinthians 4: 2).” This maid was faithful. Obedience to the word of God does not count on “what is in it for me”, otherwise, it will no more be obedience. Many workers serving in public service or private sectors do not take to heart the spiritual law’s requirement to be faithful. They engage in corrupt practices and do all manner of things that are not benevolent to the good of the organisation or individuals they work for. They reason that there is another job to move on to. So they cared less, their focus is on “self,” and they become unfaithful. You cannot be unfaithful in man’s affairs and think you will be faithful to God. If the maid had kept mute and defiant, she could end up being consumed with the leprosy herself. The good we do to others return to us. Our life is like a seed. What you sow, you reap. We must enhance people around us and not diminish them. Be it at home, we must enhance our spouses and our children, having a mind to serve and not be served. In the church, in our community, and in corporate settings, we must add to and not diminish, having the same mindset to serve and not to be served. Our Lord Jesus said in Luke chapter 22 verse 27: “But I am among you as the one who serves.” This should be our mindset in whatever capacity we find ourselves. We are there as one who serves, enhancing others and our environment like Joseph and Naaman’s maid.
Our obedience unto God in this new year should not be based on “what is in it for me.” Let the LORD Himself reward our obedience to Him. Ours is to commit to do all things as unto the LORD, and He will reward us beyond our service or our imagination. In every service that we render, we should remember that it is expected of us to be faithful. Obedience to God’s word will cause us to be faithful in our services. Anything otherwise is disobedience to God. It is just what it is. Most of us though will not outrightly want to be disobedient to God, it is just that we do not lay things to heart and we do most things or commit to most things from our carnal nature or what we see others do.
It is time we yield to the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. It is time we consciously submit to be led by the Spirit of the LORD in this new year. The bible though was silent on what became of the maid that brought about redemption for her master, but the hidden message is profound. The whole creation is waiting for the manifestation of the children of God, to wit, for their redemption. What reward do we think awaits us if every believer will rise up, allow themselves to be led by the Spirit, and manifest the power of their sonship for the redemption of all creation.
Many will argue and blame the economy, the leadership, and other circumstances for their disobedience, their unfaithfulness, and their depraved behaviour. The maid had in the passage had every reason to be bitter and not to be of any good to her master. Same for Joseph, who had every opportunity to take advantage of his master’s wife advances. Ruth also had every reason to abandon her mother-in-law, Naomi, and turn back. These pleasant bible characters were faithful when there was nothing in it for them. They trusted in the LORD and were committed to obedience and faithfulness. In this new year, we should let our hearts be with the LORD and let His Spirit lead us so that we do nothing anymore from our carnal nature. In all our services, it is required of us to be faithful. We should quit from the mindset of moving on to the next while we allow what is presently committed into our hands to fail by our unfaithfulness and disobedience. We should bring a fresh breath of redemption to wherever we are and in whatever capacity we serve. In this new year, we should aspire to be vessels of redemption through our faithful stewardship.
