Will Your 'But' Hinder You?

Will Your ‘But’ Hinder You? He had it all - power, position, influence. He was at the peak of his career, and everyone respected him. By him, victories were wrought for his country. The king owed him a lot. He had soldiers under him, but he was a leper. Pray, when did he become one? Before or after he rose in his career? How did he pull it off? Did he have to retire after becoming leprous? Aren't lepers supposed to be kept outside the camp? Are the rules different in Syria? How come this leper had a household that even had servants? How were they relating to him? Did he have to tie a bell on his legs? Was he allowed into state functions, or did he have to sit at some inconspicuous place? Intriguing though is the fact that though he had a disease, the first thing we learn about him was his fruit, his results. He won wars and brought home bounties. He was great Captain, honourable deliverer and mighty man. If we looked at the half-full cup, we would see all his achievements. If we, however, choose to see half-empty, we saw his disease; we would call him a leper. We have the choice to go through life, bearing significant fruit, scaling great heights, or we can choose to stay with our pain or 'but' and remain unfruitful. 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 Kings 5:1) Naaman, in his fruit-bearing season, brought home a solution provider. She became his maid, and even though she was disadvantaged and a servant, she chose to use her gift. She knew what her master needed, and she was not going to be selfish with it. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3) How come she was so sure? Simple, the lowest of the Israelites knew about the covenant-keeping God, the healing God and the all-powerful God. Remember, she was just a maid. Even in this state, she was a blessing. All she had was a word, not sure how it would be received; she shared it all the same? Tell me, what do you have that the world around you can use? They brought it to General Naaman's attention, and he chose to make it a state affair. He was the diseased party; first, he went to his king to ask that he liaise with the King of Israel. From Israel's king's reaction, we learned that the Syrians at that time were not just their captors; they were the superior power and making such a request was spoiling for trouble. When you are down, the tendency is that you forget who you are. The King of Israel must have forgotten that though they were under Syria, they were still covenant people. Your situation does not define who you are. Problems do not last forever. There is always a timing to everything, and no matter what; God is still your God. Thank God for prophets! God always has them in every season. The prophet sent a message to the king, 'Tell him to come to me; I have what he needs'. Naaman, the leper, arrived at the prophet's house with pomp and pageantry. Talk about a proud sick man. Remember he, with all his achievements, he was the one in need. The prophet reduced him to size; nobody comes to God achievements in tow. You lay down your crown and humble yourself. The instructions were sent, state protocol set aside and General leper was angry. What pride? The aides plead with Master Leper, he must have come across as pitiful, but thus far they already came and what good would their returning empty do? 'Oga try', they encouraged. Fancy begging a man in need to receive help, but what could they do, for as long as he was in that state, themselves could not have the peace they desired. He reluctantly assented and dipped himself in the Jordan River. If the fancy rivers were healing waters, would he have been in his state? Surprise! He got healed....