There once lived a great, renowned, respectful and an honourable army commander, a captain of the host of the kings of Syria named Naaman. He was also a mighty man of valour through whom God brought deliverance, (solutions) unto Syria, his country. However, in spite of all his fame, title, ideas, works, achievements and accumulated awards, Bible records he was handicapped.
Naaman was a leper; but he did not allow that disability to hinder his vision. Through his leadership, nations had fallen before Syria. How proud He makes the Syrian king and as well provides security for the Syrians as a whole. Considering how relevant he is to the king and his country, his leprosy was not a bother to only his family and him but to the king as well. (See 2nd kings 5)
Naaman continued to go about his duties and responsibilities regardless of his situation.
According to the verse 2 of 2Kings 5, there came a time when the Syrians brought a little maid from Israel as a captive and she was given to Naaman’s wife to serve her. When this little maid entered the house of Naaman and saw all the plaques/awards and probably the citations in honour of her master; and realizing how resourceful and important he is to the king and the entire nation and yet a leper, she could not hold her peace but to speak out on how that leprosy could be cured. This little maid decided not to be limited by her circumstances in her bid to bring a solution to the problem at hand. The fact that she was an alien in Syria coupled with her status as a maid or servant in Naaman’s house did not stop her. She went ahead and spoke unto her mistress about what she believes could be a solution to her husband’s problem. She told her mistress about the prophet (resource person) in Israel (location) where Naaman can go and get healed of his leprosy. How accurate and detailed this little girl’s proposal was!
Do you see yourself in a certain confinement? Are you so bothered about where you are coming from? Do you feel inferior in that company you find yourself in because of your educational background and so you are not willing to bring forth or speak about that solution that God has put inside you to put an end to the problem bothering that company, community or church? I pray your spirit will be lifted up from this day forward to come out boldly with those ideas/solutions that will make the nations of the world hear about your impact. Go in this thy might and fulfill it in Jesus’ name, Amen.
It will interest you to know that after this little maid presented her proposal, the captain and his wife not only heeded but went further to involve the king of Syria in their bid to actualize or make real this proposed solution. This shows how much of a bother it was to them.
In all these, I applaud Naaman’s wife of her humility and her human relation skills. Most of us don’t receive the answers to our questions or the solutions to our problems because we disregard people who we think are not in the same ’class’ as we are. We disrespect that messenger, that cleaner or security person in our company. Our attitudes towards our drivers and other subordinates are so appalling and so even if they have ideas or seems to know the solutions to the problem we find ourselves in, they hold back for fear of the reactions they may receive should they try to make a suggestion.
The fact that, you are up there today and someone is down there doesn’t mean the situation will forever be the same. Treat people with equal respect because you might not know where your subordinate will be tomorrow. Your next level may even depend on him/her. Know that the God we serve is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 and Romans 2:11).
God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
– 1Peter 5:5b-6
On the other hand, the maid deserves a special mention as well. For just a mere maid’s proposal to have received such attention from her superiors and a whole king, tells how well behaved and excellently she goes about in the discharge of her duties. It’s possible she might have met other maids who may be more advanced in age than her, but probably her works were outstanding.
Dear friend, perhaps your ideas/solutions are not selling or receiving the attention you desire because it could be you are not doing things differently. Your products are not penetrating the markets because they follow the same pattern as the others out there. It is about time you rebrand and add value to the things you are into; Go the extra mile, ask questions from those who have gone ahead of you in the same field you are pursing or would like to so you can add/subtract to come out with that distinct idea or that outstanding solution.
May God be our help and grant us favour in all our labour.
Finally, having acted on the little maid’s recommendation and carrying out the instructions of Prophet Elisha, Naaman received his much sought-after healing. After his full recovery from leprosy he took a profound and a firm stand:
…For thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. – 2kings 5:17b
The little maid eventually and ultimately became a soul winner. Through her proposed solution, Naaman got attracted to the Lord other than other gods and obviously his servants and entire family will also follow suit. That’s salvation for the entire household.
Sometimes, you may not only win people to Christ through preaching but that idea or solution you have has the ability to bring many to the saving knowledge of Christ if presented well.
May we not be hindered by any status of ours; be it physical or financial handicap, social stands or educational background in our bid to bring forth that idea or solution embedded in us.
May God grant us wisdom and direction to sell out the solution that will attract many to Christ and not otherwise in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Great read