Naaman was a very powerful and influential man who had a nasty case of leprosy. Basically, he got a referral from the king to go see a prophet of God (Elisha) to be healed. When he got to Elisha’s house, Elisha sent his messenger out to tell Naaman that if he wanted to be healed, he needed to go to the Jordan River and dip himself in it 7 times. But, instead of saying, “Hey, that sounds easy enough, let me head on over to the river,” Naaman became furious. He was mad because he thought Elisha would at least give him the respect to come out himself instead of sending out a lowly messenger. It also ticked him off that Elisha didn’t just wave his hand over him and heal him, but asked him to go and do something unpleasant or what seemed to him to be unnecessary (go get in the dirty Jordan River). The Bible says that Naaman became furious and stalked away. Nearly missing out on the blessing that God was offering to him.
What happens when you expect someone to treat YOU a certain way but their reaction isn’t what you wanted or isn’t done in the way that you wanted it done? Do you become furious and stalk away like Naaman? Does your pride tell you that you haven’t been treated with as much respect as you deserve? Do you feel slighted and insulted and use it as a license to behave badly yourself?
If so, you may have Naaman Syndrome.
Had Naaman’s people not told him he was acting irrationally, he would have probably died from the disease that was literally eating away at his body. All because he felt slighted, became furious, and stalked away in a rage (2 Kings 5:11-12).
What are you stalking away from?
Your church?
Your marriage?
Your job?
A friendship?
A relationship with a family member?
If you are, check yourself first. Check to see if your reaction is truly justified or if you just aren’t getting the treatment you think you deserve. If your reaction is truly justified, then use Biblical and spiritual means to rectify it. Pray about it. Talk to the person you have taken issue with (unlike Naaman who just left). Do your best to be a peace loving person, even if it means you taking the first step towards reconciliation.
If you realize that your reaction may not be justified, there is hope. After Naaman’s people talked some sense into him (side note, if people come to you for advice in situations like these - be the friend that speaks truth to them and doesn’t fan the flames of irrationality), he ended up doing what the prophet asked of him and he was immediately healed. And in that healing, he recognized that there really was no other God other than Jehovah and he humbled himself and returned to the prophet Elisha offering his apologies and even tried to give him gifts (which the prophet declined).
Bottom line is don’t let your pride stand in the way of you receiving the healing that God is offering. You're only hurting yourself.
The story of Naaman can be read in 2 Kings 5:1-19
What happens when you expect someone to treat YOU a certain way but their reaction isn’t what you wanted or isn’t done in the way that you wanted it done? Do you become furious and stalk away like Naaman? Does your pride tell you that you haven’t been treated with as much respect as you deserve? Do you feel slighted and insulted and use it as a license to behave badly yourself?
If so, you may have Naaman Syndrome.
Had Naaman’s people not told him he was acting irrationally, he would have probably died from the disease that was literally eating away at his body. All because he felt slighted, became furious, and stalked away in a rage (2 Kings 5:11-12).
What are you stalking away from?
Your church?
Your marriage?
Your job?
A friendship?
A relationship with a family member?
If you are, check yourself first. Check to see if your reaction is truly justified or if you just aren’t getting the treatment you think you deserve. If your reaction is truly justified, then use Biblical and spiritual means to rectify it. Pray about it. Talk to the person you have taken issue with (unlike Naaman who just left). Do your best to be a peace loving person, even if it means you taking the first step towards reconciliation.
If you realize that your reaction may not be justified, there is hope. After Naaman’s people talked some sense into him (side note, if people come to you for advice in situations like these - be the friend that speaks truth to them and doesn’t fan the flames of irrationality), he ended up doing what the prophet asked of him and he was immediately healed. And in that healing, he recognized that there really was no other God other than Jehovah and he humbled himself and returned to the prophet Elisha offering his apologies and even tried to give him gifts (which the prophet declined).
Bottom line is don’t let your pride stand in the way of you receiving the healing that God is offering. You're only hurting yourself.
The story of Naaman can be read in 2 Kings 5:1-19
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