The Subtle Temptation of Greed

In this sobering message addressed to those in ministry, Chuck Swindoll warns against the insidious nature of greed and the necessity of maintaining a servant's heart. He opens with a reflection on "unguarded moments"—comparing the day before 9/11 to the hidden days before a personal moral collapse—suggesting that catastrophic failures often begin with secret, unaddressed temptations. To counter this, Swindoll defines the minister's true identity using 1 Corinthians 4, describing leaders not as captains of the ship, but as "under-rowers" (servants) and "stewards" of God's mysteries. He emphasizes that Christian service is not about standing on the main deck with a telescope, but laboring "down below" in the galley, faithfully pulling the oar alongside others without demanding credit or status [3–5]. The message pivots to a stern warning through the Old Testament narrative of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5. Swindoll contrasts the prophet Elisha, who refused payment for a miracle, with his servant Gehazi, who allowed a thought of entitlement to fester into a plan of deception. Gehazi’s rationalization led him to chase after the wealthy Naaman to demand money and clothing, eventually resulting in him inheriting Naaman’s leprosy [13–20]. Swindoll concludes with a personal testimony from his early years as an assistant to Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost. He recounts a pivotal warning he received from an elder regarding "borrowed popularity," reminding listeners that the flock belongs to God, and the minister’s only job is to love the people and "get out of the way" [21–26].

Message Key Facts:

• The "Under-Rower": Swindoll explains that the word Paul uses for "servant" in 1 Corinthians 4:1 is unique. It refers to the lowest level of rowers on a trireme ship. These "under-rowers" did not set the course or the cadence; they simply pulled the oar. This challenges the modern view of a pastor as the "captain" of the church [3–5].
• The Steward as Chef: A steward is described as someone who works in the kitchen, preparing the meal (the Word of God) for others. Swindoll notes that diners often enjoy a meal without ever seeing the chef’s face; similarly, a minister should be content to feed souls without demanding applause.
• The Lepers of Okinawa: To illustrate the horror of leprosy (and Naaman’s plight), Swindoll shares a memory from his time in the Marine Corps band. They played for a leper colony on Okinawa, witnessing people applauding with "stumps" and living with disfigured faces, highlighting the desperation that drove Naaman to Elisha [11–12].
• The 9/10 Principle: Swindoll uses the date "September 10" to describe the day before a tragedy. He argues that moral failures in ministry don't happen overnight; they are the result of "unguarded moments" and secret thoughts that eventually explode into a crisis.
• Gehazi’s Downfall: The sin of Gehazi began in his mind ("Gehazi... thought"). Swindoll traces the progression of sin: it started with rationalization ("I deserve this"), moved to active pursuit ("he pursued Naaman"), turned into direct lying ("all is well"), and ended in judgment [15–20].
• "Borrowed Popularity": Swindoll shares a specific warning given to him by an elder named Jim while he was a young assistant pastor. Jim told him, "Yours is a borrowed popularity," reminding him that the crowds came for Jesus and the senior pastor, not him. This advice helped protect him from the "Gehazi syndrome" of entitlement [24–25].
• David Roper Quote: Swindoll cites his classmate David Roper’s book, A Burden Shared, to emphasize that leaders are merely "galley slaves" who keep the ship moving, while God is the Captain who determines the heading [4–5].

Message References:

• 1 Corinthians 4:1–2: The primary text defining the minister’s identity: "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."
• 2 Kings 5:20–27: The narrative of Gehazi’s greed, his deception of Naaman, and the resulting judgment of leprosy.
• 2 Kings 5:1–19: The context of Naaman the leper being healed and Elisha refusing to accept payment.
• Philippians 2:8: Reference to Christ humbling Himself and becoming obedient to the point of death.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll