Being endowed with spiritual gifts comes with great responsibility and the need for accountability. Grave consequences are also attached to their misuse. For this reason, every child of God needs to be very careful not to take undue advantage of the gifts of the Holy Spirit deposited in them by God. Our Lord Jesus Christ knew that man was susceptible to abusing the power of God, and so He warned His disciples against merchandising the free gift of God (Matthew 10:. He sternly told them that what they had received freely must also be freely given out. It is a fearful thing to turn the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us into objects of merchandise traded for money, favours or gifts. This is what Simon tried to do when he offered money to Peter to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost operating in Peter’s life. Acts 8:18-19 says:
“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
Knowing the implication of this act, Apostle Peter rebuked him sharply and advised him to desist from such diabolical ways. Unfortunately, this is the attitude of some people concerning the ministry of the gospel today.

2 Kings 5:20-27 speaks about a potentially mighty prophet of God who denied himself the opportunity of receiving multiple portions of Elijah’s anointing, all because he loved material possessions. 2nd Kings 5:20 says,
“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.”
The astonishing part of the above scripture is that Gehazi was not the vessel through whom Naaman was healed! In spite of this fact, he was still hell-bent on getting some form of reward for the miracle Naaman had received. In the same vein, no minister of God can perform any miracle. Jesus is the only miracle-worker, and all Christians are vessels through who these miracles are performed. Therefore, taking advantage of His works through His Spirit in us is fraudulent and diabolic. We must be very careful so that we do not become victims of the grave consequences of such acts of covetousness like Gehazi. The good Lord will bless you in His own way and in His own time as you surrender yourself for His use in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.