Familiarity is a concept we all understand. It is the feeling of knowing something or someone so well that it becomes second nature to us. We are no longer surprised or amazed by it, but rather we accept it as a normal part of our lives. However, when it comes to our relationship with the anointed, familiarity can sometimes lead to complacency. It is essential to understand that being familiar with the anointed does not mean we should take their presence or teachings for granted.
In the Bible, there are many examples of individuals who became too familiar with God’s greatness, His laws, and His anointed leaders. In 2 Samuel 6, we read about Uzzah, who reached out to stabilize the ark of the covenant when the oxen stumbled. Uzzah was struck down dead for touching the box, even though he had good intentions. The lesson from this story is that we should not take for granted our relationship with the anointed. God’s anointed leaders are not ordinary people, and we should not forget that they carry the anointing, which is a tremendous responsibility that comes with unique blessings and challenges.
Another example comes from the story of Elisha and Gehazi in 2 Kings 5. Elisha heals Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, of his leprosy. Naaman wants to offer a monetary gift, but Elisha refuses. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, sees this as an opportunity to benefit himself and lies to Naaman, saying that Elisha has changed his mind and now wants a reward. Naaman gives Gehazi the money, and he is punished with the leprosy that was healed from Naaman. Gehazi’s story portrays how familiarity with God’s anointed can lead to greed and a loss of integrity. It shows that we should not let familiarity make us take advantage of our relationship with the anointed.
Similarly, in the New Testament, the story of Jesus and his hometown (Matthew 13:54-58) caution us about over-familiarity. Jesus’ visit to his hometown resulted in the people rejecting him. They could not accept that Jesus, who they knew as merely the son of the carpenter, would now claim to be a prophet. The people’s familiarity with Jesus blinded them to his divinity, and they missed out on His teachings and blessings. The lesson from this story is evident: when we become too familiar with anointed leaders, we may miss their anointing and the blessings that come with associating with them.
In conclusion, knowing and being in relationship with God’s anointed leaders is a tremendous blessing. However, we must strive not to become overly familiar with them, which could lead to complacency or worse, disregard. We must remember that being anointed is a unique privilege and that we should always respect and honor those whom God has anointed. Let us avoid the pitfalls of Uzzah, Gehazi, and the people of Jesus’ hometown, and instead strive to maintain a deep, humble relationship with the anointed. By doing so, we can be confident that we will reap the benefits of being in the presence of God’s chosen leaders.
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