2 Kings 5:1 says Naaman was “captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper.” His leprosy would have produced many difficulties, but he worked through them. He was valuable to God and well-respected by people. This initial introduction and the subsequent narrative prove Naaman is more than just a leper. Yet, in 2 Kings 5:11, when he spoke frustratedly in the third person, he identified himself only as “the leper.” Naaman overlooked his many admirable qualities and instead viewed himself in an exceedingly negative light. Stop and think about yourself for a minute. Who are you? When you describe yourself to yourself, who do you see?
If you exaggerate the negative sides of yourself, you are not alone. Naaman magnified his flaws to himself, and others in the Scriptures did the same. David said of himself in Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Had David sinned against the Lord with Bathsheba? Yes. Was Naaman indeed a leper? Yes. Their flaws and hindrances were real, and yours probably are, too. Many are prone to exaggeration when their weaknesses rise to the surface.
David’s sins did not define him, and Naaman was more than a leper. God saw more in them; they were His valuable servants. Christians, keep serving God and let His goodness become your character. Let His light illuminate your value. You are better than a misleading, negative caricature of yourself. As Naaman and David were more, you, too, are more than what you see now.