2 Peter 2:15 KJV
[15] “which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”
Balaam was a man who knew the voice of God and spoke the words of God, yet allowed his heart to be captured by the wages of unrighteousness. His tragedy was not ignorance, but abandonment. He forsook the right way and went astray. He knew what was right, but he deliberately turned aside. He once had direction and understanding, but he chose another path. His downfall was that he had a love for reward, recognition, and personal gain.
We are living among a generation that has a hunger for the love of money, desire for comfort, and the praise of people. They know how to appear religious, but they have lustful desires. They seek their own profit rather than the glory of God. They know how to spiritualize and disguise their selfish desire with religious rhetoric. If you took away their riches and self-made images, then they would quickly move on to another agenda. They are just like Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. What we love will eventually guide our steps. If we love God, we will follow Him even if the cost is great. If we love the world, we will follow it even if it destroys us.
We must be careful even when it comes to the ministry. It is possible to preach the truth, know the Scriptures, and experience God’s power, yet allow personal desires to lead us off course. We cannot desire both God and gain, both righteousness and reward, and both truth and treasures. A double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. A double heart will never be satisfied in the service of God. I know that we will receive eternal rewards and treasures if we faithfully serve the Lord. But our ultimate goal is not to gain them for ourselves, but to cast them before Him. The Lord wants us to be satisfied with serving and living for Him. He wants to be enough in our lives.
Dear reader, ask yourself this question: “Have you fully surrendered your life to God?” You will find the answer to this question in what you desire the most. If it is to serve Him and live for Him, then the answer is “yes.” If it is the things of this world, or the recognition of this world, then the answer is “no.” Truth is not flexible, and righteousness is not adjustable to fit our desires. I want to encourage you to stay on the right path and guard your heart from loving the things of this world.