Balaam is a specimen of multitudes in these last days. An educated and intelligent man, shrewd and quick seeing, of respectable character, high in favor with the rich and great a religious man too, after a fashion.
But he is fond of the world, fond of money, fond of preferment. He is one who would not let his religion stand in the way of his advancement. He could pocket all scruples, if only he could pocket a little gold along with them. He is hollow of heart, but with an acceptable outside.
His worldly interests are the main thing to him. He would rather not risk offending God, but yet he would not like to lose Balak's rewards and honors. He would rather not take up his cross, nor deny himself, nor forsake all for God.
So is it with multitudes among us!
They want as much religion as they imagine will save them from Hell and not an atom more!
The world is their real God.
Gold is their idol.
It is in mammon's temple that they worship.
Love God with all their heart.
They don't so much as understand the meaning of such a thing.
Sacrifice riches, place, honor, friends to Christ.
They scoff at the thing as madness.
Don't trifle with religion.
Don't mock God.
Do not love the world.
Be pious in your inmost soul.
Don't mistake sentimentalism for genuine piety, or a good character for the New Birth.
This world OR the world to come that is the alternative; not this world AND the world to come.
Christ must be all or nothing!
No middle ground; no half discipleship; no compromise.
The friendship of the world is enmity with God.
Come out and be separate.
The New Birth, or no religion at all.
[Horatius Bonar]
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Numbers 23:7, 10... And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel..... Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
2 Peter 2:15 ... 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; ❤
