Following The Way Of Balaam.

Can a professing Christian be following the way of Balaam, rather than The Way without knowing it?
What exactly is the way of  Balaam? The Bible said that he loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2 Pet.2:15. Surely, no man, would knowingly sell his soul to the devil and forfeit his eternal salvation? The Lord Jesus asked what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt.16:26. Reading the context of this verse, it is clear that he would give the whole world if he could.
The Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, 1 Tim.6:10, covetousness is idolatry. Col.3:5. What is idolatry? it is the worship of idols, or false gods, which is why the Lord said No man can serve two masters: for he will either hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matt.6:24. What a dark place to be in, a professing believer in God in Christ and yet all the while despising Him!

Money in and of itself is not evil; a very good servant, but a wicked master. It is not only the rich and famous prosperity Word Faith gospel peddlers and the American mega-churches that are guilty of the love of money, for many smaller ministries have the customary DONATE button on their homepages, and I am very sure they will receive gladly what is sent! Now, I am clueless as to how much on-line giving is going on, but is it right for any Christian to solicit financial gain? The Saviour said freely ye have received, freely give, Matt.10:8. In the context, the Lord told His disciples not to take any money with them, for the workman is worthy of his meat.  (food RV). Matt.10:10. The households who received the Gospel gladly would provide His disciples with food and whatever else they needed to go on with their mission. How 'far' we have come from those days! In our day with the hierarchical denominational church structure fully dependent upon the unbiblical tithe and the 'free-will' offering bags, direct debits, legacies, and what is it all for? How many insincere ministers there are in organised religion! they enter Bible colleges and train up in the way so they think, knowing they will receive remuneration, manse, and various privileges that come with the job. On the back page of the weekly newsletter in the Baptist Union Church I used to attend was Malachi 3:10a in bold print; Bring ye the whole tithe into the storehouse, the 'storehouse' being the church! Of course when Malachi was written the tithe was an Old Testament institution, it was required of Israel to bring in tithes to the Levitical priests; When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, Num.18:26. The temple was still standing, and the Levites had no inheritance apart from God who required the Israelite's to provide for them. The LORD said to Aaron, I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Num.18:20-21.

Now, turkeys don't vote for Christmas, and the ministers, pastors, reverends etc that are reliant upon their congregation for their upkeep are hardly going to enlighten them! It is all about give, give, give and giving today! How the Scriptures have been twisted for financial gain! I have heard some say "the workman is worthy of his wages", but the Scripture doesn't say that; rather, the workman is worthy of his meat, Matt.10:10, and from what was written earlier, we can see how that verse has been wrested from its rightful context to be given an entirely different meaning. Why should there be any need for a full time minister? Paul was a tent maker (Acts 18:3), Peter and Andrew were fishermen (Matt.4:18-20) as were James and John (Luke 5:10), Matthew was a tax collector (Matt.9:9), though not for much longer! he was no doubt the wealthiest. Not all the apostles occupations are known, but no doubt they all worked, most probably as fishermen (1 Tim.5:8, 1 Thess.4:11 etc).

The godly Anglican Bishop Ryle of Liverpool said of the whole of Matt.10;

"This chapter is one of peculiar solemnity. Here is the record of the first ordination which ever took place in the Church of Christ. The Lord Jesus chooses and sends forth the twelve apostles...We are taught in the first place, that all ministers are not necessarily good men. (italics in the original)...He includes in the list of His apostles one who was a traitor!" (Judas Iscariot).
From Expository Thoughts on Matthew.

Ryle doesn't address Matt.10:10 in particular, but the noted Bible expositor Dr John Gill does.Of the expression the workman is worthy of his meat, he writes;

"which seems to be a proverbial expression, and by which Christ intimates, that they were workmen, or labourers in his vineyard, and they, discharging their duty aright, were entitled to food and raiment, and all the necessities of life: this to have was their due; and it was but a piece of justice to give it to them, and on which they might depend. So that this whole context is so far from militating against a minister's maintenance by the people, that it most strongly establishes it; for if the apostles were not to take any money or provisions with them* to support themselves with, it clearly follows, that it was the will of Christ, that they should live by the Gospel, upon those to whom they preached, as the following words show: and though they were not to make gain of the Gospel, or preach it for filthy lucre's sake; yet they might expect a comfortable subsistence, at the charge of the people, to whom they ministered, and which was their duty to provide for them."

Now, I don't argue against everything Dr Gill says, but who decides what is "a comfortable subsistence"? And where does it say anywhere in Scripture that ministers should live of the Gospel?
Granted, 1 Cor.9:14 says exactly that! Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. (my emphasis). The apostle then goes on to say four verses later, What is my reward then? Verily that when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the Gospel. Without charge! What, then was his reward? The following verses clearly teach that it was to gain them that are under the law (Jews), and them that are without law (Gentiles), that is to the saving of their souls!

In the context of those who labour in word and doctrine, the Scripture says the labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim.5:17-18. But, again what is the reward? On the theme we are following, Luke 10:7 should settle the matter; And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Those that received the Gospel gladly to the saving of their souls, would provide food, raiment, and other necessities to the Gospel foot soldiers.

We should ever remember that in the apostolic times the New Testament Church met in peoples houses! (Acts 8:3, Romans 16:5, 1 Cor.16:19, Col.4:15, Phile.1:2 etc).

How did we get to where we are today? Doubtless, the pagan Roman Church had a big hand to play in it all, developing an organised institution, of which its influence has remained in the Reformed Churches to our day. The Bible in no uncertain terms says the love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim.6:10, not some, or most,but all evil. Money became the vehicle at every level that would bring  worldliness, covetousness, and the desire to be rich among professing Christian teachers. They sell their books, DVDs and other materials to what end? Is it to the glory of God, or for their own fame and fortune? Let us be assured that the One who searches the minds and hearts, Rev.2:23 will know! And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiners fire and like fullers' soap. Mal.3:10.

What would Paul and the rest of the apostles make of it all? little wonder he said in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 Tim.3:1. If anyone is listening; cancel those direct debits, legacies and the like to your local church and other ministries! (especially if it is solicited), and don't press that DONATE button! Let them trust in God alone, for He will provide; Will He provide meat for His people? Ps.78:10. Think on these things.



*Dr Gill assumes that because the Lord Jesus commanded them (the apostles) that they should take nothing for their journey...no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse, Mark 6:8, that this subsequently means that any man preaching the Gospel of Christ is entitled to a salary! Rather, I would say He did so, for He knew that there would be households en-route that would provide for them, so they had no need to take anything, and also the weight of the baggage would have seriously encumbered them in the hot, dusty Judean climate.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor.5:7.