Numbers 24:10-19 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam… Matters of profit must not carry us beyond our calling, we must not pursue them when we have no warrant to desire them. A notable example hereof we have in Gideon, he had a kingdom offered unto him; for the men of Israel said unto him, "Reign thou over us, both thou and thy son, and thy son's son." He saw no calling from God and therefore refused it, and betook himself to a private life, saying (Judges 8:22, 23). The like we see in our Saviour Christ, He refused to be made a temporal king (John 6:15). We see the disciples of Christ left all, and neglected the service of themselves, and the seeking of their own benefit for the service of God (Matthew 19:27). Whereby we see that albeit profits be in time and place to be looked after, yet we must all look to have our warrant in seeking for them. The reasons remain to be considered, to enforce this truth, and to gain our affections to the embracing of it. 1. For, first, by too much following the profits of this life, we may lose a greater profit. If we should win the world, and lose our souls; if we should catch the riches of this life, and crack ,the peace of a good conscience, it would prove in the end a small gain unto us. 2. Secondly, the things of this life serve only for a season. The hope that we have is this — we look for a kingdom. We cannot have a heaven in this life, and another in the life to come.The uses come now to be stood upon. 1. First, we see it is a dangerous bait to be in love with the world. 2. Secondly, we see that our own private respects are not the chief things that we must respect, but seek a sanctified use of the blessings of this life, and a warrant to our consciences for the right using of them. These blessings of God become curses unto us unless we use them lawfully. 3. Lastly, this doctrine serveth to reprove those that esteem earthly things above heavenly, and mind their profits more than their salvation. These invert the course of nature and turn all things upside down, they set the earth above the heavens, and thrust down the heavens beneath the earth. This is like that confusion and disorder which the wise man speaketh of (Ecclesiastes 10:6, 7). (W. Attersoll.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. |
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