How can we ensure our decisions align with God's instructions like Balaam intended? Setting the Scene: Balaam’s Resolve “But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, ‘If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything beyond the word of the LORD my God.’ ” (Numbers 22:18) Balaam’s words capture a non-negotiable stance: God’s word alone directs his choices. That posture remains the only safe path for believers today. God’s Word: Our Sufficient and Final Authority • Scripture is not suggestion; it is the inerrant, literal revelation of God (Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:18). • “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) • Any decision that contradicts Scripture is automatically outside God’s will. Costly Obedience: Non-Negotiable Loyalty • Balaam’s hypothetical “house full of silver and gold” highlights the pressure money, status, or relationships can exert. • Jesus stresses the same priority: “You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) • Resolve beforehand that no earthly incentive will outweigh obedience. Illuminating the Path: Scripture First • “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Practical practice: 1. Begin decisions with an open Bible, not after plans are set. 2. Note any direct commands or principles that speak to the situation. 3. Refuse to twist verses to fit personal desires. Earnest Prayer: Seeking God’s Wisdom • “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) • Prayer aligns the heart with God’s priorities, softening resistance to His directions. Testing Every Opportunity • Acts 17:11 commends Bereans who “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22: “But examine all things. Hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” Checklist: – Does it violate any biblical command? – Does it promote holiness or fuel temptation? – Will it glorify Christ or merely gratify self? Accountability: Walking with the Wise • “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14) • Invite mature believers to evaluate plans in light of Scripture. Guarding Against Compromise: Balaam’s Later Warning • Though Balaam spoke rightly in Numbers 22, he later enticed Israel into sin (Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14). • Lesson: A strong start must be matched by continual vigilance; past faithfulness never licenses present neglect. A Quick-Reference Plan for Decision-Making 1. Search Scripture for direct teaching. 2. Pray for clear wisdom and an obedient heart. 3. Evaluate motives—are they God-centered or self-centered? 4. Consult godly, Bible-saturated counsel. 5. Weigh potential outcomes: will they advance God’s kingdom or hinder it? 6. Once convinced a choice aligns with Scripture, act promptly in faith. 7. Remain open to God’s ongoing correction, holding plans loosely. Living It Out Daily God still speaks through His timeless, authoritative word. When His voice in Scripture remains our boundary, our compass, and our delight, we can echo Balaam’s best moment—declaring that nothing on earth could move us beyond the word of the Lord our God. |
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