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Opportunistic Christianity
Numbers 24:1
"And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness."
In the verse above, there is a phrase that portrays Balaam and many modern day Christians. The phrase is, "And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel..." God previously told Balaam that he was to have nothing to do with Balak. Yet, when Balak came with his offers of money and position, Balaam questioned whether or not he should go. In fact, Balaam went back to God to ask Him again if he should go. God knowing Balaam's heart, told him to go. When you read the story, you will find that eventually Balaam realized his going was wrong. Once Balaam arrived at the place where he was to curse Israel, God gave him the blessing whereby he was to bless them. Finally, when Balaam saw that God was pleased with blessing Israel, he didn't ask God whether he should bless him, he just immediately started blessing them because he saw the opportunity.
The problem with Balaam was that he should have done what God wanted him to do in the first place whether or not he benefited from it. Balaam didn't do right because it was right, he did right because he saw the opportunity to be blessed. His opportunistic actions eventually resulted in the loss of his life. If Balaam would have done right at the first, then he wouldn't have had to face Balak's fury and God's judgment.
In Christianity today there seems to be many Christians who serve God only when the opportunity benefits them. When times start getting tough while serving God, these opportunistic Christians jump ship for the next best opportunity. Christian, you ought not to serve God and do right because of what you get out of it. You ought to do right and serve God because it is the right thing to do.
Likewise, I have found there are many preachers who are opportunistic preachers. Recently I had a conversation with a preacher who asked me why so many preachers continue to follow false doctrine when they know its error. My response is that they do it because they are opportunity seekers. They are looking for the largest crowds to preach to and the influence they can have in society or their circles. This world doesn't need opportunistic preachers. What this world needs is preachers who will stand for right and preach truth even if they lose every bit of influence they have. Truth should be the issue in preaching and not what opportunities may come from compromise.
Are you an opportunistic Christian? Do you find yourself doing right only if you benefit from it? Let me help you answer that question. If you stop doing what you are supposed to do when times are tough, then you are an opportunistic Christian. If you won't do something for Christ because it will inconvenience you, then you are an opportunistic Christian. Christian, you need to get to the point in your life when you do right because it is the right thing to do. Don't let opportunities dictate your decisions, but let right dictate your decisions and actions. If you become an opportunity seeker, then one day you will stop serving God and compromise.
Let truth be your motivator to do right. Do right even when you see no benefits coming from it. Doing right always benefits at the end, but you must work through those dry times until those benefits come. The only way you will accomplish this is by focusing on doing right because it's right to do and not on the benefit. If you will focus on the right, then the benefit will be a bonus and not a requirement to keep doing right.