Numbers 22:17
For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
Balaam fell for the common mistake that many believers fall for in that he was looking for man to set him up with great honor instead of looking to God to honor him. Balak offered to promote Balaam unto very great honour, but man’s honor is dependent on man continuing to give you that honor. The problem with man honoring you is that you are dependent on man to keep that honor instead of being dependent on God. Just because man promises to honor and promote you does not mean you should take their offer.
I am reminded of two stories in my life. I was a young evangelist and had barely started my ministry. I was invited to preach at a regional meeting where schools met to have competitions. God blessed that meeting tremendously. About a month later, I received a phone call from a large organization to preach at their national convention. This excited me, as this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Fortunately, I was wise enough to call an older preacher to ask his advice. He told me that though this sounded like a great opportunity, this organization would pull me away from what I believe because their direction was wrong. I listened to this preacher’s counsel, which kept me from compromise.
Another time in my young ministry, I found myself in a battle that seemed like it would end my ministry. A nationally known pastor turned his focus to destroy my ministry. I was not nationally known and had only been in evangelism for three years. I counseled with an older preacher and shared my situation with him. I have never forgotten his advice. He said, “Bro Domelle, if man set your ministry up, then man can take your ministry down. But, if God set your ministry up, no man can take it down.” Oh, the wisdom in that advice. Because I did not promote myself, but let God be the one who set my ministry up, God defended me, and my ministry continued as an evangelist for many years.
It is always tempting to take man’s promotion. Man’s promotion can often seem like God is working in your life, but you must always remember that if man promotes you, man can take you down. Psalm 75:6-7 says, For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Scripture makes it clear that you should let God be the one to promote you unto honor.
Just because an opportunity seems opportunistic or honorable does not make it right to do. The people trying to get you to do these things may pull you away from what God wants you to be and who you should be for the LORD. Always remember that God knows your name and where you live, and when He sees fit to promote and honor you, He knows where to find you.
Moreover, when you face opportunities for promotion and honor, you would be wise to get with your pastor to make sure this is a good decision. If you are a younger pastor, you would be wise to call an older pastor to make sure this opportunity is the right thing to do. Opportunities will be plenteous in life if you do the right thing. Stay busy doing what God tells you to do, listen to the counsel of your leaders and older men of God, and God will promote and honor you when He sees fit.
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