"If
that's a Christian, I'm not interested."
These words
have been etched in my mind for years, and sadly, I heard it
not only once. They were spoken of a Dutch businessman who
professed to be a Christian and was well known in the world
of property developers. Alas, his walk did not match his
talk. Perceived hypocrisy is rightly one of the most serious
objections to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Balaam's donkey
warned him to stop and think - "turning aside these
three times" - the third reason in this series is
misuse of spirituality.
In Numbers
22-24, Balaam showed just how well he could predict trends,
and reveal what was to happen in the future. He would have
been red hot at the annual Davos meetings of the World
Economic Forum. He had a gifted insight into how God was to
deal with the world. Futurologists, those able to predict
trends, make good business these days. In fact, a popular
course at a leading Dutch management institute is
"Business Astrology" - participants leave with a
business plan, according to the stars! Balaam had no idea of
the difference between spiritual gifts and spiritual fruit.
Gifts represent ability but fruit comes from character! A
gift is given, but fruit comes through a slow process of
development.
Our
businessman Balaam impressed the local King with his
insights, who made him an offer he couldn't refuse for
telling him what he wanted to hear. The Bible described him
as an example of false teachers who, "have run
eagerly in the way of Balaam for profit" (Jude 11).
I was impressed by the honesty of a CEO of a very large
company who said, "we are not interested in developing
our business ethics out of a sense of altruism, but because
it is good business." "An ethical entrepreneur
does not exist", stated former Prime Minister of
Holland Ruud Lubbers in March 2000, "the only reason to
act responsibly is that the press and public opinion causes
trouble when we don't." This comes from the former
leader of the Christian Democrats! Honest, at least!
Tying the
donkey (business, assets, career) to the Vine, means bearing
fruit. "I am the Vine, you are the branches",
said Jesus, "he who remains attached to Me and I to
Him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do
nothing" (which comes out of a true motivation
towards a true goal). Fruit is the real test of
spirituality, and the fruit of the Spirit is: "love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22). These
are qualities which the workplace badly needs! In contrast,
like Balaam, "People will be lovers of themselves,
lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to
their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love,
unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not
lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of
godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with
them" (2 Timothy 3:2-5).
Balaam
wanted to experience God, but his motives were totally
wrong. He used religion for his own purposes. He did have a
clear vision of the desired end. "Let me die the
death of the righteous, and let my end be like His" (Numbers
23:10). His prayer was not granted. He was executed with the
Moabites, whose money had tempted him to align himself with
them against God.
Peter Briscoe
Peter J.
Briscoe, currently serving as European Regional Director for
CBMC International and Europartners. He lives in Leiden, The
Netherlands.
