What should one expect from one’s hired minister? One should expect them to speak only that which the Lord has revealed. One should also expect some of the minister’s sermons to be most pleasant and encouraging, while others are irritating and convicting. And what should the hired minister expect? He should expect that some will greatly appreciate and support God-prioritizing ministers. He should also expect dissatisfaction, slander and persecution from others who believe that because they fund, they should therefore approve, the minister’s message.

King Balak was a religious man who believed in God. Rightly, Balak understood his own finite limitations. He understood that God was sovereign and possessed the power to bless some people while cursing others. Therefore, with this theological concept in mind, King Balak hired Preacher Balaam to bring forth a word from the Lord. Preacher Balaam was promised honor and gold if he would come and warm King Balak’s heart by delivering an appropriate sermon. Ultimately, King Balak had no real interest in hearing God’s man reveal God’s will. He merely desired to sufficiently salute God and tip God’s minister in order for God to do that which King Balak desired.

Preacher Balaam was not a perfect man of the cloth. Frankly, he showed himself to be somewhat dull and sinful. Ultimately, he was only saved from divine execution by the grace of God and the sermon of a donkey. However, despite his flaws, Preacher Balaam proved to have a degree of wisdom in understanding his calling. His chief duty was not to please himself or his financial benefactors. Ultimately, his only responsibility was to proclaim God’s undiluted truth and let the chips fall where they may. Perhaps he would receive gold and silver. Perhaps he would be killed. Regardless, of what happened to him, his duty was to deliver God’s mail and not mess with the contents.

As a fellow preacher, Moses appreciated this truth and made sure his readers understood the preacher’s duty:

Numbers 22:8     And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” …

Numbers 22:18     But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.

Numbers 22:20     And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”

Numbers 22:35     And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

Numbers 22:38     Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.”

Numbers 23:3     And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” …

Numbers 23:5     And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

Numbers 23:12     And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

Numbers 23:16     And the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.”

Numbers 23:25–26     And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the LORD says, that I must do’?”

King Balak was pleased to pay Preacher Balaam a handsome sum of money. A pleasant and non-offensive minister, who danced according to the will of a puppeteer, was a good thing to keep around. However, following Balaam’s third unacceptable sermon, King Balak’s anger was kindled. It was clear that King Balak did not control Preacher Balaam. It was clear that Preacher Balaam was no rich man’s puppet. Sure, Balaam like honor and respect. Sure, Balaam like gold and silver. But Preacher Balaam was one who preferred the approval of God over the approval of his audience, and this was unacceptable to King Balak. Therefore, consumed with anger, King Balak commanded the minister to flee to his own place. (Numbers 24:10-11)  There would be no more gold, silver, respect and honor coming from King Balak. His minister was fired because he had not performed to the liking of the king.

Preacher Balaam was alright with this. His response was simple and straight forward:

Numbers 24:12-14     “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak’ And now, behold, I am going to my people ….”

Preacher Balaam was done with this relationship. He would find his place with the people of the Lord. He would use his ministerial gifts before people who valued a “word from the Lord” instead of a motivational speech or inspirational homily.

So, how does this apply to individuals today?

While modern men do not often see sword-waving angels, hear donkeys speak, and receive direct revelation from God, men today still receive an internal calling from the Holy Spirit and an external calling from the church to speak forth God’s word. Prophets are no more, but preachers are present. Therefore, what should one expect from one’s hired minister? One should expect them to speak only that which the Lord has revealed. One should also expect some of the minister’s sermons to be most pleasant and encouraging, while others are irritating and convicting.

And what should the hired minister expect? He should expect that some will greatly appreciate and support God-prioritizing ministers. He should also expect dissatisfaction, slander and persecution from others who believe that because they fund, they should therefore approve, the minister’s message.

The church of Jesus Christ is not a monarchy or a democracy. It is not the will of the pastor or of the congregation that matters most. The church of Jesus Christ is a theocracy. If the minister stands and without apology delivers the mail of God, leave him be and thank him for his words of encouragement or chastisement. If the minister preaches something other than the word of God, regardless of style, creativity or content, let him go elsewhere. God’s people love God’s message and are satisfied with nothing else.

Joseph A. Franks, IV is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is Pastor of Palmetto Hills Presbyterian Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina. This article first appeared on his blog and is used with permission.