Have you ever worked with or for someone who gave you advice and later you realized the advice they gave you was delivered with ulterior motives?
I know I have!
It happened several times during my career! Once, my boss told me he believed one of my salesmen was stealing from the company. He told me “for my own good,” I needed to audit the salesman’s expenses right down to counting the number of stamps he had purchased versus used!
I didn’t believe this salesman had stolen anything. He had always been honest with me, but I followed my boss’s instructions and performed the audit. As expected, the salespeople’s expenses were completed and accounted for, right down to the last stamp. Afterward, I discovered that my boss simply didn’t like this salesman and wanted an excuse to fire him so he could have me hire a new person he liked!
Talk about a shady ulterior motive! The lesson I learned through this experience was not to trust anyone who tells me this is “in my best interest” or “for my own good.” Maybe they are telling the truth and trying to be helpful, or maybe, just maybe, they have an ulterior motive, and I need to proceed with caution.
Balaam’s Ulterior Motives
There are several stories throughout the scripture where we read of someone offering advice or taking some action but with ulterior motives.
One of my favorite examples of someone with ulterior motives is the story of Balaam, the prophet, recounted in Numbers 22-23.
If you recall, in the story, Balaam is called on by a local king to curse the Israelites. The king thought that if Balaam put a curse on them, the king could defeat the Israelites. So Balaam consults God, and God tells Balaam not to go with the king or curse the Israelites because God had blessed them. After hearing the refusal from Balaam, the king offers Balaam a huge bribe to curse the Israelites, so Balaam says he will consult God again.
So, Balaam seemed to follow God’s instruction, but selfishly he wanted to cash in on the treasure promised by the king. God knew Balaam’s heart was more focused on securing the reward for cursing the Israelites than saying no to the king or obeying God.
In the end, God allowed Balaam to go to the king, but God sternly instructed Balaam only to say what he was told. Then, to ensure Balaam gets the message, God sends an angel to stand in Balaam’s path and warn him again.
7 Leadership Lessons from Balaam
Reviewing the story of Balaam and his interaction with the king, I see seven leadership lessons valuable for us as leaders today!
1. Leaders recognize the power of God’s blessings.
In Numbers 22:6, Balak says, “Come, curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me.” Despite Balak’s efforts, Balaam cannot curse the Israelites because God has blessed them. In the same way, leaders today must remember that God’s blessings are more powerful than any curse or opposition.
2. Leaders are obedient to God’s guidance.
In Numbers 22:12, God tells Balaam, “You must not go with them. You must not curse those people because they are blessed.” Despite the offer of wealth and prestige, Balaam ultimately chooses to listen to God’s commands rather than his own desires or those of the people around him.
3. Leaders must be guided by God, not by their own selfish desires.
Balaam was a prophet of God, but he was also tempted by money and the prospect of personal gain. In Numbers 22:18, he says to the messengers sent by King Balak, “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.” Today’s leaders must be mindful of their motivations and priorities and ensure they are always guided by God’s will, not their own desires.
4. Leaders accept the consequences of disobedience.
In Numbers 22:20-22, Balaam is told by the Lord, “Because you have made a foolish choice, I am about to become hostile to you.” When leaders today ignore God’s guidance or act contrary to His will, they can expect similar consequences. As such, this serves as a reminder that leaders must be accountable for their actions and should be willing to take responsibility for their mistakes.
5. Leaders must be willing to be used by God for His purposes.
Balaam was a prophet, but God also used him for a greater purpose. In Numbers 22:20, the Lord says, “I have come to stand against you because your way is wicked before me.” Despite his initial reluctance, Balaam was willing to be used by God for His purposes. Leaders today must also be willing to be used by God for His purposes, even when it requires sacrifice or discomfort.
6. Leaders must trust in God’s protection and provision.
In Numbers 22:31, Balaam says, “I have come to you now, but I do not know how to say anything the Lord will put in my mouth.” Despite his reservations, Balaam trusted in God’s protection and provision. Leaders today must also trust in God’s protection and provision, even when they face difficult challenges or uncertain circumstances.
7. Leaders must be willing to speak truth, even when it is difficult.
In Numbers 22:35, God says to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you must do only what I tell you to do.” Balaam was called upon to speak truth to King Balak, even though it was not what the king wanted to hear. Leaders today must also have the courage to speak truth, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
Summary
The story of Balaam, the prophet with ulterior motives, offers several lessons that leaders today should take to heart. Leaders must rely on God’s blessings, be obedient to and guided by God, recognize the consequences of disobedience, be willing to be used by God for His purposes, trust in His protection and provision, and be willing, to tell the truth even when it is hard!
By taking these lessons to heart, leaders can ensure that they are walking in the path that God has laid out for them. Because, after all, who wants to be corrected by a talking donkey or confronted by an angel with a sword?
Discussion Questions
These questions can serve as a useful framework for guiding a thoughtful and engaging discussion about the article and how its insights and perspectives apply to our lives today.
- What is the story of Balaam and how does it teach leadership lessons?
- What are the leadership lessons from Balaam’s story and how can they be applied to leaders today?
- How can leaders ensure that they are guided by God’s will and not by their own selfish desires?
- Why is it important for leaders to be willing to take responsibility for their actions and accept the consequences of disobedience?
- What does it mean for leaders to be used by God for His purposes, and how can they apply this to their leadership roles?
More Articles
I have written many articles on obedience to God. You can find them by typing “Obedience to God” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are several of my favorites.
- #502: What If Jesus Conducted a Performance Review on You?
- #498: Are We Celebrating Labor Day with Rest the Way We Should?
- #497: Is God Testing Our Faith When He Asks Us to Wait?
- #493: Do You Have the Right Answer to This Important Question?
- #475: Does the Bible Call Us to Balance or Obedience?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. For example, have you worked with or for someone who offered you advice, and later you found they had an ulterior motive? How did that impact your trust in this person?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because people like you share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Personal Development | Obedience to God
I think we’ve all met a few Balaams in our careers. And I suspect many of us have struggled with putting our own agendas ahead of a greater good at times. Which is why faith is a powerful guidepost to continually measure our integrity against. Because God is always with us.
I have to admit that I’ve been Balaam once or twice in my life. It’s easy to convince myself that I’m doing what God wants me to do, while all along, I have my own motives in play. In God’s economy, motives matter!