Balaam was a man of great spiritual powers. That’s why Balak sent two deputations of princes to persuade Balaam to curse the Israelites (Nm 22:5-16). Balaam described himself as “the man whose eye is true...who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, of one who sees what the Almighty sees” (Nm 24:3-4, 15-16).

Although Balaam was exceptionally gifted by God and gave one of the greatest prophecies of all time (see Nm 24:17), he is considered a villain in the New Testament (see Jude 11; Rv 2:14). His great spiritual gifts were sabotaged, for “he was a man attracted to dishonest gain” (2 Pt 2:15).

“The love of money is the root of all evil. Some men in their passion for it have strayed from the faith, and have come to grief amid great pain” (1 Tm 6:10). Christmas is often the time when our love of money and what money can buy surfaces (see 1 Jn 2:15). Christmas is an opportunity to see we are trapped (1 Tm 6:9). Christmas is the time for us to repent, make Jesus our Wealth (Phil 3:8), and get freed from the trap. Go free this Christmas.

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