"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core" (Jude 1:11 KJV).
If you read the account of Balaam in the Old Testament very closely (Num. 22:1-24:25), you will notice that he was anxious for financial gain.
And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you: that you shall do." So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.In verse 20, God told Balaam to go with them if the men came to call him.
(Num. 22:20-22 NKJ)
In verse 21, we see Balaam rising and preparing to go before he was called. He did not wait to see if they would call him! This shows us his heart was wrong and he was anxious for financial gain. He also proved he was greedy when he taught King Balac how to cause Israel to stumble (Num. 25:1-3).
"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Rev. 2:14 KJV).
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