How did Balaam try to profit from his gift?

Les explains that Balaam had forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam. Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness; he saw the wealth he could gain from whatever he could do to confuse the issue. He could not refrain from going back to Moab to curse those people because he was in it for one purpose—to line his own pocket. Les says this is Balaamism: thinking he could cash in on his particular talent or gift, which happened to be divination and enchantments. He applies it today to people who use the Word of God to line their own pockets, using it for no other reason than to enhance their own financial status. Les notes pastors and preachers are due their salaries, but he is not talking about them; he is condemning using the Word of God for profit. That is why he maintains he does not want to take a dime out of this ministry.