When Bamandev appeared, Bali Maharaj was attracted by His beauty as a Dwarf Brahmin, and as he was charitably disposed, he wanted to give Him some charity. But Sukaracharya, being elevated in mystic yogic powers, he could understand that Bamandev was Vishnu. And in order to favor the demigods, He had come there to cheat Bali Maharaj in the shape of begging some charities. Bali Maharaj was puffed up with his material vanities, and Bamandev as He is Vishnu, all-peaceful, without interrupting his attitude, just approached him in the form of a Brahmin, Who has a right to beg something from the princely order. And the princely orders also are always disposed, to make charities to the Brahmins.
Question, para. 2, answer: Sukracharya as spiritual master of Bali taught him that everything should be offered to Vishnu. But when Vishnu actually appeared before Bali, he was afraid of Bali Maharaj's charitable disposition. He warned Bali Maharaj that this Bamandev had come there to take everything from him in the shape of charity, therefore he should not promise Him to give anything. This advice revolted Bali Maharaj because he was formerly instructed that everything should be offered to Visnu, now, why Sukaracharya was asking him not to act by his previous instructions? Sukaracharya was afraid of his own position. He was living at the cost of Bali Maharaj, so if Bamandev would take away everything from Bali Maharaj, he was thinking how he would live. That is a materialistic temperament. The materialist does not want to serve or to give to Vishnu, because he thinks that by giving away to Vishnu he will be put into poverty-stricken condition. This is materialistic estimation. But actually that is not the fact, as it will be evidenced by the dealing of Bali Maharaj and Bamandev.
Question 1, answer: That is the materialistic way of worshiping. Materialists are always careful for maintaining his material status quo first, and then please Visnu. Although they profess to be devotees of Visnu. Therefore the Krishna Consciousness persons are greater than such materialistic worshippers. Materialist person perform all pious activities or devotional activities for some material gain, and as soon as there is any hindrance in the path of material gain, they at once become demon. Therefore bhakti means without any material desires. That is the sign of pure devotee. He has no motive to satisfy his material desires by devotional service.
Question 2, answer: That is just his military spirit, that Bali Maharaj says "If He be the illustrious Lord Vishnu not desirous of foregoing His own fame, He shall wrest from me this earth after slaying me in battle, or He shall be slain by me. The last portion of this question is not very clear.
Question 3, answer: Why Bali Maharaj is considered a Mahajan: Bali Maharaj is Mahajan because he wanted to serve Vishnu by disobeying his non-bona fide spiritual master. As explained above, Sukracharya was hereditary spiritual master by seminic succession. But Bali Maharaj first revolted against this stereotyped seminic succession spiritual master, and therefore he is Mahajan. Srila Jiva Goswami has described in his Karamasandharvha that one should be anxious to accept a spiritual master who is bonafide in spiritual knowledge. And if need be one should relinquish the connection of hereditary spiritual master and accept a real bonafide spiritual master. So when Sukaracharya advised him contrary to his previous instructions, specifically, he checked Bali Maharaj in the matter of worshiping Vishnu, and thus Sukaracharya became at once fallen down from the position of becoming a spiritual master. Nobody can become a spiritual master who is not a devotee of Vishnu. A brahmin may be very expert in the matter of performing Vedic rituals, accepting charities, and distributing wealth—all these are exalted qualifications of the brahmins, but the Vedic injunction is, in spite of possessing all these qualities, if somebody is against Lord Vishnu, he cannot be a spiritual master. So when Sukaracharya advised Bali Maharaj against Vishnu, he at once became unqualified for becoming a spiritual master. Bali Maharaj disobeyed such unqualified spiritual master, and therefore, he is accepted as Mahajan. Mahajan means a personality whose footprints should be followed. So, his exemplary behavior in rejecting a non-Vaishnava spiritual master being ideal to the bonafide students, he is considered a Mahajan.