Calendar Date: May 30
Day of the Year: 150
Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Proverbs 16–18
Bribery versus Honesty
A child leaves an apple on the teacher’s desk, hoping she will get a better grade on her test. What’s this? Bribery, of course! We might smile at this “innocent” attempt to get a teacher’s favor. However, we disapprove of high-achieving students taking tests for others to get into Ivy League schools. We don’t like cheating or any perversions of justice. What does God say about it?
In this section of Solomon’s Proverbs, which has various unrelated gems of wisdom, we will pick honesty (versus bribery). A person who engages in corruption is not right with God.
“He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil” (Proverbs 16:30, NIV).
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both (Proverbs 17:15, NIV).
It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity (Proverbs 17:26, NIV).It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice (Proverbs 18:5, NIV).Most people who seek justice through courts want a fair trial and an unbiased, morally right decision (hopefully in their favor). It galls them when a corrupt person offers money or services to a witness, judge, or lawyer, and justice is perverted.
What Bribery does
“A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds” (Proverbs 17:8, NIV). This verse and others (Proverbs 18:4; 21:14) state a fact from the perspective of the one who bribes. It’s not an endorsement of his behavior. Both the briber and the bribed seek to distort due process (Proverbs 17:23).
What does a bribe do? The Biblical patriarch Moses warned the Israelites, “Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous,” (Deuteronomy 16:19, NIV). No wonder we dislike bribery!
We dislike the bribery of our court officials or anyone else in authority, but many people try to bargain with God by making deals with him. They may negotiate agreements with promises, putting more money into a church offering plate, or supporting civic and religious causes to gain God’s favor.
Will the LORD accept bribes and indulge their sinful behavior? Again Moses writes, “... the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes” (Deuteronomy 10:17, NIV). God wants a personal relationship with us, not our money. Aren’t we glad we have such a righteous LORD who will judge each person with fairness? (more...)
Since God is impartial, he expects us to be the same way. Solomon writes, “A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live” (Proverbs 15:27, NIV). Accepting bribes to change a testimony can bring shame and trouble to a family. If we don’t take hush money, however, we can operate honestly, without guilt and shame, and provide a model of integrity for our youth.
Tests of Honesty
It’s God who decides what’s honest. We might like to decide that for ourselves, but those “who measure themselves by themselves are not wise” (2Corinthians 10:12, NIV). We sometimes convince ourselves that compared to what others do, our ways are honest, when in God’s eyes, they’re not.
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3, NIV). As white-hot fires burn out the impurities in the smelting process, so the fires of trials and persecution burn away pretense until our motives are honest and pure (James 1:2-3; 1Peter 1:7). Trials also teach us patience and total reliance on the LORD.
“Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth” (Proverbs 16:12-13, NIV). If we operate our lives by honesty and integrity, people who have prosperity, power, and position will respect us and be favorable toward us.
“By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down,” (Proverbs 29:4, NIV). For justice to survive, we need honest men and women in our court system and in our society. Will we be honest in all our dealings?
. Besides teaching us patience and reliance upon the LORD, our difficult experiences often serve to burn away pretense, so our motives are honest and pure.
Discussion
What is a bribe, and what does it do?
Can we negotiate deals with God? Why or why not?
Does honesty have any value? Where will it get us?
Focus Verse
Micah 6:8 (NIV) “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod (the author)
Looking Ahead: Our next lesson in the book of Proverbs covers the topic, to work or not to work? What is the value of work? Join us.
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