Day 150, Chronological Bible Study 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 that she will get a better grade on her test. What is this? Bribery, of course! We might smile at this innocent little attempt to get a teacher to act favorably. But, we do not smile when highly intellectual students make money by taking tests in place of other college-bound students so that the latter may enter Ivy League schools. We do not 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, honesty versus bribery is the one picked for today. 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.
“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 is 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 do not like bribery!
We do not like the bribery of our court officials or anyone else in authority, but many times 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 good 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 (more...). Are we not glad that we have such a righteous LORD who will judge each person with fairness?
Since God is fair and 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 do not take hush money, however, we can operate honestly, without guilt and shame, and provide a model of integrity for our youth.
King Solomon writes,
“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”
“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.”
“Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making” (Proverbs 16:2,8,11, NIV).
It is God who decides what is 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 are not.
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3, NIV). As hot fires burn out the impurities in the smelting process, leaving the pure, genuine metal, so the believer’s heart is purified through the fires of trials and persecution (James 1:2-3; 1Peter 1:7). 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.
“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 society. Will we be honest in all our dealings?
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.”
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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, anyway? Join us.
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