Bribery Or Bonus?

Our proverb today gives us insight into one of the reasons we see so much unfairness in the world.

A wicked man accepts a bribe in secretto pervert the course of justice.

Proverbs 17:23 (NIV)

Secret bribes, hidden agendas. There is injustice in the courts, in politics, at the office, even in families and churches. Things aren’t always fair, are they?

But God gives us a picture of how it ought to be in Deuteronomy 16:19: “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” (NIV).

A bribe doesn’t have to be money. It can be anything that is given to “encourage” someone to do or allow something that is wrong. Judas was bribed by money to betray Jesus. Pilate was bribed by political pressure and popularity to condemn Jesus. Peter was bribed by his own instinct to protect himself to deny Jesus. Bribes can come from the outside, and they can come from the inside. Bottom line: whatever you get out of it, it is always wrong to cave in to wrong.

God gives us a simple and yet wonderful contrast to this with a formula to live rightly before him and others—Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man [or woman], what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (NKJV). Elisabeth Elliot used to boil it down into one little motto for life: “Do the next thing.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

They say bribery will get you everywhere. Some parents live by that motto. When their toddler throws a tantrum, they bribe him by giving him what he wants so he will stop crying. Teens often badger their moms to override their dads’ decisions. This rewards bad behavior. Bribery gets you somewhere, all right—but to the wrong place! If you have fallen into that trap, try a new technique, “positive reinforcement.” When your children do a chore well, share, work hard on an assignment, catch them being good. Reward them with words and occasionally with a “serendipity” bonus treat or benefit.

One Year Bible Reading

2 Kings 4:18–5:27; Acts 15:1-35; Psalm 141:1-10; Proverbs 17:23