Did you know there's more than one way to give and receive a bribe?


Proverbs 17:23--Most of us will never have the opportunity or inclination to give or take a bribe. Yet, I think there are other lessons we can take away from this passage.

A bribe can be more than money, power, or security. A bribe can be candy, a toy, a promise, or silence. A bribe knows no age limit.

A bribe is a tool used to cause someone to look away or ignore (and inevitably reward) wrong doing.

The goal of a briber is to secure an outcome that benefits them. Typically this means a corruption of justice or GOD's will. From mobsters, to weary parents, to an ordinary citizen in trouble with the law, GOD frowns on the bribe.

Ultimately, what benefits the briber is to avoid punishment for the crime. For the weary parent it is the avoidance of meting out punishment for their child. Neither is pleasing to GOD.

The person receiving the bribe takes this sin to another level. They corrupt justice and bring GOD's anger on their heads. Not a good place to be.

A thought. When we bribe our children to avoid punishing their misbehavior, we are also corrupting what is right and wrong. Also, not a good place for our kids to be.

GOD seeks justice and ultimately He'll find it. But what about mercy? Mercy stays punishment for the wrong-doer, too. How is that different?

Mercy is not a bribe. Mercy accepts the sincere, public repentance of the wrong-doer. They are prepared to accept the punishment, but the "judge" sees an opportunity for a whole future. Mercy provides an environment for change and restoration.

GOD is careful where He metes out mercy and we should be as well. Regardless of whether He offers mercy or not, He always offers forgiveness to the repentant soul. We may have to go through the "punishment" or repercussions of our sin, but He will be with us, every step of the way.

May our hands mete out justice and mercy, my friends.

Proverbs 17:23--The wicked one receives a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. Tree of Life Bible Society Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs

[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you being diverted? Proverbs 4:27

Image
Are you being diverted? TODAY'S PROVERB: Do not turn to the right or to the left. Divert your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:27 I love flying at night. It's a vivid perspective of just how small we really are. Looking at the expanse of the sky with its stars is peaceful, stable. Gazing below at the man-made lights that glow with seemingly brighter intensity. But, that glow is temperamental. Subject to the frailties of humanity and technology, and believe it or not, dependent upon the grace of God. This verse reminds me that until we rise above our humanity, we'll be diverted from the bigness of the Creator of the Universe. It seems our world offers a plethora of distractions. They don't have to be evil, they simply have to be distractions that lead to diverting us from God's calling and purpose in our life. Like the bright city lights, they can drown out the still, small pinpricks of true light from the stars. Until we rise above. What are some of the distract...
Read more

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you a voice for God's covenant? Proverbs 2:16-17

Image
Are you a voice for God's covenant? TODAY'S PROVERB: ...to deliver you from a seducing woman—a wayward wife with seductive words, who forsakes the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. Proverbs 2:16-17 Infidelity. The last few generations tend to think infidelity was something they created. For certain they have developed it into an art form using film, music, literature, and now, social media. Throughout Scrip ture and history, women have played as much of a role in this sin as men. Honestly, as women, we should know better. These days, women tend to look at fornication and adultery as their rights -- their choice. We can justify and defend all we want, but the truth is that it all boils down to this: our choice is whether we sin or don't sin. Not a popular thing to say. There's nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Humanity has been sinning since the Garden. And infidelity has the same patterns and outcomes as it did thousands of y...
Read more

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you lame or reliable? Proverbs 25:19

Image
Are you lame or reliable? TODAY'S PROVERB: Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is confidence in the unfaithful in time of trouble. Proverbs 25:19 I have a "trick" ankle. There appears to be no rhyme or reason when it decides to give out. I'll take a step and it's like the bones turn to rubber. A misstep on stairs or a ladder or while carrying something can be treacherous. If I knew what caused the weakness then I could avoid  placing demands on it. But, alas, I don't know, so I can never fully trust it. Today's proverb counsels us about "trick ankle" people. Do you have people like this in your life? For the most part, they are reliable, but at unpredictable -- and inevitably important moments -- they are not reliable. Even when we forgive them for these events, we're still unsure if we can depend on them. It leaves a small residue on our ability to trust them completely -- at least for a season. My ankle is a vivid reminder of the import...
Read more