Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Bribery has existed since the beginning of times. Our judgment is easily altered by the idea of, “What do I get, or lose out of this’, and that makes us wicked in the sight of God.
Money has a way of making strange bedfellows. It is amazing to see how the world of money is very different from the world of political rhetoric. People who are ideological enemies find ground for friendship around a business deal where everyone gains. We cannot expect better from worldlings, but should we expect more integrity from God’s children? One of my sons one day told his Mom, ‘But Mom, it is so difficult today to be a godly successful businessman. There are sharks out there and if you don’t act like a shark you get eaten.’ And that is so true. Don’t get me wrong: business is not wrong. The Bible tells us of many business transactions, but the Word of God also regulates the spirit in which business is conducted. One of the biggest biblical principles in godly business is: integrity comes before profit.
Bribery does not have to only refer to money. We may alter our judgment to preserve a friendship, a job, or a relationship with a fellowship, a Church or a company.
Since we live in the world, we have to do business with the world. If in our business methodology we stick to the admonitions in God’s Word, people will consider us wise. Here is God’s advice on these things, Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. (Deuteronomy 4:6).
In all our dealings with the world, and especially when we bind ourselves by any contract or ‘ covenant’ with people, we need to remember that we are ourselves bound to God by a more excellent and all-encompassing covenant. About our dealings and transactions with the world, we need to always ask ourselves,
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Bribery has existed since the beginning of times. Our judgment is easily altered by the idea of, “What do I get, or lose out of this’, and that makes us wicked in the sight of God.
Money has a way of making strange bedfellows. It is amazing to see how the world of money is very different from the world of political rhetoric. People who are ideological enemies find ground for friendship around a business deal where everyone gains. We cannot expect better from worldlings, but should we expect more integrity from God’s children? One of my sons one day told his Mom, ‘But Mom, it is so difficult today to be a godly successful businessman. There are sharks out there and if you don’t act like a shark you get eaten.’ And that is so true. Don’t get me wrong: business is not wrong. The Bible tells us of many business transactions, but the Word of God also regulates the spirit in which business is conducted. One of the biggest biblical principles in godly business is: integrity comes before profit.
Bribery does not have to only refer to money. We may alter our judgment to preserve a friendship, a job, or a relationship with a fellowship, a Church or a company.
Since we live in the world, we have to do business with the world. If in our business methodology we stick to the admonitions in God’s Word, people will consider us wise. Here is God’s advice on these things, Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. (Deuteronomy 4:6).
In all our dealings with the world, and especially when we bind ourselves by any contract or ‘ covenant’ with people, we need to remember that we are ourselves bound to God by a more excellent and all-encompassing covenant. About our dealings and transactions with the world, we need to always ask ourselves,
“Is there anything in this new deal that is injurious to my covenant with God?”
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